From last January to May, I wrote approximately a gugillion* words about American Idol’s seventh season, and not many of them were kind to executive producer Nigel Lythgoe. After all, the man introduced those hateful, front-row swaybots; chose a multitude of themes that prevented contestants from singing anything written after 1990; failed to purchase a thesaurus (or hire an "adjectives consultant") for judge Randy ”Molten Hot (mess)” Jackson; refused to properly apologize for the show’s Paula-gate incident; and seemed hellbent on sticking to a predetermined David-vs.-David story arc, no matter how well the 10 remaining finalists performed on a given week. (Rumors that Lythgoe planned to have sixth-place finisher Carly Smithson blindfolded and dragged in front of a firing squad as part of her post-elimination sendoff remain unconfirmed.)
All that aside, though, I was momentarily flustered when I read the news yesterday that Lythgoe is stepping down from his Idol role. "What if, come January 2009, I realize it’s all been a case of better the arrogant, Lulu-fancying devil you know?" I wondered to myself. But then I came to my senses.
At its core, American Idol survives (and thrives) because this country loves watching talented kids get plucked from obscurity and fight their way to superstardom (while being verbally abused by a delightfully unfiltered Brit). And as long as there’s undiscovered talent (ages 16-29) in the U.S., and as long the show produces at least one Carrie Underwood or Daughtry or Jennifer Hudson each season, then the Idol juggernaut can (and should) keep rolling along.
Heck, the more I think about it, the more I’m looking forward to an Idol without Lythgoe at the helm. Maybe now the show will freshen up its mentor lineup (paging Timbaland and Linda Perry, pronto!). Maybe (as fellow Idoloonie Maura Johnston of Idolator suggested in an MTV roundtable I participated in last May, and which I’ve embedded after the jump) Idol will start announcing its top 24 live (and end the annual spoilerization of this part of the program). Better still, maybe a new exec producer will level the playing field by showing the audition packages for each and every one of those 24 hopefuls. Maybe (as my colleague Mark Harris suggested in his must-read column about fixing Idol) Lythgoe’s successor will boot the embarrassing Paula-Randy duo, and ban their replacements (and Simon) from listening in on dress rehearsals. And maybe a new producer will realize that Idol’s drama doesn’t come from meticulously scripting every second of the show — from tired call-in segments, to rote interview packages, to the presence of those hired sorority sisters in the alleged "mosh pit" — but rather, from the glorious, unpredictability of a live television broadcast populated by hungry, nervous, and sometimes incredibly talented amateurs.
So good night and good luck to Lythgoe as he heads off to focus 24/7 on So You Think You Can Dance (and perhaps other post-Idol projects). The show may not be the same without him, but maybe that’s not such a terrible thing. What say you, Idol fans?
* Apologies for the Ben Stiller/Idol Gives Back reference.
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Now is it possible to limit the amount of crazy auditioners on television when Idol airs again in January?
I hope it does improve in all the ways you mentioned. Randy and Paula are lame and pretty much coast through their duties. I think if either were forced to put a little effort into their comments, they could do fine.
Michael, I love your sweater!
Unfortunately, he still will be at the helm of So You Think you Can Dance…this year being the weakest and manipulated season to date…
I agree with all of your suggestions. Could you suggest he no longer focus 24/7 as a producer and judge of SYTCD? Where he blatantly ’shipped certain dancers and tried to manipulate the outcome there as well? Slezak… You have the power!
Sorry, missing (Y)ou.
Oh Dear Slezak! You just made my afternoon. Can’t wait to see the changes. If it were up to me, I will get rid of Randy ASAP; I will leave Paula just for the entertainment factor; Simon has to stay because he is the only one who knows anything about this business in the current panel; I will spend some time looking for a nicer version of Simon to replace Randy. Another suggestion is to completely eliminate the audition episodes (this can be a DVD release weeks before the show so people can get familiarized with potential contestants ONLY if they want to). Just show the stories and auditions of the top 24. And finally, get rid of the swayboats, I’m totally supportive Slezak!
As soon as they stop airing the crazies auditioning, they will stop showing up. I, for one, am very much looking to an AI without Swaybots® and all the other lame ideas Mr. Lythgoe had. It’ll be very interesting to see if/how it changes next season!
Losing Nigel is the best thing that could have happened to the show. Horrible themes, swaying arms, group songs, etc. are all things that Nigel was responsible for. Hopefully someone from outside if the British reality family takes over and makes the show a whole lot less cheesy
For everyone who hates Randy and Paula (Ra-ula?), or think they are useless, look up David Cook in the Hollywood rounds on You Tube. Simon wanted to cut him, and “Raula” kept him in. They do have a good sense for the business, they just have very odd on-air sensibilities.
Sounds good – and perhaps the absurd age-limits can go with him.
<= an over-the-hill 33-year-old singer
Good stuff. I’m on board, buddy. My thoughts exactly: http://alteredview.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/and-another-thing/
I’m so happy he’s gone – someone get him away from SYTYCD now too because this season proves he’s out to ruin that also!
If my memory is correct, there was one of the early seasons (1-4) that they DID announce the top 24 live. I thought it was a great idea- and they never did it again.
Yes. Goodbye, Nigel. And good riddance! Now if Paula and Randy follow, AI is ON! But Sleazak, you speak such good idol sense as always. Nice to read you again. You should do a season 7 follow up with the kids on tour. They are totally making fools of the judges.
Good riddance. Some ideas for the show: 1. reveal the votes (or at least the top three) on each show; 2. if you won’t get rid of Paula/Randy, at least add a guest judge (or let the mentor from that week judge as well)
Yup – both nervous and hopeful simultaneously! *fingers crossed that it gets better not worse from here*
A new producer should be the breath of fresh air everyone – well, at least here – agrees the show desperately needs.
I agree with your suggestions Michael and those in Mark Harris’ excellent column. I’d say in addition: Don’t ditch all the auditions rounds just reduce the amount of space given to the time-wasting bad “just wanna to see me on the tv” auditioners and give a little more airtime to Hollywood week. Let’s see a bit more of the whittling down of what are supposed to potentially good singers then, perhaps, viewers will be more knowledgable about, and therefore invested in, who might realistically make the top 24. It would lead nicely into the idea of going live on who makes Top 24.
I think this show needs a new producer and I’m glad Nigel is outta there. I’d love to see Randy and Paula replaced, but its not likely. I would actually prefer Paula over Randy though. The show was more disgustging than usual last season with how pre-determined everything was and how unfair the judges were to people like Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado because none of them were TCO.
I’m glad Nigel’s on that midnight train to Georgia. Good Riddance! All I know is that Idolatry got more fun to watch than the actual Idol last season. Clearly this is a testament to the Pdub Dynamic Duo (Mike S and Annie B), but also a sign to the declining appeal of Nigel’s “upgrades” to the show.
Frankly, other than the addition of a live band I feel that most of the new stuff they’ve added in recent years had only detracted from the show.
I say keep Simon and Ryan as their sparring’s starting to get really mean, but everyone else has got to go!
Who is Linda Perry? Maybe AI could have Miley Cyrus and Lil Wayne as mentors. That way the show could really get rid of us oldsters.
Adios, Nigel! Great news! I must admit though that Paula Abdul is my fav judge. She is super crazy and super funny! And brings me sweet teenager memories. Where were you folks in the ’80s?
If Nigel ran AI like he does SYTYCD…there’d be no problem. Trouble is, he disrespects singers with his antics. Good riddance! (Still, David Cook won, so how p.o’ed can I really be?)
Bravo Michael, Bravo. I was thrilled when I read Nigel left Idol. Now how about some focus groups that could help AI become relevant again? Here are some of my desires. Cease with the inane themes. Let the Idols showcase who they are and what type of music they want to make! Judge constructively and without malice and without trying to manipulate voters!
Have judges who have a clue as to what is popular in todays modern music.
Those would be a good start.
My first thought: an emphatic, throaty “HELL YEAH!”
Second thought: “This is just damage control, though.”
Third thought: “…HELL YEAH!”
Between this and the 30-minute results shows, I think they’re actually moving in the right direction. Now if they’d just do something about the adult contempocrap…
I tried to read this, but Nigel’s super-de-duper Photoshopped head is too distracting.
Mary B., you make a good point. They can’t go overboard the other way with themes either. They need to have a much more balanced approached to capture the kind of wide audience base they used to have – of all age groups.
Hey Michael. I read that Nigel is only going to miss the auditions and will be back for the “live” shows. I agree with everything you said, so I am hopeful he is gone for good. Can you get the official word on this?! Also, I know he was a creative force behind SYTYCD, but he has been intolerable on-air this season.
Right on the money Michael. Whew, the AI season is over now I can concentrate on appreciating Jason Castro more & more. I may not watch Idol in the future but will be purchasing Jason’s album the moment it is released. I heard that what he has recorded so far is sounding fantastic!
Nigel made sure that season 7 wouldn’t have another Sanjaya Malakar and turned focus to the contestants instead of the mentors. I hope his replacement keeps the show in good shape.