NBC looking at reviving "American Idol"

[only1moore]

It appears the producers have been looking for a new home, and the Peacock is eyeing the one-time ratings hit:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/american-idol-could-return-nbc-973913

 

[KML0224]

They already have that. It's called The Voice. Regardless, I wouldn't watch those glorified karaoke contests anyways!

 

[landtuna]

I agree with KML. Junk TV.

 

[TheBigA]

They already have that. It's called The Voice.

I think their success with The Voice is why they want Idol. Gives them a way to maybe rest that franchise, but continue with some form of fan-based music show.

 

[RFCCRadioAudio]

They already have that. It's called The Voice. Regardless, I wouldn't watch those glorified karaoke contests anyways!

"The Voice" is different...the singers when they qualify for the "battle rounds" are drafted to the "coaches", but it's really like they are in NCAA Basketball regions...when the "battle rounds" start, each coach has singers in his or her group face off against each other, like it would be the "Adam Levine regional" or the "Blake Shelton regional" until they chop off enough singers, then there's a loser's bracket round which brings a singer or two back into the main draw, and then it goes "Idol" until there's a winner. The Voice took Idol's idea and made it more interesting with singers fighting for elimination against each other tournament style instead of getting straight picked off Survivor style.

 

[landtuna]

I think the very worst idea in these singing shows is that the amateur's try to cover hits by (usually) accomplished professionals. They never sound as polished (naturally) and it hurts their performance. Also, the choice of which songs to cover can be good to terrible. I am not sure how much say the contestants have in the selection but there have been some truly awful ones in the past.

 

[TheBigA]

I think the very worst idea in these singing shows is that the amateur's try to cover hits by (usually) accomplished professionals.

You realize that's typically what singers do every day at millions of clubs and restaurants around the country. It's what Ted Mack started in his Original Amateur Hour radio show 75 years ago. There are opportunities for the contestants to sing original songs too. But nobody knows those songs, so you have unknown singers doing unknown songs. That's not a very commercial idea. The contestants have a say in what they sing. They get a list of songs that are covered by the show's royalty agreement. On The Voice, the contestant gets advice from their coach. Yes, song choice counts, and it often comes up during the judging period.

 

[crainbebo]

Blah! American Idol ran its course long ago. It doesn't need to be back. Is Ryan Seacrest begging for a third (or fourth) job again?

 

[landtuna]

You realize that's typically what singers do every day at millions of clubs and restaurants around the country.

That is exactly what I thought the "amateur hour" shows were designed to do - expose new talent and new material. If people tune in for that very reason there is no reason they should reject new material.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Blah! American Idol ran its course long ago. It doesn't need to be back. Is Ryan Seacrest begging for a third (or fourth) job again?

What? I thought Seacrest has 4 jobs. Three of them are at Iheartradio app. One as a Local Host at KIIS, Two Be the Voice over of all the Iheart app promos and have a national show on Ihearts various Hoc AC and CHR stations.

and the 4th is to appear on New Years TV specials.

Ain't that the fifth job for Seacrest If the idol crew really does get a new contract?

 

[davideduardo]

What? I thought Seacrest has 4 jobs. Three of them are at Iheartradio app. One as a Local Host at KIIS, Two Be the Voice over of all the Iheart app promos and have a national show on Ihearts various Hoc AC and CHR stations.

and the 4th is to appear on New Years TV specials.

Ain't that the fifth job for Seacrest If the idol crew really does get a new contract?

iHeart has a deal with Seacrest to do one thing, which is to provide content for its outlets.

Seacrest puts lots of bits and tracks into the system, most recorded. Shows for KIIS and the over the air stations that run him in different dayparts use most of the same tracks. Much of what he does is not live, but available via menu to the stations and also assembled into the streaming service. One job, multiple facets.

In addition to the New Year's Eve show for Dick Clark Productions, Seacrest has his own TV production company. He does endorsements, appearances, etc. So, like many in Hollywood, he might get a 1099 from 10 or 12 or so different companies in a year.

 

[TheBigA]

That is exactly what I thought the "amateur hour" shows were designed to do - expose new talent and new material.

Nope...not new material. That was never a big part. People are tuning in to see what they're wearing as much as anything. That was a big attraction for American Bandstand.

 

[TheBigA]

In addition to the New Year's Eve show for Dick Clark Productions, Seacrest has his own TV production company. He does endorsements, appearances, etc. So, like many in Hollywood, he might get a 1099 from 10 or 12 or so different companies in a year.

Seacrest was doing some entertainment reporting at E!, at NBC's Today show, plus they also signed him up for a couple of Olympics.

My suspicion is if they bring the show back, it might help to do a completely new approach, with a new host, to revive interest.

 

[davideduardo]

That is exactly what I thought the "amateur hour" shows were designed to do - expose new talent and new material. If people tune in for that very reason there is no reason they should reject new material.

Most club bands and singers do known songs that are audience favorites. They may toss in some original tunes, but unless the have some actual hits to their name, or want to play to a limited fan base, they have to play standards from whatever genre they specialize in.

Audiences want familiar songs that they know and can sing and move to. When I saw the Stones in October, I recall them playing one new song, and it was a good one. But they did nearly two hours of songs I knew and also knew the lyrics to. The audience went wild.

At the same concert, Dylan played quite a few less widely known songs. There was little audience response. He played only two of his big 60's songs, and the crowd went crazy for them.

 

[davideduardo]

Nope...not new material. That was never a big part. People are tuning in to see what they're wearing as much as anything. That was a big attraction for American Bandstand.

Even going back to the great grand-daddy of them all, Major Bowes Original Amateur Hour, singers did versions of famous songs. Participants who went on to success included Connie Francis and that Sinatra guy. And that was at the time when songs, not the artists, were the big draw. For years, Sinatra (as one example) was billed, if at all, on recordings in little tiny letters under the name of the song and the band leader.

 

[landtuna]

Nope...not new material. That was never a big part. People are tuning in to see what they're wearing as much as anything. That was a big attraction for American Bandstand.

Now you are planted firmly in my territory talking about AB. My female peers might have been interested in watching for new styles but that wasn't nearly the most popular thing. They wanted to see their favs lip sync the new songs. In those days there were not the plethora of venues to hear music like we have today and Bandstand was a popular venue for hearing hits and new stuff from our stars.

Addressing fashions for a moment.....we also did not have the wild fashions so popular with youngsters today. A belt in the back of a guy's slacks was enough to get them rolling. Fact is, fashions barely moved during the 60's. Guys wore shirts, ties and jackets and ladies wore big skirts or A-lines. Hair was mostly short for both sexes unless you are talking about the Fabians and Elvises of the day. Even the dances were pretty much static. Two or three major styles and half a dozen tied to songs (stroll, etc.). The dance revolution came in the first few years of the 60's. Happy Days pretty much nailed it.

 

[landtuna]

Even going back to the great grand-daddy of them all, Major Bowes Original Amateur Hour, singers did versions of famous songs. Participants who went on to success included Connie Francis and that Sinatra guy. And that was at the time when songs, not the artists, were the big draw. For years, Sinatra (as one example) was billed, if at all, on recordings in little tiny letters under the name of the song and the band leader.

Sinatra was the teen idol of his day. He couldn't sing worth a crap but the girls didn't care. In most of his early recordings he was drowned out by his backing band and that even continued into the 60's. There were dozens and dozens of other males who had much better voices than Frankie but they didn't have his female appeal (whatever that was).

 

[seatownmedia]

I don't see anything wrong with a revival. Afterall, this show was HUGE for many years. I don't know if a revival will work, but it wouldn't be the first time a network has tried to revive a hit show. Yes, most don't work, but some do. If I were in charge I would modify the name, and get a new host. Not that Ryan isn't up to it, but it just needs to be fresh. The concept worked and can work again, especially using social media for voting. I would expect this to happen, but I have no predictions on its potential success.

 

[seatownmedia]

I don't see anything wrong with a revival. Afterall, this show was HUGE for many years. I don't know if a revival will work, but it wouldn't be the first time a network has tried to revive a hit show. Yes, most don't work, but some do. If I were in charge I would modify the name, and get a new host. Not that Ryan isn't up to it, but it just needs to be fresh. The concept worked and can work again, especially using social media for voting. I would expect this to happen, but I have no predictions on its potential success.

As for Seacrest's syndicated radio show, I must say it seems to run flawlessly, atleast in my market. And it sounds local with precise timing allowing for his pre-recorded station ID's to be inserted to sound seamless. A few educated listeners will recognize no local mentions, but most don't give a flying you know what. I have heard VT'ing for decades, but he does it better than almost anyone. Not sure if the credit goes to him, or the local station, or a combination of both. Credit to KUJ-FM, Walla Walla/Tri-Cities, WA.

 

[umfan]

I'm guessing the producers hounded their contacts at networks ceaselessly, and when one from NBC took pity on them and gave them a meeting, they hyped it.

I doubt that American Idol makes a comeback. There's a reason the show was dropped by Fox.