I'm not exactly up to snuff on my Idol happenings lately, but I know 3 major changes are happening with this season:
1. Paula is gone (Is it appropriate to say Praise God for this?)!
2. Ellen DeGeneres will have her inaugural season...I'm undecided on how I feel about this. I do think Ellen is hilarious, but I'm just not sure how a comedian will fit in with the already time-crunched show. My instincts tell me the show will be even more rushed this season. Although, maybe it's a trade off, Ellen's joke-telling for Paula's stammering and stuttering...maybe we'll break even! Ellen was not named as a permanent judge until September, and the auditions are held throughout the summer, so Ellen will not appear in the audition episodes. Instead, guest judges will appear each week. This week we have Victoria Beckham and Katy Perry to look forward to hearing from. I'm sure they're filled to the brim with wisdom and insight into what it takes to establish a fan base and create a career out of limited talent and unlimited publicity...I mean, err, I'm sure they'll give great singing advice to all of the contestants.
3. Simon Cowell has just announced that this will officially be his last season on the show as he prepares to bring his UK hit X Factor to the States. Apparently it will air in the fall. Sadly the days are numbered for the times that we watch in wonder as Simon flippantly destroys the ambitions and dreams of doe-eyed hopefuls while simultaneously caressing his pectorals.
Also, rumor has it that Idol producers have nixed the Top 36 thing they did last season, and have opted to revert back to the Top 24 format of previous seasons. This will hopefully make the beginning part of the season seem less tedious and have better flow.
It looks like there will be 4 weeks of Audition Episodes (my least favorite part of the show), followed by 2 weeks of Hollywood Week.
So keep your eyes and ears peeled for a few special auditioners you think might make it all the way to the Top 24.
As always, anyone is welcome to participate in the pool...I just need your email address. Please send it to me via email at nicole_rena06@yahoo.com or leave it in the comments section of this blog.
