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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > December > 01 > Entry
12/1: Vague changes promised by Fox officials
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Back to work, everybody!
This story at televisioweek.com implies a few tweaks in the way “Idol” will look and feel for season eight:
“The show is more real, it’s back to its roots,” said Fox marketing chief Joe Earley. “It doesn’t have a veneer.”
Mike Darnell, Fox’s president of alternative programming, said it’s too soon to offer specifics about the changes in the works. He did say, however, that “Idol” would be “more intimate” and “more raw” than last year.
“It’s going back to letting the kids be more emotional and seeing more of their reality,” he said. “We’re going to allow the public to see a little more of their emotional state.”
Did they not show enough emotion last year? Was it too sterile?
Ever the hypster, he also thinks the talent is best since season five. (Didn’t they say last year had the most talent ever? Or do they simply say that every year?)
-MJ found out that Amanda Overmyer has told the world on her myspace page that she has an album coming out soon. We haven’t heard from her in ages, have we?
Well, I would like everyone to welcome the new edition to the Overmyer team, Solidify, my very first album!!!! Mixed, mastered, completed!!! I am so excited to share this music with you!! I really think you will be very pleased with the outcome. Quick thanks to Rocco for all the time and effort he put into it, he spent hours and hours!! It will be available for sale on my website amandaovermyer@gmail.com by either download or hard copy that will be shipped to your house. This will happen end of December/January - ish. Also, it will be available on itunes and at all of my shows. For now, we will be selling them at all of my upcoming appearances for the remainder of the year. Indy, and Chicago. They will be limited edition albums all signed by yours truely as we await our artwork and packaging for the final CD. Hope to see you all there, looking forward to hearing your comments on the new music. Thank you all for being so patient, We did it!!!
And MJ also has Lakisha Jones releasing her album Feb. 17, if you care.
-And a fashion writer is hatin’ on Jordin Sparks’ dress line for Wet Seal here.
Suffice to say if any American Idol contestant wore Jordin’s Wet Seal dresses on the show, Simon would tear her a new buttonhole. Blech, blech, blech.
Comments
By JTesla
December 1, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
Good morning everyone. I lost hope in seeing the best talent, when they hyped season 6 as being the best talent. After Josiah last year, I could do with less emotion, not more.
By Deirdre
December 1, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
I don’t see anything wrong with going back to basics. I’ve had the feeling, for the last few years that Idol only allows the contestants to talk about “approved” subjects.
I hope by “more intimate” he means the mosh pit will be eliminated. That was the most ridiculous contrivance last year. Annoying and silly, it interfered with our enjoyment and suggested that all 12 finalists had reached rock star status before we’d even gotten to know them.
The set needs to go back to a reasonable size as well. I look at season 1 sets and realize that we got to know the contestants much better because we weren’t bombarded with all the glitz.
So, if what they mean by “more intimate and more raw” is the overall downsizing of the spectacle…good.
But, if they mean they will open up each contestant’s personal life with a dull scalpel…then..no!
By Lara
December 1, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
D - I totally agree with all that you said!
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
December 1, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
hear hear Deirdre!!!!
By harrietth
December 1, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
I would welcome a return to basics. It has gotten way out of control with all the recent glitz and other additions, such as the mentors, etc.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
December 1, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
I agree harrietth … having one or two mentor nights is fine … but a whole season forcing kids to sing things they’ve never even HEARD of… that seems a LITTLE bit unfair … was it just last year they did a 50s 60s 70s and 80s nights — some of those kids were not BORN until the 80s — the late 80s at that!!! for example… I have no problem with saying “broadway night” — if that includes “off” broadway and leaves it wide open — you could do anything from gilbert & sullivan to the Who or Queen and everything in between, so each contestant can find something that suits their style of singing — some people will NEVER been ballad singers, for example, while others should stay as far away from country as possible, or rock, or frank sinatra, or …. on and on… why do they producers feel the need to force them into molds? show versatility, YES, but … with flexibility!!!
eep! linny kicks the beatup ol’ soapbox back under the desk
By JTesla
December 1, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
Linny, I think the decade thing was done for cutting the top 24 down to 12. I don’t mind the themes; if the contestants aren’t given a challenge then the show becomes very bland. With that said, I agree that they need to cut down on mentors. Force contestants to leave their comfort zone, but do away with the cheesy cross promotion of some has-been that is promoting a new release.
By Deirdre
December 1, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
I actually like the themes. It’s fun to hear a new interpretation of an old song. I don’t like the mentors, nor do I like themes that feature one particular artist. Asking those kids to do Andrew Lloyd Webber last year was off the wall. Only David Cook managed a really good rendition of a Webber song.
Rumors are floating around that an Osmond kid(yes, from THAT Osmond family) has made it to Hollywood Week.
By harrietth
December 1, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
I just find it laughable when some of those old and washed-up performers act as “experts,” advising young singers on performance. I can’t remember a single Idol contestant last year that followed any of their advice. I do not mind a theme, like linny suggested, but I hate, hate, hate the idea of contestants being made to sing songs by a particular artist or writer. Dolly Parton night sucked pretty much, for instance. I don’t mind the 60’s, or 70’s or whatever-type nights, since there are so many styles and kinds of songs to choose from. It is the pigeon-hole stuff that drives me crazy.
By kelly&carriefan
December 1, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
Hi y’all!
Hope everyone had a great holiday. Hmm, Idol possibly going back to basics…that would be good. I do like the themes, but last year’s plain just sucked (to me). Broadway, ALW…yawn. I think they should be allowed to do stuff that’s more contemporary and that people know and can sing along. Personally, I connect more with the contestants when they do that.
That said, they can skip the more emotional part. I don’t care for them manipulating the kids to fit the Idol mold. Just let them show their personalities. :)
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
December 1, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
ok, clarification — themes are ok, but as has been said repeatedly don’t do the 1-artist limitation. that’s sort of what i was trying to say, but as usual, with waaaaaaay too many words!!!
i agree, stretch them — but instead of assigning them something that is so far removed from their reality, hold them to a higher standard for what they CAN do — and please… if i hear “pitchy” one more time just because someone doesn’t like the STYLE of singing…. i may start sounding pitchy myself —- screaching!!! LOL
i don’t have a problem with doing the various decades — per se. the problem was they didn’t ALSO do current eras.
anywho… lunchtime… i think overall we’re pretty much in agreement, and the washed-up-mentor thing has GOT to GO!!!!
By Deirdre
December 1, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
I agree with you on the washed-up mentor. Seriously, how many of us want to see an aged and barely able to sing former heart throb struggling to get the notes out…after spending a day with the Idols teaching them how to sing!
k&cf…actually, it’s when they get into the newer music that I have trouble “singing along”. Most of it I don’t know. Does anyone over 15 listen to the Jonas Bros or Miley Cyrus? Cuz, ya know that’s what Idol will call “newer music”
By Nana
December 1, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
Good Afternoon to all my blog friends. Glad to hear about everyone’s Thanksgiving and that all was well with you. As you can well imagine, my family had a very sober and sad day. As I went back and read the blogs that I missed, I want to say a very big Thank You for the condolences that were posted and that my friends here were thinking about me and my family. Your prayers were appreciated. I want to share a story with ya’ll about what my brother did for me as his last surprise. A few years ago I had to have my beloved poodle that I had for 17 yrs put down. To make a long story short, a very good friend of his had a poodle that had a litter and my brother picked one out for me for Christmas and had planned to bring it to me when he came home from Alabama. I had no idea that he had done that. He knew that I wanted another black female so this is what he got. The puppy is a yorkiepoo, but when his friend asked me if I wanted it, without any hestitation, I told her yes. This was the last act of love and kindness my brother did for me and there was no way I would refuse his gift of love. I thought for two days on what to name her and Sunday morning as I sat with hubby and Dad, her name popped in my mind out of the blue. In remembrance of my brother, my puppy will be named Memory. She is 4 weeks old and on the 12th of December I’m making a trip back to Auburn AL and picking her up. I know this is long but I felt the need to share this with friends, so thank you all for letting me do it.
Now back to the blog name. AI needs to go back to the basic style of the earlier years. Make the mosh pit disappear and get back down to the nature of the show. No more sad and sob stories. There’s enough of that already, so we don’t need to see it on a reality TV show. As far as the mentors, if they feel they must have them, then don’t limit the contestants to the mentors songs only. I agree that Dolly week was a mistake. If a contestant is good enough to make the top 24, they should be able to sing any song they select for themselves. Also, do away with the contestants standing backstage to hear their name. I much prefer them sitting around on sofas and being much more relaxed looking. Oh yes, and have less commericals and cut down the suspense time before announcing who is going home. That drives me crazy and I can only imagine what it does to the contestants. It puts them on pins and needles, to say the least.
Okay, I’ve said enough this time, but will be back in awhile.
Again, thanks to all my friends.
By kelly&carriefan
December 1, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
D, eeek, I didn’t even think of that! NO Miley, no Jonas! I would definitely change the channel for that. Such a good point. I think Linny covered what I meant. Have newer stuff, but also go back to the classics everyone knows.
Honestly, I still rate Kelly’s Stuff Like That There as my fave…and that probably wasn’t her best song on Idol, but it was different. So was Carrie’s Alone. (The country girl who could rock…) Have a more broad theme, which allows for some wiggle room.
BTW, Nana…welcome back to the blog! I just read your post and wow, it was such a special gift he left you. I hope your new puppy brings you many years of love and companionship. :)
By Deirdre
December 1, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
Nana…welcome back. what a wonderful gift from your brother and what a lasting tribute you have given him by naming his gift Memory.
By harrietth
December 1, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this
Nana, welcome home and back to the blog. We’ve missed you and been thinking of you. I offered a special prayer for you on Thanksgiving. I know you needed all the strength you could muster in order to get through this sad time. New puppy will help and give you somewhere to focus your love and emotions about your brother. We love you!
By Lara
December 1, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
I prefer the themes to the mentors. But one thing….you can’t have a Broadway night and then put down a singer by calling them “Broadway”. Know what I mean?
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
December 1, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
Amen Lara, LOL!!! That one always drove me crazy anyway — broadway is just as “pop” as rock or country or whatever, just a different genre!!! if you’re good, you’re good, and if you’re not … it shows!!!
i like the idea “themes with broad leeway for creativity AND style” … if someone can take “My Way” by Sinatra and make it an enjoyable ROCK song, more power to them, (as an example)
and if someone can sing in the style of the 50s crooners, and that’s their thing, don’t dis them for taking a modern song and making a crooner-tune out of it, LOL, give them kudos for their adaptability in that way…
it’s like on DWTS — Len kept dissing Lance and Lacey for doing more modern stuff — it’s legitimate DANCE, just not his style — give them credit for doing what they do well, and stop taking off points for plain ol’ not liking the style!!!
whatever!