'American Idol' Season 12

[Native Son]

Hey, Pats, what do you think of your homeboy Keith Urban as a judge on American Idol?

(Be honest.)

 

[pat grimshaw]

Hey, Pats, what do you think of your homeboy Keith Urban …

I have to say I think higher of him as a judge than a singer— because I have NEVER listened to him sing.

I hate the whiney twang of Country and Western and I don't know why an Aussie would take it up if wasn't for the money.

And I have this really strong urge to lean over with some scissors and cut his hair— it makes him look so drooby.

 

[Sausy]

I keep wondering why they can't just get Simon back. X Factor is a hot mess and (even worse) totally irrelevant to the pop culture conversation. I can't imagine it would be that difficult to lure him back with the right amount of money.

That said, I actually think they've finally hit on the right combination of judges that harkens to the show's glory days. If they would just get rid of Randy -- like we've all been saying for years now -- and as you said, put the focus back on the contestants, then Nicki/Mariah/Keith could actually fill the original slots nicely. Nicki is clearly the new Simon, willing to call out a bad performance and just...be the bad guy. Mariah is SO the new Paula, practically starting all her critiques with "You look lovely tonight" and thereby adding that soft touch that balances out Nicki. And Keith is the new Randy because he talks funny (Australian-English vs Randy-English).

Yep, the judges in the old days served a nice compliment but it all flowed through their reactions to the singer's performances... now it's like this big thing to pull in name judges and let them be the center of attention when aren't they supposed to find, in theory, the newest pop "sensation"? Other shows doing that have become wrecks(Simon's own" X Factor" is fast becoming irrelevant here as you mentioned). Your suggestion about keeping the current newcomers and axing the tired Randy Jackson is a good one...not a huge Nicki fan but she has her part right from all I read. Thing is it was enjoyable the first few years but has become dramatically less watchable and the producers are doing everything it seems to make things worse. Change is good over time, but too much and being done without a coherent plan is a recipe for the disaster Idol is fast heading to. It's getting damn close to not only jumping the shark but flying over the moon.

 

[joesman]

For me there were two really good performances last night. I thought Candice tore a new hole in I Who Have Nothing and Burnell Taylor doing Flying Without Wings. Jolley did a lot better than I expected with Amazed.

 

[Stoowii]

Lazaro was very flat last night. I'm still a fan and would love to fuck his little brains out and I'm sure his fans will keep him there (he has the most Twitter followers of any alumni this season), but he needs to step it up big time. Hometown girl Amber did well, though. I don't know if it was Whitney-esque as Nicki mentioned, but it was still good nonetheless.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

Nicki Minaj: "Curtis if you go home, I go home."

Mariah Carey cornering Nigel during the commercial break: "Y'all better send Curtis the fuck home."

 

[slipintothefog]

I don't know if I like that they're revealing the full voting results. It just seems like a ploy to keep the fanbases of the chosen ones from getting too complacent.

Seems my hunch that Lazaro had the best chance to win out of the guys was correct, though.

 

[sammyyummy]

seeing that adolescent hormonally driven teen girls often decide the final outcome of the show, isnt having not so manly male contestants weaken the possibility of another male winner this year?

 

[joesman]

I think 4 out of the five guys are gay. Curtis got sent home so that leaves 3 out of 4.

I don't like the way they are doing results either. I don't read blogs or twitter or do Facebook so I don't keep up - and since any one person can cast as many as 50 votes by app gives a lot of power to any group that decides to throw a wrench or a bouquet of roses to any contestant.

Not as committed as yet to the show since only Burnell moves me in any way at all. Jolley I listened to without looking at him because I see plexiglass every time I look at him. He sounded good though. Lazaro, though he has a good voice, seems like he is on the verge of a breakdown any time he has to speak at any length - like when Keith asked him after his song why he chose the song and he looked pale and nervous.

When Candice walked on stage to do her song she was as confident as any singer I have ever seen and she totally hit all the right spots in the right way. I was not as bowled over by Amber as the judges wanted me to be.

 

[PreTTy PeTe]

Charlie is the worst singer this show has ever had. Seriously.

then you don't rememeber sanjaya. poor guy is singing in the nyc subway now.

http://perezhilton.com/2013-03-13-a...-subway-stations-spare-change?photo=1#gallery

 

[FanofFiction]

Lazaro is the number one male singer this week! So pumped. He wasn't actually even good this week. Glad Curtis went home. I just wasn't feeling that.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

Lazaro can't sing for shit, but he IS a fuckable white guy, so naturally he placed first among the guys. If it weren't for his stuttering, he'd probably be beating the girls too.

 

[Stoowii]

Lazaro can't sing for shit, but he IS a fuckable white guy, so naturally he placed first among the guys. If it weren't for his stuttering, he'd probably be beating the girls too.

I think he isn't as bad as you're making him out to be and he isn't white...

 

[hanzosword]

They had a ton of gay guys this season. Well, this is the only full season I ever watched before but still seemed like a lot to me lol. I didn't give Curtis any votes because his last performances weren't good and he should have auditioned for BET's Sunday Best, a gospel competition. The top picks were my top picks too. I like Devon the most out of the guys even though his last performance wasn't great. I love his voice. Kree, Candice and Amber are my favorites out of the girls.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

I think he isn't as bad as you're making him out to be and he isn't white...

My mistake. I meant to say fuckable non-black guy (since fuckable black guys don't go far on this show either). Next week is Beatles week which means you know Lazaro is doing "Imagine."

 

[Native Son]

I have NEVER listened to him sing.

That makes two of us. (Or even if I have, I wouldn't be able to identify it. ::shrug:: )

I don't know why an Aussie would take it up if wasn't for the money.

Whatever works. I really can't blame the guy, I suppose.

But he is coming off as very bland, very forgettable, even for C&W and AI. Can't imagine he's going to pick up very many new admirers. (And that would be one of the goals, wouldn't it?)

it makes him look so drooby.

If drooby means what it sounds like, then I think I have to agree. A little more flyaway and a little less Alfalfa, maybe?

 

[Spiff]

Ouch, not much buzz for AI this season. That's understandable. Still enjoyable I think. This season definitely is going to a girl. I think (hope) Kree and Candice will be the final two. They are both so naturally talented and confident. Paul Jollie leaving this week was the correct choice. Lazarro's time is coming sadly too. He just lacks the consistent talent and confidence required. But still nice to see him make it this far. I'm so sick of Jimmy, way too much airtime. He does not need to be a regular fixture each week. His advice is always way off and misguiding.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

Dear Mariah,

Hashtag Pow isn't happening any more than goosies. So please quit it and leave the quotables to Nikki Minaj.

Love,
J-Lo

PS: I'll bring Casper over for a playdate with Nick this weekend.

 

[miaedu]

'American Idol' Ratings Dip, Big Brands Still Line Up


In the heyday of "American Idol," the notion that it could fall ratings victim to a zombie slugfest or standard crime drama would have been laughable.

That was then. With Fox's singing contest shedding about 20% of its audience so far this season to hit new lows, it's been leapfrogged repeatedly in total viewers by series including the CBS procedurals "Person of Interest" and "NCIS."

In a harsher blow to a blockbuster that once ruled the advertiser-adored young adult segment, "American Idol" has been overtaken this season by AMC's "The Walking Dead," despite the addition of glossy new "Idol" judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban.

But in its 12th season, "American Idol" is managing to hit the right notes with sponsors if not always with fickle viewers: It has retained its status as TV's advertising leader among series and the loyalty of its biggest backers, including Ford and Coca-Cola.

"It's still a top 10 show," said Brad Adgate of media-buying firm Horizon Media. "Compared to several years ago, it's not the ratings force it once was. ... But even if it loses 20 percent" again, it's still valuable to Fox.

And there's this confident prediction: When it comes to advertising dollars, the series "will have the top price for the 2012-13 season," said analyst Jon Swallen of Kantar Media. Last season, "American Idol" grossed a leading $836 million in ad revenue. But the trajectory inevitably is headed down.

At the start of the 2011-12 season, "American Idol" was collecting about $500,000 for a 30-second commercial on its Wednesday episodes, said analyst Deana Myers of SNL Kagan. That put it in an exclusive top tier, along with NBC's "Sunday Night Football."

By May 2012, when Phillip Phillips had been crowned the winner, the singing contest had posted its lowest-rated season since it debuted in summer 2002, and "Sunday Night Football" had snatched the No. 1 ratings spot away from singing contest for the first time since 2003.

The result: The current 2012-13 season began with prices cut to $340,000 per spot for the higher-rated Wednesday performance night episode, Myers said. (That figure that is expected to rise as the show heads toward its finale and, presumably, bigger audiences.)

It's true that growing cable competition and the fragile economy have made the broadcast ad market vulnerable. But by comparison, ABC's sitcom "Modern Family" saw its fortunes improve, with its rate of $250,000 per commercial for the 2011-12 season rising to $330,000 at this's season start.

Another test is coming in May. At the annual "upfronts" in New York, broadcast networks will gather billions of dollars in advertising commitments for the 2013-14 season based on their series' past and predicted viewership.

In its 13th year, will the "American Idol" share of that bonanza shrink as much as this year's ratings?

"You're going to see a significant drop" in May, said Deana Myers of SNL Kagan.

But "American Idol" can claim to be a winner for Fox despite its weakened condition. Yes, "Idol" is averaging about 15 million weekly viewers this year, compared to its 2006 peak of 30 million, according to Nielsen figures.

Yes, the audience's median age has jumped more than 18 years, to 50.4, from season one to last year - meaning that youth-obsessed Madison Avenue is facing consumers more likely to be eyeing retirement funds than a prom date.

And yes, the show's alumni include success stories Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood, but more recent winners, such as Lee DeWyze and Phillips, have yet to prove themselves as stars in music, movies or elsewhere.

"Idol" also faces a crowded talent contest field and younger challengers like NBC's "The Voice."

A second, spring edition of that show debuted Monday night and was up 9 percent over its fall premiere with 13.4 million viewers.

But there is value yet to be found in the aging but still sturdy Fox show. Not many shows can draw weekly audiences of 10 million-plus today, given the splintered media world in which broadcast, cable, online amusements and video games clamor for consumer attention.

"American Idol" remains one of them and, given the challenge of keeping younger viewers from hopping to the next big thing, does a credible job of changing up its bells and whistles to keep the fickle engaged.

Reality-show touches, such as housing contestants together during filming, helped freshen the show. This season, exiting judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler were replaced as Carey, Minaj and Urban, pop stars with presumably younger fan bases, joined mainstay Randy Jackson.

The show's major sponsors appreciate what they are getting. Ford, AT&T and Coca-Cola all returned to the "Idol" fold this season despite the ratings slide. (None would comment on future advertising plans.)

"American Idol" has the right demographics for Ford, and the company's "longstanding collaboration with Fox remains a great thing for us," said Ford spokeswoman Marisa Bradley. "Idol" will help launch a new Ford Fiesta model that's "perfect for the younger generation," she said.

But keeping up appearances for that generation is costly, as the revamped judging panel showed: Fox and producer FremantleMedia North America agreed to pay close to $18 million to Carey, $12 million to Minaj and a reported $6 million take for Urban.

After the show's finale in May determines the fate of contestants, the upfronts will reveal what's in store for "American Idol" itself.

"What will the marketplace determine the value of `American Idol' to be?" said analyst Adgate. "That goes a long way to deciding, from a revenue perspective, what direction Fox wants to take the show," including production costs and the paycheck for judges. Then it's up to the prospective audience to vote.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1554511/american-idol-ratings-dip-big-brands-still-line-up

 

[Sgt Pepper]

"Get of the stage guys. Lazaro, you fell flat as a pancake."

GOD BLESS YOU NIKKI MINAJ!!!!