American Idol, the Fox reality-show money making machine is still months away from its January 2011 season premier but the American Idol press and marketing multi-media machine has been working at a fabulously feverish full time pace.
Just when the news quiets down, wham, bam, thank you, Kara DioGuardi, as the American Idol producers announced officially yesterday following what the gossip pages hinted at unofficially weeks ago. Judge DioGuardi will not be returning for this season.
American Idol media watching fans and news junkies learned earlier this summer that Ellen DeGeneres would also be leaving the show. And with Simon Cowell not returning, his departure led many to speculate about the potential downfall of American Idol franchise this season, Could there be a surprise in the media winds coming? Is it the return of Paula Abdul? What about speculation about Elton John?
So who’s officially back at Camp Idol? ‘Ol reliable Randy Jackson returns, and after signing a new contract last year, it’s Seacrest In—Ryan Seacrest will be hosting again and looking to hold the American Idol talent and judging table team together.
Reports have circulated naming a variety of potential judges taking over where Cowell, DeGeneres, DioGuardi and even Abdul have sat. For awhile, the news reported Howard Stern was in consideration. There were pretty much denials all around.
Besides Elton John, Jennifer Lopez is reportedly in one day, out and then back in again. J-Lo could join S-Ty since Steven Tyler is another name that’s been speculated about of late most notably because they all have musical industry experience and American Idol is, after all, a musical entertainment program.
Former American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is former no more, with Idol announcing that Nigel will be back as an executive producer again. There’s even been a change at the musical director chairs: Ricky Minor left to join Jay Leno on the NBC “Tonight Show” replacing Kevin Eubanks.
With a weekly television audience last season averaging over 20 million, and with tens of millions of dollars in marketing and merchandising at stake and behind the franchise, don’t expect to see any less interest, excitement, speculation or news about American Idol in the days, weeks and months leading up to the January 2011 premier.
After all, this is American Idol. And whether it’s NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, People Magazine, US Magazine, people want to know.
Which means that wherever in the media world there’s news to be heard, read or seen, expect to follow that American Idol news will be made.
Comments
It's POINTLESS to even go on with American Idol without Simon. He was the show; now that he's gone, it's not even American Idol anymore. It's just a cheap, worthless knockoff. No matter who they put in Simon's seat, that person will be a major bust, and so will the show. Fox is wasting time and money continuing the show in Simon's absence.
Absolutely correct-O, I started losing interest when they added a fourth judge. Then with Ellen!, I only watched 1/2 of one episode last season. Poor Randy, Hope he finds a better gig.
The decline began when they added a fourth judge, ham-fisted the salary negotiations and lost Paula. All the weird, herky-jerky format changes the last two or three seasons, and then... the coup de grace, Simon leaving. Here it is September now, about to start (should start?) judges' auds and... no judges? I'm thinking nobody anyone would want to watch will touch it with a ten-foot pole. It's obvious the show is tanking badly. Who wants to climb on board and be associated with its demise? Better to just wait until next year when Simon brings X Factor over to the U.S.
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