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Buckle down … “Idol” romps back tonight
Dear “American Idol” fans:
Our lives as we know them end at 7 o’clock tonight. That’s when Fox’s wildly popular singing competition returns for its eighth season.
Two hours of auditions and shenanigans tonight; two more hours of the same Wednesday night.
And so it will go. “Idol” is one of those shows that doesn’t make sense to record for later viewing. People talk about who sang the flattest or best, and which judge appeared to be totally bonkers the first-thing the next day at school or work. You’ve got to watch it live or not at all.
Producers have promised less time with the excruciatingly bad auditioners and more time with the promising contestants. On behalf of civilized viewers everywhere, thanks.
Apparently tonight’s first look at the auditions, taped weeks ago in Phoenix, does serve up an unfortunate young woman in a teen-weeny bikini and a man who sweats profusely.
But such embarrassments will be at a minimum this season, we’re told, and the focus allegedly will be on the better wannabes.
Tonight we meet new judge Kara DioGuardi, a songwriter-producer who joins Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson.
Those of you who followed my colleague/pal Gary Dinges’ “Idol” blog on Austin360.com for the past several seasons may already know that he has decided to step away from perpetual blogging and have some semblance of a life.
I won’t pretend to be as devoted to either “Idol” or late-night blogging as Gary has been, but I will serve up my take on the goings-on most mornings-after, on this very TV blog. It’s the least (and actually the mos) I can do.
As always, we welcome your opinion on the good, the bad and the simply ear-shattering folks you’ve seen on the show.
Last season “Idol,” like just about every other show on TV, experienced a ratings sag. But to sag from 31 million viewers a week to 28 million and still finish the season as the No. 1 show on television is not much of a problem.
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By austinights
January 14, 2009 2:29 AM | Link to this
Ugh...have had enough of Idol. They are so close guarded they are even going after a strip club in South Austin for using the name - Stripper Idol. That's a bit desperate in the name of trademark or copyright infringement. Bummer that FOX cancelled Prison Break, but I guess it was starting to run its course. All I know...Jack is back!