I loved season 7 but don’t agree it was the best ever. I’ve enjoyed all of the seasons I’ve watched for various seasons although less so when my favorite goes home early (5 & 7). I like a few of the top 12 which is probably more than I did last season at this time.

There are way too many people. The Old format was better. I felt like I knew them better. Plus, for all the proclaimed changes, it looks and feels the same. They needed something fun. Should have picked fewer contestants, had a flashier stage, maybe had some sing offs along with them singing a full song. I liked the longer time with the judges. They were actually entertaining last night.

Bottom line. It’s too formal. Too structured.

But I feel that the show will get better once we get to see some of the final 12 contestants perform more than once.

Yes, it will be nice to have the same contestants every week, but I’m afraid they will be less polished than previous years since they all have not performed regularly in the semis. Maybe the wildcard winners will have a slight edge.

Is anyone, besides me, missing allowing the contestants to use intruments at this point?

I miss them. Yeah, it removes their “crutches” to focus just on their vocal ability, but it also removes a big part of their musical identity. I’m not getting this decision at all.

Personally, I’m not vested in any of these guys.

This year, I feel like I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t even know the contestants. Is anyone, besides me, missing allowing the contestants to use intruments at this point?

No you are not the lone stranger.

Not knowing the contestants and not watching them grow takes away one of the most beautiful things that Idol has to offer. For example David Cook started out as a cute bad boy rocker guy that turned into a gorgeous man that oozes charisma that can sing anything.

And the lack of instruments is making the show seem more karaoke like instead of giving the contestants a chance to perform in a real world setting. Last year they searched for natural artistry, and this year they are searching for a pre-packaged pop-tart. But Idol is not the only ones in the music industry shoving pop-tarts in our faces. Most of the music industry has been watered down as a whole.

But I feel that the show will get better once we get to see some of the final 12 contestants perform more than once.

I would like them to keep the wildcard thing and just let America bring one more person back. Maybe a top 13, lol. Please bring Nigel back, idol needs him so bad.

It’s like TPTB meant gimmicks and backstory when they told us they would focus more on “getting to know” contestants.

I think that they got so scared when a couple of non-Idol-like personalities almost kicked out the two they did want, Jason and Brooke, they got too close for comfort with his Uke and guitar and Brooke with her instruments.

I agree with Jason succeeding in throwing a spanner into the works but I IMO, Brooke was never really that much of a threat.

There were so many fantastic young guys last year for the tweens and teens to love. Who will it be this year?

Kris Allen?

They’ve lost a lot of the younger demo they had when the show was in its prime. They would have to do something dramatic to make the show more appealing to younger viewers to regain those eyeballs. And simply having contestants that appeal to that demo isn’t going to cut it. Why do you think Jive is working to get Archie the larger teen fanbase that he’s supposed to have as the cute, talented teen that he is? Because Idol failed to get him enough of those fans to start raking in the money that comes with marketing to that crowd. And if any contestant was going to bring in younger viewers, it was him. So, IMO, Idol is just getting old for the young. They’re bored with it and have moved on.

Plus Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m getting quite the older vibe this season. Many of the top 12 will be married/and or have kids. Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a very senior vibe and Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not sure how many tweens are into recent widowers or moms with three kids.

This is true and it seems like the show really want us to know that. Most of those contestants even look older than they are. How are they going to get a new audience this way? I think to grab a new audience, they need people who are younger (not just in age but in looks and the way they act) or are “cool”. This top 12 doesn’t seem to really be that cool or young. And I don’t think America likes to vote for the married ones.

I wonder what role the mansion will play in future episodes? Also, I wonder if it is equpped with a play room for the young children?

Wow, just wow Michelle, putting into perspective like that makes me so sad to see how much I HATE this format and how much we have missed

And YES Lurksalot – I am excited to see what Adam brings

Plus I’m getting quite the older vibe this season. Many of the top 12 will be married/and or have kids. It’s a very senior vibe and I’m not sure how many tweens are into recent widowers or moms with three kids.

Personally, I don’t agree with Simon’s comment about not having enough good-looking people this season. From past experience, we’ve seen that America reacts better to nerdy- or average-looking people who have a makeover during their run on the show, but still don’t look like models. American Idol thrives on the basis that the contestants are people just like us – the viewers – who get the chance of a lifetime and become stars, if only for their time on the show. If they come in looking like one already, it takes away some of the charm. I’m just saying, I don’t think looks should be that big of a deal. The make-up crew and stylists can always fix them up.

I agree ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a huge mistake to block the youtubes, because that helps build internet buzz and curious eyes towards this seasonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ but then again, I canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t really think of a single performance so far thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s good enough to go viral.

Even if there had been that kind of performance, if people tuned in because they wanted more, this year they wouldn’t have been able to see the same singer the next week! How is AI supposed to pick up viewers if the same people don’t perform week after week? If someone went into work last Wednesday morning raving about Allison’s performance and someone wanted to see her……..this week she did nothing but sit on a stool. Stupid!

I hope TPTB don’t take the falling ratings as a natural sign of attrition for an aging show. While some portion of it may be due to that, I think a lot more of it is due to the lack of continuity this year and as the USA Today guy said this morning (sorry I can’t remember his name) the lack of diversity in the 6 that have made it. Nothing they are doing this year encourages people to become invested in one of the kid’s dream. That is a large part of what has made this show so successful and this format totally destroyed it.

And if I remember correctly in season 6, Idol took down the videos on youtube as well. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

I guess I should say that making the videos available to the general public helps the fans get more invested in the contestants.

And I think Adam’s performance is worthy of being a youtube favorite solely because he is very unique.

Simon is so off base on everything this season. I see a proud ego driven man who will not admit his mistakes.

but then again, I canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t really think of a single performance so far thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s good enough to go viral. Thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s been nothing interesting/good enough that I would personally send to non-Idol watching friends.

Word. There were more interesting performances during Hollywood Week. I think most of these kids were too scared to death to really bring it. We might still get something during the Wildcard round though.