American Idol - Season 7

Greg_S_H · 01-05-2008, 08:55 PM

The commercials are running, it's listed on my DVR, so I guess it's time for this season's Idol thread! It debuts a week from Tuesday. You feelin' it, dog? I'm ready.

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Mikah Cerucco · 01-06-2008, 03:04 PM

I never vote, but I'll be watching, especially when they're on the small stage with the full band (my favorite part of the show). I don't know what that stage of the show is called, but I think it's Top 24 that perform there, working down to the Top 12 that go on to the big stage with a full audience. I absolutely hate the "worst of" stuff, but I know of no easy way to skip all that stuff and get to the real singers, so I trudge through it each season.

Corey3rd · 01-06-2008, 03:53 PM

it'll be interesting to see what the press coverage is like since Reuben and Taylor Hicks have been dumped from their labels. And for all Simon's "that's Broadway" critiques, a lot of the top folks have found work on Broadway.

Greg_S_H · 01-06-2008, 08:55 PM

I first started watching last season, so it's kind of odd to think that the core group has been chosen and some of them are about to become household names. I just wish the judges would make a solid effort to keep the joke contestants like Sanjaya out of it. Would ratings really suffer if all 24 seemed viable out of the gate?

Mikah Cerucco · 01-06-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Would ratings really suffer if all 24 seemed viable out of the gate?

I don't know, but if you stick around this thread, you'll hear some folks say they only watch the beginning to see the "wort of" contestants, then they tune out. I see similar comments all around the net. I have no idea how prevalent such viewership is. I'd think ratings increase as the season goes on. On the other hand, I'd think they'd drop the worst of stuff if it wasn't selling.

Greg_S_H · 01-06-2008, 10:45 PM

I don't mind seeing morons in the audition episodes, but I'm talking about people actually selected by the judges to go on to the competition. Some of these people, it's hard to believe they weren't picked just so the audience would have someone to root against. Joke contestants. If that's true, I wish they would cut down on that and try to find 24 people who, at first blush anyway, seem like they could go on to the end and not make a joke of the proceedings.

Aaron Silverman · 01-07-2008, 01:21 PM

IIRC, Sanjaya didn't really suck until they got to the viewer-vote rounds.

EricSchulz · 01-09-2008, 04:31 PM

I read recently that a new "twist" this season is the contestants will be allowed to provide "accompaniment" but I don't know if it was for the initial try-outs or for the whole season. It also said that the focus on guest coaches will be cut back this season.

Greg_S_H · 01-09-2008, 04:34 PM

That sounds interesting, though it could give an edge to those who can play an instrument.

Aaron Silverman · 01-09-2008, 05:04 PM

Too bad about the guest coaches -- the cool ones were really fun.

Elizabeth S · 01-09-2008, 05:11 PM

I really hope a rocker goes a long way this year -- last year was terribly boring, and yet I somehow couldn't quit watching!

Mikah Cerucco · 01-09-2008, 07:56 PM

Canadian Idol allowed instruments this year and I enjoyed some of the performances from the acoustic guitar players.

Dwight Eon - Kiss From a Rose (Seal)
3 guys - Listen To The Music (Doobie Brothers)

I don't remember how far into the competition they used the instruments, but I have no trouble seeing someone like (for instance) Bo Bice giving even better performances with their "crutch".