CliqueClackAmerican Idol alumni … as judges?
This is one of the “fixes” the ‘Idol’ Powers That Be intend to use to right their badly listing ship? I don’t have a good feeling about this …
I wasn’t expecting to discuss anything post-season where American Idol was concerned. But I have people watching my back here on CliqueClack. (Lord knows someone needs to monitor my activities … uhm … I mean … watch my back.) This particular rant post comes courtesy of my CC buddy Chuck Duncan. You can thank him for instigating what you’re reading. Please send your cards, letters and otherwise to: Chuck Wash, c/o CliqueClack.
Think about it a minute: There was a lot going on even before the start of Idol’s latest season got underway. (Judge in-fighting, format changes, talk of doing away with mentors.) So why would I think anything different post season finale? Of course the drama continues. And, for a change of pace, it doesn’t involve sniping cat fighting between Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey. (Surprise!)
The Current Big News? Idol season 3 alum and success story Jennifer Hudson will be sitting behind the judges’ table next season. Additionally, the two other spots (there will only be three judges on the upcoming season, not four) are for season 1 winner (and success story in her own right) Kelly Clarkson and one of two past contestants, Adam Lambert or Clay Aiken.
My immediate reaction on hearing this? *ugh* … with an appropriate lower case “u” in the interjection.
I’ll admit: After all the hoopla of prestige/celebrity/”musically proficient” judges, ad nauseam, I understand going forward why Idol wants to get back to basics when it comes to those who critique the show’s contestants. And, honestly, the first folks who came to my mind past contestant-wise included Jennifer Hudson (Grammy Award-winner and more), Kelly Clarkson (multi award winner) along with the most lauded Idol contestant of them all Carrie Underwood who has more than a bevy of awards under her belt. Why them? Easy. They’re all success stories who came out of the tutelage of American Idol. Who better to put at those spots?
But are they really fit to sit in judgment? As successes — and at first glance — they certainly appear to be. They’ve made their industry bones and it would seem they’re qualified to hold the positions. But I’m not buying what Idol is selling, that they’re not only (possibly) the best folks for the job but will bring back some of the attractiveness and likability to the aging program.
Each of the names above came onto Idol dry and with relatively little musical history behind them. They were wide-eyed with hope. When their stints were over on the show, they either won the coveted prize or they got recruited, each one receiving representation, coaching and schooling in the industry. The rest is history: Music up the wazoo (recording, writing, concerts and more), film, television, celebrity, et cetera. And that leads right up to the The $10,000 Question: Does any of that really qualify them to assess incoming talent?
No. Here’s why:
Each of those Idol alumni have their own set of rules and standards and experiences to glean from musically. They have blinders on, focused to their unique viewpoints only. They do not have the benefit of a producer’s perspective — such as a Jimmy Iovine, for example — to pass on the type of experience that would look beyond their personal perspectives. That’s only natural. Overall, they will gravitate to what they know first-hand in critiquing contestants, possibly coaching or offering advice to individuals not on what would be best, but on what they see based on their past experiences as performers and where it’s led them.
Granted: At times Randy Jackson (annoying as his critiques were on occasion) offered some good advice and even peppered his commentary with blistering vitriol. Additionally, he made goofball boners and mistakes when it came to sharing his thoughts after a contestant’s performance … proving no one is going to be “on” all the time. But … I’m willing to lend tons more weight to the knowledge of someone like a Jackson — or an Iovine — than I would to either a Lambert or an Aiken whose ulterior views as a performer could come into play. That being said, I dug Harry Connick, Jr.’s take on how he thought a particular aspirant should approach a performance, but he clearly made judgment calls based on his point of view based on his experiences. And let’s not forget: Harry submitted to verbal blows with Jackson where some of the contenders were concerned when he appeared last season. Even he wasn’t immune to his personal experiences, relying on what his stage history said would work (and what wouldn’t) based his individual perspective … as a performer.
Yeah … I’m being hyper-critical. I can do that as someone who loves music, as someone who has watched Idol inside and out for the majority of its history (in good times and not-so-good times) and as someone who is more than comfortable pushing his opinion around. (Not to mention someone who correctly predicted the pecking order of the past season’s final seven contestants. *pow*)
As we see the fruits of this new Idol strategy unfolds on the small screen, will it be yet another train wreck in a history of past flubs? Or will it be a stroke of genius in finding a winning recipe to staunch the bleeding of the aging show’s ratings and popularity?
Stay tuned: January will be here before you know it. The proof will be in the pudding.
6 Comments on “American Idol alumni … as judges?”
Years of this show utilizing judges that were primarily performers, and now you’re concerned about the “ulterior motives” of potential new judges of the same ilk?
Come now, friend. Just admit that American Idol was never better than the Voice, long before the Voice was even conceived
“Just admit that American Idol was never better than the Voice, long before the Voice was even conceived.”
Nope. Ain’t gonna do it. The Voice doesn’t have a track record like Idol does. Idol has made stars of its winners (for the most part) along with proven hits and more. This is something The Voice (and, for that matter The X Factor) have yet to accomplish.
Regarding your first point (“Years of this show utilizing judges that were primarily performers”): 8 seasons, same judges with only one (Paula Abdul) being known as a singer … and a pop blip on the mat. Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson? Producers and a bassist.
Of the remaining judges passing through the turnstile (Kara DioGuardi, Ellen DeGeneres, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey and Keith Urban, all of who were performers of one sort or another … and I don’t count DeGeneres as a judge in the least) it was one of the starts of the breakdown when they began parading in with the exit of Cowell after season 8. Sure there were successes in their critiques at times (with, again, the exception of DeGeneres), but there was more drama, in-fighting, snarkery, bad jokes annoying comments and lameness than there was actual critiquing.
New judges such as Lambert and Aiken? I question the “seasoning” they have in the industry beyond their personal view and how that would benefit fresh hopefuls on the show.
I think a competition show’s primary responsibility is to create an enjoyable show that people watch and talk about. Having the winners become mega-stars is an important — but secondary — by-product. But you’ll never be able to compare apples to apples … The Voice has only been around three years. At a similar point in the timeline, Idol had only produced one. And Kelly Clarkson is a major talent, but the first season of Idol was the new, hot thing. It’s not surprising that the first winner’s first album did well (Again, aided by the fact that Clarkson’s got skills). But flashforward to the Voice’s first couple of seasons: the landscape is so incredibly diluted that casual TV fans couldn’t name all of the singing competition shows on the air, let alone who won each one.
If you were to take Idol’s first three seasons and The Voice’s first three seasons, and pull Clarkson out of the mix, I’d venture that the collective performers on the Voice have done substantially better. And last cycle’s winner, Cassadee Pope is really the first winner that I think is positioned perfectly to be that breakout artist (OK, that’s a lie … I felt the same about S1 winner Javier Colon and have been proven incredibly wrong). And there is a contestant in cycle four that is going to make a metric crap ton of money in Country Music in the next 10 years.
I guess everything tracks back to what the show’s intention is. If it is to find seek out and display incredible talent, then I think everything about The Voice is better than Idol. In my opinion, American Idol decided to make a laughingstock of itself the first minute William Hung showed up on screen. And yes, the show has churned out some talent (Though, I’d argue there hasn’t been a star other than Scotty McCreery — and that might just be my geographical bias — in a long time).
I think you’re looking too far ahead as far as what someone needs to succeed on Idol. The contestants need to know how to navigate the show before they even think about producers and record contracts, and a table full of people who have been there can certainly benefit them on that point. And it’s not like they all just won and are coming back right away. They all have experience in the recording industry now, so they know what goes on behind the scenes with the record label. And they all have a ton of performance experience to their credit and that’s what is critical to the people singing their songs for votes on a TV show. The average viewer could obviously care less about a producer’s input on a performance. It’s what they put on stage in front of the live audience that counts for the viewers, and no one is going to tune in to hear what Jimmy Iovine has to say, unfortunately. Audiences aren’t necessarily voting on what they’re hearing, but what they’re seeing and having a team of judges who have been there on that stage can give the newbies the benefit of their own experience. Will it result in the best singer being chosen in the end? Who knows, but considering that Hudson (7th place!), Lambert or Aiken failed to win — and have out-shone the winners of their respective seasons — I think their input could be pretty valuable on how to launch a successful career on that stage and off.
And the idea intrigues me enough to consider watching the show again.
Again I state: The proof will be in the pudding.
Of course there can be sound advice and offerings on direction, but, ultimately, I don’t think it will come anywhere close to what the Idol Powers That Be think in terms of value.
Of course there’s a contingent who appreciate Lambert’s overall screech, but (and this is only my opinion) unless you plan on catering to the gay, glam, haute couture scene, how much information are you willing to absorb if he’s offering advice? That being said, there’s actually a tune of his I have enjoyed listening to – Whataya Want From Me.
I don’t know how it will work with using the past winners as judges. I watched a show last year (Duets) that Kelly Clarkson was on as a judge and mentor on, I really didn’t think she did a good job. In April 2010, Lambert returned to American Idol as the first former contestant to mentor during an Elvis Presley themed week. As a mentor he did ok but I am not sure he would be a good Judge.
MSN ENTERTAINMENT posted this:
“American Idol” champ Kelly Clarkson won’t join the FOX singing competition show as a judge for Season 13. The “Stronger” singer’s rep confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter she will have no part on the panel of the show next season. Clarkson was at the center of rumors suggesting show producers were eyeing an all-alumni judging panel, with Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson and Adam Lambert also reported to have been contacted.
Kelly, Jennifer, Carrie, Clay & Adam yes they are successful and yes I think they could do a good job navigating the kids through this show. But me I still would like to see maybe Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Nicks or someone like that be judges. Those names are old enough to offer some sage advice and maybe old enough not to charge so much.