Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
‘IDOL’ SHAKE UP
H’WOOD TRYOUTS BEGIN - ALSO SECOND THOUGHTS
THE “Idol” express is pulling into Hollywood station.
The next edition of “American Idol” doesn’t start until January - but the Hollywood phase of the show, where scores of hopefuls are narrowed down to 24 semi-finalists, is about to begin and a new season is officially underway.
Several changes are in the works, officials say, including:
* changing the format to let singers show other musical talents, such as guitar playing.
* many fewer “mentors,” those established musical stars like Diana Ross and Tony Bennett, who appeared every week last season and took attention away from the contestants.
* and next summer, the annual “Idol” live tour may be combined with the “So You Think You Can Dance” tour - to create a show with both singing and dancing.
“We’re bringing about 160 people back to Hollywood at the end of this month,” says “Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe…….
……The seven-city audition tour ended late last month with a few standouts, Lythgoe says.
“There are one or two that stand out - there are three girls who are superb, including one girl we saw three years ago who wasn’t an American citizen [and is now] and we’re happy to have her this year,” he says.
“And we’ve got one or two guys who are really good.” ……….
…….Lythgoe says he’d also like to see the “Idol” and “Dance” touring companies combined into one unit.
“I’d love to see the ‘Dance’ tour go out with the ‘Idol’ tour and put the singing and dancing together,” he says. “They should never be separate.
“I’d like to see that happen.”
CMT, FMNA ‘Duet’ with weekly series
CMT has greenlighted a duet-themed music competition show from FremantleMedia North America.
The network has ordered 11 hourlong episodes of the series titled “Can You Duet?” from FMNA, which also produces Fox’s “American Idol” and NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” The weekly series, set to debut in the spring, is designed to find the best country music duet in America.
Unlike other talent competition shows, each contestant will compete as part of a duo, working with different partners every week and giving viewers insight into the behind-the-scenes drama. Judges — who will mentor the contestants, critique their performances and decide who advances to the next round and who is sent home — will be announced at a later date…….
CMT, Fremantle Team on ‘Can You Duet?’ Series
CMT has teamed with FremantleMedia North America — producers of American Idol — to create a new series designed to find the best country music duet in America.
The 11-part series Can You Duet?, slated to debut next spring, will pair individual singers in a competition series to see which two can create the best duet, according to Bob Kusbit, head of development for CMT.
Each contestant will work with different partners week after week as the competition progresses. Contestants will be eliminated on a week-to-week basis until two winners are chosen…….
BOB DAVIS (OF SOUL-PATROL.COM) KNOWS HE GOT SOUL: If he didn’t he wouldn’t be in here!
…..Does Soul-Patrol sound familiar to you? It should. The term has been used in urban pop culture for at least 30 years. Most recently it has been used to describe the fan club of American Idol winner Taylor Hicks. Davis says he’s cool with Hicks’ et. al. using it. After all, it’s not like he came up with the word. In fact, the A.I. winner’s celebrity status has helped his site.
“His fan club is called Soul Patrol. When he won on American Idol that actually drove a lot of traffic to our site, so I appreciated that. But the term Soul Patrol has been used a lot of the years. There’s lots of radio shows and bands called Soul Patrol as well. I’m sure you remember the old defensive backfield of the Oakland Raiders back in the 1970s used to be called Soul Patrol with Jack Tatum and Willie Brown. The name to us really meant people who were patrolling for good music. As you know, we’ve been around for awhile. It was 1996 when we first started out website. Back then we had no knowledge of Taylor Hicks and I’m sure he had no knowledge of us as well.”…..
X-rays courtesy of Ryan Seacrest
‘American Idol’ gives local clinic funds for machine
Dental patients, your next X-ray could come courtesy of Jordin Sparks.
The “American Idol” contestant and her fellow singers in the show’s sixth season raised more than $75 million for children in poor communities across the U.S. and in six African nations. Now a little of that money has found its way to the Magic Valley and nonprofit community health center Family Health Services……
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Question about combining the singing dancing. They have two different schedules. Idol ends in June, Dance ends in August. Are they going to be on the same stage? That doesn’t make sense. From an economical point, yes, it makes sense, but not a logistical.
I don’t think it’s a good idea to combine them. I might be inclined to go see the AI tour but you couldn’t pay me to go to a SYTYCD show.
I wonder if the last SYTYCD tour lost money. I know that the last Idol tour was not as successful as in some past years. Maybe they just want to fill the other half of the arenas for the tours.
I never considered going to SYTYCD tour shows. Combining it with the Idol tour would not entice me to go. With combining the tours, all of the contestants would be short-changed due to having less stage time.
I don’t know they could have a larger size stage and pair up dancers with singers sharing. That way they’d all get even coverage.
Save the AI contestants learning any real choreography.
Maybe the AI tour will use the SYTYCD kids from the previous season? Doesn’t that tour use the routines they learned during the season? Are they going to have to learn all new routines to go with what the AI kids are singing? Seems that would jack the cost of the tour way up because they would need all new choreography. Very odd.
BOYZ II MEN DEFEND REALITY TALENT SHOWS
U.S. soul stars BOYZ II MEN have defended TV talent shows like AMERICAN IDOL insisting such programmes have become an important part of the music industry.
The format of reality TV shows has previously faced criticism for creating ‘manufactured’ artists - but the End Of The Road trio believe they would have been more successful if they had had a talent show to give them nationwide exposure.
Bandmember Nathan Morris says, “I have heard people saying these shows are cheating music, but music has changed so much in the last 15 years. It moves so fast now. When we first had a record out, it would take you six months of touring to get it into every home in America and on the radio to promote it. “But with television shows like (British talent show) The X Factor, you get put into homes straight away and your song can be out so quickly. It’s not the artists’ fault. It’s just the way of the business.”
PR-Inside
Combining SYTYCD with AI sounds like a bad idea. Either the show lasts for four hours or each performer gets very little time. Nigel’s ideas seem pretty bad lately. Plus as far as I know, SYTYCD does a short tour but good business (I’m no expert here.)
Letting the contestants play instruments? I don’t really like that idea either. It showcases their musicianship but I like that Idol is
a SINGING competition. I don’t like it when other things (dancing, bbing, playing an instrument) become important and I think it will hurt the show.
I do like the reduced number of mentors. Thank God.
I would NOT like the two shows to do a combined tour. I don’t watch SYTYCD, therefore I don’t want the dancers taking away performance time from the Idols!
I think Season 7 will be the make or break season for Idol. They lost the magic S6 and if they don’t regain it S7, the show will fade. They better pray some of those talented people have strong personalities and interesting back stories. I hope they have more rock and country singers on too. The shows needs a variety of genre.
Count me in as one of the ones who thinks this is a TERRIBLE idea. As Chicago-Sally says, they have different schedules. Either they keep the AI summer tour and use dancers from last year (who probably have been forgotten already) or they delay the Idol tour until the fall. The latter option might help them get the CDs out earlier, but AI works well as a summer tour and people buy the tickets in a post-AI euphoria. When would they sell the tickets? Same time as usual, before we meet the dancers or wait until the SYTYCD season is well underway.
How would it work on stage? Bigger stage? Two stages? Would people dance while singers sang? Would that force the singers to select songs “you can dance too”? Does that limit how much the singers can move around the stage to avoid knocking over a dancer? Do they reduce stage time for each? This year, the third place finisher got one solo. I’m not sure how happy I would be if Melinda had got less than one solo.
Here is a sampling of numbers:
Oct 19 Tampa 8420 of 8998 tickets sold $394,351 (94%)
Oct 20 Baltimore 7701 0f 8454 tickets sold $364,136 (91%)
Oct 9 Uniondale 6930 of 8590 tickets sold $349,974 (81%)
Oct 20 Miami 6998 of 7206 tickets sold $343,962 (97%)
Oct 22 Duluth 6807 of 7333 tickets sold $334,599 (93%)
Oct 7 Wachovia 5651 of 8006 tickets sold $286,381 (71%)
Oct 6 Atlantic City 5415 of 6861 tickets sold $282,632 (81%)
Oct 17 Charlotte 5553 of 6579 tickets sold $273,773 (84%)
Oct 14 Greensboro 4821 of 5883 tickets sold $241,318 (82%)
Oct 16 Hamptom 3762 of 5859 tickets sold $195,116 (64%)
Oct 12 Universty Park 3197 of 5314 tickets sold $158,496 (60%)
Of 34 concerts I have stats for, AI S6 averaged attendance of 65.8% and revenue of $357,277 per concert. Meanwhile, SYTYC averaged attendance of 83% and revenue of $294,158 (but I only looked for 11 stats for SYTYCD)
AI tends to play bigger venues and the tickets cost more so they make more money. SYTYCD does a better job at filling the venues its in (and can even outsell Idol in the same venue…e.g. in Tampa where Idol managed to only sell 7761 out of 9876 tickets. Idol did outsell SYTYDC in Wachovia)
Nooooooooooooooooo…. DO NOT COMBINE!!!!!!! I don’t watch SYTYCD and I don’t intend to. Combining the show would not get me to watch SYTYCD but it would pretty much guarantee that I wouldn’t go to the tour at all.
On a whole different topic, Blake’s album cover is supposedly out. It’s very purple and pink. I’m sure a Blaker Girl has the link. On the pro side, I like the attempt to be different. I respect the fact that Blake has his own “style.” On the con side: I don’t think it’s the most flattering picture. Blake is really very different from any other Idol #2 so far. He should sell more than Kat. After that my crystal ball gets cloudly.
Yes! Season 7!
I wonder who the “girl we saw three years ago who wasn’t an American citizen [and is now]” is. Anybody has any idea? Could we have seen her already in the auditions before? Could she be the “chosen one” this season?
I’m getting excited. :D
Some guys are late in the game. Almost a year after Taylor Hicks released his first major album, we’re just seeing this review dated Nov. 3, 2007 :
Taylor Hicks Pop Music CD Review
By Clyde Lee Dennis | Nov 03 2007
I can describe the release from Pop Music sensation, and American Idol contestant Taylor Hicks for you with just one word… Outstanding!
Unfortunately, it’s not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Taylor Hicks. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.
This CD is a nicely varied, mix of 12 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly talented artist. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Clearly drawing from what I can only imagine are his own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions of love, heartbreak, pain, failed relationships and unattainable romance. They’re all here.
The nice thing about a CD like this is with this level of talent even if Pop Music isn’t your favorite style you still can’t help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST
“Pop Music sensation”
Peace out.
Yeah, it seems like that reviewer is a bit confused…
In other news, The Amazing Race started last night and donkeys are wonderful judges of character.
How is this related to Idol?…well TAR keeps kicking Idol’s A$$ (which is another name for donkey) at the Emmys.
Oh, yes, and Ryan Seacrest’s ex-girlfriend is one of the contestants (Shana Wall). Small world.
I heart The Amazing Race. And the sooner Shana’s team is out the better. They, and Nathan and Jennifer need to be early eliminations.
One more non-idol related comment about the Amazing Race. I wanted the eliminated “couple” to stick around a little longer cuz the guy reminded me of Ross the Intern. Luuuuv that guy.
SYTYCD and Idol touring together? Why not make it a perfect trifecta and have the winning band from TNGAB as the backup. Can’t you just picture it—Season 7 winner warbling the new coronation song, “Heaven is a Rainbow in my Heart” while the next Sabra and Danny perform a lyrical dance choreographed by Mia Michaels, all to the accompaniment of the head banging, shirtless tweens, “Light of Doom”.
Shana’s team annoyed me with their intro comments and were pretty much non-entities throughout (except for whining about being terrible racers). They did keep their head in the race though, and moved up from last place to 6th by being really good at the donkey task. They sure knew how to get an a$$ to do what they want.
See, dating Ryan can teach you things that are useful later in life.
(sorry, couldn’t resist…and I like Ryan).
Stop giving Nigel ideas. If this comes to fruition, I’m personally blaming you! ;-)
I love to see the annoying, mean, and manipulating racers stick around. It makes for good viewing. As long as a deserving couple makes it to the end.
LOL Kirsten. My dislike of Shana’s team is based entirely on their opening comments. I’m not a fan of the “flirt our way thru the race” teams.
Things that make you go hmmmmm…
Yup, Lu, I wonder if the reviewer got stretch marks writin’ that line. At the very least, I hope he got paid well for his inflated opinion. (No darts, please, T fan here)
Y’all leave Taylor alone. He’s having an identity crisis. Soul Patrol v. Real Estate Mogul, whomp land v. swamp land.
I seem to remember, a few seasons ago, about this amazing “Irish girl” who completely wowed Simon but couldn’t get residence issues worked out and was never shown. Perhaps she’s the great one who’s back this year, according to Nigel.
I remember her too.
Could be…
Fox’s “America’s Next Great Band” isn’t looking so hot after falling even more in its third outing (prelim 1.0/3 in 18-49, 2.3 million).
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117975254.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
Thank goodness for the writer’s strike! (at least for us eleven who are enjoying NGAB)
Ice, ice baby
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, at least at the Orleans Arena, where NBC’s “Holiday Celebration on Ice” tapes Tuesday for broadcast Christmas Day.
Clay Aiken will sing eight numbers — and take a skating lesson from Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen, who’s joined by such skaters as world medalist (and Las Vegas resident) Surya Bonaly, plus past world champs Todd Eldredge and Yuka Sato.
“We’re working hard to not just do a skating show,” explains director and choreographer Lea Ann Miller.
And “it gives us some clout to be in Las Vegas,” she adds, noting that the Vegas setting tells audiences “it’s going to be a real show. You have a history there of quality performances.”
Wow. I didn’t know there was an MJ’s in November, 05. I found this place in Spring/summer, 06. Second, Wow. How could the ratings of the lowest rated show on broadcast TV go any lower? Can you get lower than a 1. Although, the ratings overall are terrible. It makes AI audiences of 25 - 30 million even more amazing.