By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, originally filed Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014
I watched the first three hours of "American Idol" season 14 auditions covering January 7 and 8. I think that's the most advance screening hours "Idol" has ever offered.
But the show that once had no need to toot its own horn is now just another TV show trying to get attention. And I'm still here helping them out for the handful of you dedicated followers.
"Idol" has evolved from providing us TV writers VHS tapes to nothing (because the show didn't need to give us anything for a time) to DVDs to online streams.
The medium may change but the show is still what we know and love - or have long since given up on. "Idol" no longer focuses on the terrible singers but that's been the case for years, especially since Simon left town. The formatics should feel familiar even with very mild tweaks. And yes, there are a few excellent singers in the bunch, thank goodness.
Here are some more observations:
- Amazingly, for the first time in 14 seasons, "Idol" shows what it's like when contestants are on the arena floor for the very first audition with the first line of producers. What took them so long to do that?
- You now see and hear more of the behind-the-scenes crew and producers as they hover around the contestants and ask them questions.
- At the same time, 'Idol" still gives viewers the impression the first-round auditions at the arenas are happening virtually the same time as the later rounds when the judges see the contestants. Those two are often weeks, if not months, apart. They tell contestants to wear the same thing on the day they meet the TV judges as they do on the first day of auditions.
- With fewer people auditioning, "Idol" has largely cut out the shots of Ryan Seacrest in front of huge crowds making his pronouncements. The huge crowds no longer exist. He no longer brags about 100,000 people auditioning, which for many years was an exaggeration anyway. It's probably more like 20,000 nowadays.
- Shows now provide hashtags people can use while watching the show. "Idol" attempts to be hip at one point with this hashtag: #TurnUpForIdol. Nice try. #Notreally.
- "The most fun I've had in months," - said J. Lo after the very confident "Stay With Me" dude slow danced with her. ("Idol" has already released a clip of Michael Simeon.)
- "Can you believe it's been 14 years?" - Ryan Seacrest opines during a break. "I was 12!"
- J. Lo couldn't understand a bubbly Mississippi girl when she said "Daddy," which bemused Keith Urban (long-time Nashvillian) and Harry Connick Jr. (Mr. New Orleans). The woman's strong Southern drawl made it sound like "Diddy."
- HCJ does his rendition of what he thinks Bigfoot would sound like. He also imitates a turtle. Later, he shows off his piano skills with a super fan. This year, I don't think he will be cradling a contestant in his arms, though, like he did in 2013.
- The editors show a contestant who is telling others that she can't wait to see "Mariah and Nikki." Oops. When a producer tells her who the judges really are, she draws a blank on Harry Connick Jr. Who?
- Producers are much looser in terms of allowing musical accompaniment. No need to go a capella at this stage. Some bring guitars. Sometimes, long-time "Idol" coach Michael Orland provides piano background. One woman in hour three plays the piano herself.
- A teen from Springhill, Tenn. who played guitar with Keith Urban at an awards show in 2012 after winning some sort of contest, gets to sing this time around and he's pretty darn impressive singing a Keith album track "Georgia Woods." He has all the makings of a potential finalist: strong voice, confident, attractive, sweet and warm.
- The second hour features "Idol" bonafides with video of Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Phillip Phillips and Kelly Clarkson. No sign of Candace Glover and Caleb Johnson!
- While wackadoodles are at a minimum nowadays, there is a woman who likes to squish her face a lot and thinks it's hilarious to tell folks she can't wait to meet "Jennifer Lawrence." She also does her audition on her knees. Don't ask.
About the Author
