Correction, MJ..

Thanks for the correction.

I think I can understand the reasoning for bringing back this format. With the other format it’s true that you see some people growing through a few rounds and making the finals that way. But the downside to that from the producer perspective IMO is that a lot of the growth happened early and the finals felt stale to anyone who wasn’t OMG over one of the contestants already (like me the last couple of seasons). Now there’s more of a chance of a peak performance later in the season. The producers might think this format will play better to the general TV audience. The audiences will still be getting to know the contestants in the finals so they won’t already be bored and there’ll be more momentum for the better performers later in the season.

How this plays also depends on how they handle the themes. If the semifinals are themeless and the finals have themes then there’ll be less of a chance for the contestants to carve out their niches. There’ll be less of a chance anyway because they’ll have maximum 2 performances before the finals instead of 3. That’s bad and good. Bad because I’m always more interested in when the contestants pick their own songs than songs restricted by themes and lists. Good because I might not get as impatient with the themes if it isn’t as obvious what the contestant would rather be singing

The biggest drawback to going back to the old format is that the effect of audition/Hollywood round exposure will be even more significant and will last deeper into the finals.

Yippee. An entire episode devoted to watching the judges put the producerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s ringers through to the Top 12. I predict low ratings for a performance episode that doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t allow viewer participation.

I think you’re absolutely right, mj. I HATE the fact that the judges will pick all the Wildcards because it makes it even easier for them to manipulate the direction the competition takes. S4-7 left it in the hands of the people, and aside from a few questionable finalists, I would say that America got the Top 12 right in the last couple of seasons.

Can’t say the same thing for S1-3.

I believe that Jennifer Hudson was also an Americaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Choice pick for the Wild Card.

No. Randy picked her.

There are 2 Thursday episodes this season.

The first one is on January 29th, the last audition episode.

The second on is on March 5th, when the wildcard round episode will air, and the Top 12 will be announced.