Will He Stay??? Will He Stay? An American Idol 9 Thread

Simon Cowell’s brother says the next season of American Idol will be the judge’s last. Tony Cowell said in his podcast, “The Cowell Factor,” that a statement was being prepared that would certify that the British judge was leaving the Fox singing competition at the end of 2010. It was only a couple of months ago that Paula Abdul announced she was not returning to American Idol. She has since been replaced by talk show host and comedienne Ellen Degeneres.

Simon Cowell plans to concentrate on bringing his U.K. talent show, The X Factor to the U.S. next year, his brother said on the podcast (which has since been removed.) A Fox spokeswoman had no comment. And, messages left for Cowell’s spokesman were not immediately returned.

Simon Cowell's departure from "American Idol" is imminent according to some sources; however, if you listen to host Ryan Seacrest, he claims to tell an entirely different story. We will have to wait and see if Simon actually does decide to leave the long-running reality show to start an American version of "X Factor," but many oddsmakers are already trying to figure out who could be his replacement.

As of right now, the favorite appears to be "America's Got Talent" judge (and former "Celebrity Apprentice" winner) Piers Morgan, followed up be Sean "Diddy" Combs. Out of the two Diddy seems like the smarter choice, since he has a vast knowledge of the music industry and has worked to sign artists in the past. Piers is fantastic in his own right, but he is actually more of a journalist at heart (though the news about him pretending to marry Paris Hilton was quite funny). Piers along with Ellen DeGeneres would leave Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson as the only two judges with significant music backgrounds.

What do you think: is Piers the best candidate to replace Simon if he leaves? Let me know your thoughts with a comment and stay tuned for more "American Idol" news.

background:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Fo31Bth4Xw

copy/paste stuff about next season, very good news IMO:

-Back to the top 12 boys/top 12 girls semifinal
-No wildcard
-Premieres on January 12th
-Semifinals start Feb 23rd
-Finals start March 23rd
-Ellen will debut during Hollywood week

is the major difference between Idol and X Factor the ages admitted and the grouping (boys/girls/over 25s/groups)? is that worth starting a new show?

-Back to the top 12 boys/top 12 girls semifinal

what was it last year? this 12b/12g system reminds me of the great slaughter of 2008 (asia'h, alexandria, etc.)

what's the highest percent "yes" randy will reach during the audition rounds this year? i saw a "5 billion percent yes" in a commercial... and i think he will hit 10 pretty easily.

last season was 3 groups of 12, in each group the top 3 would advance. in the top 12 boy/girl final they gradually whittle the two groups to 6. it's a lot less brutal and i think a lot better.

if Simon jumps to X Factor it's not to fill a void in programming, Simon owns the X Factor franchise and is the executive producer, he makes way more $$$$ from X Factor than Idol.

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/01/11/simon-cowell-confirms-his-departure-from-american-idol-this-season/

American Idol fans, start preparing those goodbye tributes: Simon Cowell announced today that this year’s ninth season will be his last. The irascible judge told the nation’s TV critics in Pasadena, CA that he will team with Fox to launch a stateside version of his popular UK show The X Factor in 2011. “We did talk about me staying on both shows but when we looked at the practicalities of that, it was impossible,” Cowell told the press. “In my opinion, it’s like having a good player and a good football team. The two have to be okay together. I believe it’s not my show, but it’s still very close to me. We made sure when we did this, that I would be protected. I’m confident it will continue to be the No. 1 show. Everyone is committed to keeping it that way.”

Like Idol, X Factor is a televised talent search that pits contestants against one another and the prize is usually a recording contract. The UK version was responsible for the launch of Leona Lewis, among others. The show already airs in many countries. “It’s a big, big production,” Cowell said. “In the UK, we have 200 applicants every year. There is no upper age limit on X Factor and groups are allowed to enter. We gave ourselves time to set it up. It gives us time to work out who the judging panel will be.”

But no, I pay my respects and I'm through
Hug my crew, and maybe shed a tear or two
And I wanna get blitz
Grab my 40 ounce and then I reminisce
About a brother who had to be the one and only
So I dedicate this to my dead homiez...

I'm looking forward to X Factor, though. All my English/Irish friends seem to love it (well, not ALL.. but SOME).

If it leads to a Rage Against the Machine revival here, there will be blood.

This is HIGHlarious!

http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/2429712633.html

Idol's New Judge Will Lose Middle America

The FOX hit TV show American Idol had families across the country watching somewhat wholesome singers compete for votes from mostly tween girls. Last season's loss of the more talented performer, Adam Lambert to Kris Allen may be attributed to a wholesomeness factor often ignored by the entertainment industry.

I propose that those behind American Idol view Lambert's defeat as evidence of an underlying anti-gay bias among voters. As good community activists in the skewed world of Hollywood, this season's change in judges was an opportunity to confront this homophobic bias. Thus viewers to the ninth season will get a steady dose of wit from one of the nation's most well known lesbians, Ellen DeGeneres.

In the seconds I have before the blogs tear into me as a bigot; allow me to give you a glimpse into how many across America's Bible belt and throughout the Midwest will be affected by this change in the show's judging personnel.

Lambert's male-on-male activities garnered the majority of 2009 Idol news coverage. Rather than distance themselves from what many American's consider perverse behavior and increase the show's image as family entertainment; the producers of American Idol went the opposite direction to make the show edgier, more trendy.

Like it or not, the multi-talented DeGeneres is more known for her same-sex sexual preference than any expertise in the music business. The most visible change in the show is one more step in making sexuality the prime topic when discussing American Idol.

Call them ignorant, homophobic, whatever, the fact remains that fewer families will view the upcoming Idol season because young girls and their traditional families are uncomfortable with the topic of homosexuality. I am confident that the producers of American Idol will be shocked when their market share has cratered, and will in all honesty find a dozen other reasons for the drop in ratings. After all, what successful television producer could have a clue what wholesomeness is as long as they see promoting homosexuality as a virtue.

Young girls are uncomfortable with homosexuality? I thought they were the ones that write all of the slash fiction out there.

The notion that adding not only a lesbian, but Ellen Degeneres in particular, will make the show more edgy/trendy is so out of touch with the world of 2010 that I wonder if this guy ever even watches ANY television at all.

TONIGHT!

The perception that writer has of American Idol's audience is totally bizarre. What Johnny Fever said about television (Will + Grace, last night's episode of House, etc), but also about music too. As though gay musical acts can't be / haven't been huge successes.

:(

so psyched, though

me too!

I swear it starts earlier every year. Not that I mind of course...

I miss Paula.

Posh as guest judge. Yea!!

wow, that "House of the Rising Sun" audition was so awkward I turned my head away ("you need a spanking"? WTF, Kara!)

also thank god kris allen already filled the "guy with an acoustic guitar" slot, can't imagine anyone hotter (erm, or better) for that position

That dude reminds me of someone I know, but I'm still not sure if I loved or hated it.

Yeah, i mean, he was totally fine, as good as lots of people they've shown. But I haven't actually loved anyone yet. "It" girl, the one who did Alicia Keys, was sooo generic, wtf!
As a person, really like that guy who broke both his arms, though his audition didn't blow me away or anything.

I am about 10 minutes in, and man did I miss this show.

I liked the one 16 year old girl...interesting that jazzy auditions were the trend, I was not expecting that. Otherwise, didn't see anyone I really liked all that much.

I laughed when generic r&b girl said she was going to sing "If I Ain't Got You"; a choice that was as original as she was.

I was bummed they didn't send the House o' Rising Sun guy to Hollywood, because he was a total treat. Just hilarious. Also, a better singer than some of the people who got through.

yeah, he had a good voice. there were two people who got in who were particularly unimpressive:

http://3391.voxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Luke-Shaffer-Audition-01-2010-01-12.jpg

and one pretty girl whose voice was not particularly inspiring, can't find her picture

the guy in the picture inspired my kris allen post!

and i laughed when they told generic r&b girl that she dressed like a star because a second earlier i thought to myself that she was dressed like a major record label singer-songwriter failure

basically she was like a young version of kara

which is maybe why kara called her the best, trying to live vicariously, etc. etc.

and did I hear Kara tell her she had the total package? I immediately started looking for my cyanide pills when I heard that one. I would have thought after disastrous reviews Kara would have come back this season with a personality transplant but no such luck.

Kara's "total package" is Randy's "for me for you"

I liked the one 16 year old girl..

Which one? I liked "Hallelujah" (Down Syndrome backstory) more than "At Last" (Alzheimer grandma.) Too much of the typical Idol-melisma in the latter for me. Last girl who sang "Blue Skies" was good too, but I'm predisposed to liking those jazzy auditions over the pop ones. I can't remember, did the "Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead" gal get through?

it was At Last that I preferred, but neither really blew me away. Was unimpressed with her sob story though - "old grandma"? What a trooper.

Guy-wise I'm remembering backstories and not singing performances (boat guy, cancer guy, broken arms guy...) And the big Italian oversinging Muddy Waters totally seems like this year's Taylor Hicks.

Yeah, his was the type of performance where afterward you still don't really know whether they can sing or not.

btw another thing I am hoping for is some reverse fakeouts; we see so many "they might be good - never mind"s but they rarely pull the "wow they'll suck - oh wait". It worked for Susan Boyle...

this was terribly boring

I didn't even watch! I saw the first five minutes, and there seemed to be such an emphasis on the corny "inspirational" human interest angle I decided to pass.

Muddy Waters guy will flame out in Hollywood week, I guarantee it.

I liked the Muddy Waters guy, mostly because he came across as one of the nicer people to come on the show (though his response to getting the gold ticket was a bit much). I cringed a bit when Kara told him "I bet your mom makes some good sauce" or whatever it was. I know she was trying to rep her Italian roots, but it was still a bit uncomfortable for me, in a millionaire trying to act normal kind of way.

Strangely, I thought that Posh Spice came across as much nicer and more down-to-earth than any of the other judges, much more so than I would have expected.

That House of the Rising Sun dude was great, loved the completely misplaced arrogance.

Otherwise the show was incredibly dull and tedious. I'm really sick of the endles auditions each season. I wish they'd skip right to Hollywood or the actual competition.

I also with they'd allow in at least a few singers with more eccentric or unusual vocal styles.

Strangely, I thought that Posh Spice came across as much nicer and more down-to-earth than any of the other judges, much more so than I would have expected.

really? i thought she seemed sort of cold..."you could work in retail"?

i mean, that could be a compliment, but coming out of her mouth, it came across as "you could go in the back and grab my shoes for me"

kris allen already filled the "guy with an acoustic guitar" slot, can't imagine anyone hotter (erm, or better) for that position

― autotuna fish (Tape Store)

Finally! You come out with the REAL reason you disliked Adam Lambert. As if we didn't know. ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjX9kMZzasM

he's so short, all my imaginary boyfriends are at least 6'

Oh man, this hillbilly dude's situation is making me cringe. >_<

Wait, was Mary laughing or crying?????

I was pretty sure it was laughter.

Wow it really freaked me out at first.

Especially if he did it in the UK before the US.

I can't wait for this season to be over. It has been really shit.

he used A Moment Like This in in the UK too, and it's not as if Americans are going to have any idea that it's a rehash. And lots of ideas from X Factor trickle into Idol.

That video of 13 year-old Crystal is really kind of good, am I wrong?

Pretty voice but a little too Starbuck-sy for my taste.

If there was ever a time for one or more of the judges to pull out the tired old karaoke critique, it was when Lee sang "Beautiful Day." Granted I'm something of a U2 apologist, but Lee Dewyze is no Bono.

Anyway, I'm torn on whether or not there should've been an actual finale song for them. They've done it eight other years, so why are they doing covers this year? Half of the joy of the finale each year is getting to hear the terrible song they have to sing.

But we all agree that Lee sucked tonight, right?

Half of the joy of the finale each year is getting to hear the terrible song they have to sing.

And in Lee's case, how were you disappointed?

Well, it's usually a terrible song no one's heard before that night.

also Crystal didn't touch Kelly (not that many can):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shTQ5UTbfsM

I'll be interested to hear Crystal's studio version of "Up to the Mountain" anyway.

Tonight VFTW recap was delightful:

Wait a minute. You mean the Idol judges started pimping Lee DeWyze and backing off on Crystal Bowersox not because they wanted Lee to win but because they wanted to pretend as if this season was still up for grabs? You don’t say! For those of us who saw this coming from a mile away, it makes voting for Lee DeWyze tonight especially hilarious. The guy can’t sing worth shit and if he somehow receives enough sympathy votes to get the title, hilarity will ensue. So will VFTW prevail or will Crystal Bowersox win the title she actually deserves? Either way, one thing is clear. This show is so almost cancelled.

Lee chose to reprise “The Boxer” as his first performance. It was basically as boring as it was the first time. There’s nothing else to say about it except to again laugh at the fact that he mumbled while singing about mumbling. Randy gave him 5 yos. Ellen says this performance was better than the first time. Kara says Lee needs to punch harder. And Simon says the performance was a “kiss on the cheek when I want a kiss on the lips.” I’d question Simon asking Lee for a kiss, but then I remembered that Crystal’s teeth make just about anyone else’s mouth seem appealing.

Crystal chose to reprise “Me and Bobby McGee.” She’s definitely no Chile, but she’s not bad. As the performance goes on, she gets a lot more manic and screams a lot more than she did last time. Either she’s nervous or she’s trying to take the judges’ advice and scream to show emotion. Either way, yeah, the performance gets bad at the end there. Randy gives her one yo. Ellen says that Crystal is compelling on stage. Kara says that the performance shows that Crystal has fire in her belly. That’s not fire, that’s indigestion from realizing she may be stuck releasing “No Boundaries Part Two.” Simon says that Crystal hasn’t been great the past 3 weeks but now she’s back at her best.

Simon Fuller picks “Everybody Hurts” for Lee. And everybody hurts from Lee’s awful voice. As he starts to scream-sing “No! No! No!” he doesn’t realize that most of America is screaming the same thing. There’s another choir this time just like “Hallelujah”, but the choir doesn’t drown out Lee like last time so you can hear just how terrible he is. Randy gives Lee one yo. Ellen says that Lee was off with his singing but she doesn’t care because it’s more about the performance. Yes, being off key doesn’t matter one bit, and I appreciate that wise advice from music professor and 5 time Grammy winner Ellen DeGeneres. Kara says it wasn’t a perfect vocal but she loves that about him. Now when Ellen says it, I can forgive her because she has no music background. But Kara has actually chosen music as her profession and she writes horrible abortions known as songs for other people. So it’s just inexcusable. Simon says the song went off melody and Lee seems too nervous. It’s not nerves, Simon. It’s the same off key bleating he’s been doing all season.

Simon Fuller picks “Black Velvet” for Crystal, as if the show hasn’t killed this terrible song enough. The arrangement is kind of interesting, but I can’t help but notice that Crystal keeps screaming off key. It’s nowhere near as bad as Lee, but she’s really developed a knack for terrible screeching these last few weeks. It’s the age old VFTW conundrum – (sort of) annoying screechy diva versus fake rocker with the goat vibrato. Randy gives it 2 yos. Ellen says it was fantastic. Kara says tonight is the night to give it your all and kill yourself on stage. It’s true, you might as well kill yourself on stage tonight to save yourself the embarrassment of being crowned the winner of the worst season of Idol ever. Simon says that he is allergic to that song because so many people murder it on the show, but he thought Crystal nailed it.

Lee ends his reign of terror on Idol with a cover of U2’s “Beautiful Day.” So the show went from having awful amateur songwriters write the winning song to an awful professional songwriter (Kara) writing the winning song to just giving the final 2 cover songs? Seems appropriate enough. It’s not worth wasting time writing a song about butterflies, unicorns, pots of gold, and such for these two in the grand scheme of things. Lee waits until the end of the night for his worst performance, screaming out, “I know I’m not a hopeless case.” I hope not either, because if this guy wins, Idol will be even more of a laughing stock than it already is. As Lee starts screaming “TOUUUUUCH ME!!!!!” I about lose it from laughter. This guy is so bad. So so bad. I am still amused at this. I know the producers wanted him in the finals against Crystal so it’d be an easy win for her, but man, they really picked an excellent goat (sorry, Casey). Randy gives it 2 yos. Ellen is glad that Lee was fully present for the song. Small accomplishments are always best when working with people with little talent. Next week, Lee will attempt to sing one note in tune. Kara says that Lee was swallowed by the song and that he had some good moments and some not so good moments. Simon says this competition was designed for someone who needs a break, and he’s glad Lee made it this far. Ever thought that Lee didn’t get his big break in singing because… he has no talent? Foreign concept, I know.

Crystal Bowersox gets to perform a cover of “Up to the Mountain” as he single. The song is completely acoustic, which would clearly not work on the radio. So this year, Idol viwers get their choice of off-key screaming or bland acoustic guitar as their choice of a radio single. Obviously, this must be keeping everyone enthralled. I do like that Crystal sang “until the day I expire” as she looks like she expired months ago. But she did sing this one much better than the last 2, albeit still with some screaming for no reason. Randy gives it one yo. Ellen says there isn’t one contemporary artist out there that Crystal can be compared to. For some reason, Ellen sees this as a good thing and not the kiss of death it obviously is for Crystal’s career. Kara says that tonight Crystal’s walls came down. Crystal then kisses Simon’s ass and wishes him luck in the future, as if he can’t buy luck with the gazillion dollars he made whoring out karaoke performers on television. Simon calls her performance “outstanding” as his final critique.

So let’s see. The final score, if you’re keeping track, is 8 yos for Lee and 4 yos for Crystal. Since Randy has no idea what talent is, that must mean that Lee is doubly as sucky as Crystal and deserves our votes. Right on, dawg. Obviously Crystal is going to win, but if Worsters can vote hard enough, we can pull off a Lee victory and have a moment almost as funny as Kris winning last year. So let’s get to it everyone. 4 hours of voting is not for the faint of heart, so just set up DialIdol and let it run. Much easier that way. And let’s hope Lee pulls it off. I’ll be live tweeting the finale @votefortheworst so follow me if you don’t already.

Signing off for the season, it’s been fun. No it hasn’t. It’s been terrible. And it’ll be worse next year. But I’m a glutton for punishment.

Managed to stay awake last night (barely) but then the residual effects made me fall asleep during "Glee."

Dial Idol has Lee winning it by a sizable margin tonight, and they've been 100% accurate on the final every year they've been around. For whatever reason, Lee seems to have a corner on all the important demographics (despite the fact he's not really so good).

Anyway, it seems kind of fitting that he would win the shittiest season in the show's history.

Apparently there will be a Fantasia/Kelly duet tonight. ANYTHING to distract us from Lee winning is fine with me.

For whatever reason, Lee seems to have a corner on all the important demographics (despite the fact he's not really so good).

it's like i said upthread, as the show's viewership has declined it's become more dominated by white women who just champion any young white guy who'll make bland adult alternative albums no matter how good or bad a singer he is.

Lee was terrible last night, I'm not going to freak out if he wins but he seriously dropped the ball. Crystal's first two performances weren't that hot either. Crappy end to a crappy season imo. When does X Factor start?

btw did Crystal boff the opening verse of Black Velvet or what, I noticed that she's done that a few times this season too

LOLLLLLLLLLL

stupidest (as in, 'most unintelligent') winner yet?

if someone like David Cook who can stay in tune for a whole song and has a personality can't be turned into a big star I don't have a lot of hope for Lee.

the contestants this year were rather fond of going off on incomprehensible tangents, weren't they, Siobhan nevar forget

Congratulations America on crowning Taylor Hicks Lee Dewyze your 2010 Idol!

(Seriously, this dude's gonna sell about 25K records, tops.)

For a finale show that featured so many artists I love (Daryl Hall & John Oates, Alice Cooper, Xtina, Janet Jackson, Chicago), it was about the duddest thing to ever dud across my tv screen.

RIP American Idol, it was fun while it lasted.

Chris Jericho on twitter just now: "Congratulations to Lee Dewyze, the most boring Idol winner of all time...."

I never watched the guy wrestle, but he seems pretty awesome in all other endeavors.

W
T
F

hearing his "beautiful day" for the first time... this is some kind of twisted joke, isn't it?

i'm sure this fellow will follow in the long lasting and high impact careers of taylor hicks, david cook and kris allen

Kris Allen will be fine, by the way.

And David Cook's first album went platinum, his second is coming out this year. I'm not a fan, but it's a bit early to call him a failure.

Also sick of people using this Adam-Kris comparison. For one, Adam isn't a lot more successful than Kris (w/r/t sales and output, both careers have been pretty disappointing so far tbh, but I wouldn't write off either of them--they're intelligent guys). Also, Kris actually had understandable momentum going into the finale, and he's a way better vocalist than Lee. And also also, that was a much stronger matchup, in part because they're both incredibly likeable guys.

hahaha what a terrible season

Chicago, Joe Cocker, Hall and Oates ... AI S9 finale or American Bandstand 33 1/3 anniversary special?

iirc all of those guys can at least kinda sing?

i dunno just smdh i guess

yeah, seriously, who comes up with their ideas? like how did an idol performance of "school's out" make it to the finale? my only guess is GLEE?

lee won, guys

Dang, tuned in late, missed Alice Cooper. But the whole over-the-top cavalcade of Hall/Oates/Chicago/Janet/pants on the ground guy/William Hung/every former contestant they could muster etc. etc. was extremely LOLworthy.

Joe Cocker looks like Redd Foxx these days.

Am I wrong for really liking that Christina Aguilera performance?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1176/825246825_9f2c737c76.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ynpXE4BgpGE/SNGHBWqXLSI/AAAAAAAAFLg/3xp_FyhUxgM/s400/Sanfordb.jpg

http://stupidtimemachine.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/popeye.jpg

Am I wrong for really liking that Christina Aguilera performance?

I thought it was good too, translucent pants and all.

so basically Vote For The Worst has completely taken over American Idol

I am okay with that, btw

I seriously doubt there's enough VFTWers obsessive enough to spend enough time redialing to skew the results. They couldn't keep Megan Joy or Tim Urban around. I really think tween girls and hausfraus (as VFTW call them) are the deciding factor.

so is it a fact now that a woman can't win american idol anymore? i mean, this was supposed to be the girls' year, but mediocre-to-bad guys like andrew garcia, tim urban, and aaron kelly stuck around to the late rounds. and between crystal and lee, the talent gap was enormous, yet lee somehow still prevailed. if the season 1 finale was replayed, does anyone still see kelly clarkson beating justin guarini?

Imagine a universe where Justin beats Kelly and Ryan Seacrest quits and Brian Dunkleman stays

We would probably all have hoverboards by now

haha

So apparently Crystal was on Seacrest's radio show this morning and said she broke up with her boyfriend yesterday morning before getting ready for the show. If she and Lee start dating, I'm going to groan so loud it can be heard on the other coast.

he wore America pants for her on TV and she dumped him? ice cold

he dumped her, actually

Todrick Hall still rules:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r7mGAxWB04