‘American Idol’ Announces Big and New Changes for 2011 Season
No semifinals, “do-it-yourself” music video addition, removal theme nights’ are just some of the big changes taking place on the next season of FOX’s flagship reality-TV show
FOX’s American Idol is hoping to get the interest of the immediate public with the big changes awaiting the show’s return next year.
Amongst the big changes, besides the new additions to the judges’ panel (Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez), will be the removal of the Top 24.
“I didn’t think [the top 24] were very good; I was bored with them by the time they got there,” American Idol executive producerNygel Lythgoe told TVGuide.com.
The cut of the number of finalists, from 24 to 12, also led to an important change of pace regarding theme weeks. Rather than celebrating particular artists or genres, the show will focus on decades. It’ s still unclear if the top 12 finalists will be chosen by the panel of judges or by the public’s votes.
Another big addtion added to this season, the finalists will participate in a number of new challenges, including making a music video, promoting themselves as singers and creating an awards show-caliber performance that includes a band and dancers, according to Billboard.com.
Um, sounds like FOX is tweaking Idol into “The Sims: the Making the Band Edition.”
FURTHER READING >>
‘American Idol’ to Cut Top 24, Add Music Video Round Next Season – Billboard.com
‘American Idol’: New night, music videos, no semifinals, one-hour result shows… – Entertainment Weekly