American Idol’s new voice speaks out
August 26, 2008
Filed under: American Idol, Judges, News and Gossip, Casting
Even though she just got the call about the gig a few days ago, new American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi took some time this afternoon to sit down and chat with the media via a massive conference call. As we were going along, I found myself listening as much to how she carried herself conversationally as I was to what she had to state. After all, this is going to be one of the four most listened to voices in America come January when American Idol’s eighth season kicks off.
She came across as smart, knowledgeable, a bit funny and clearly overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation into which she’s been thrust. She spoke about how for most of her career she’s been being the scenes, as a songwriter and producer. I would state that you may have seen her on ABC’s The One: Making a Music Star, but then nobody saw that. But it means she’s been called to judge a singing competition before, and even saw last season’s Syesha Mercado there. Hell, she’s practicaly a veteran at this now. Read more
Mark Burnett wants to know why Howie Mandel got an Emmy nom
August 16, 2008
Filed under: Industry, Programming, American Idol, Survivor, Celebrities, Dancing With The Stars, Awards, Emmys
The Survivor producer is probably not the only person wondering that, but Burnett is getting a little more specific.
Mandel was nominated for his hosting gig on Deal or No Deal in the “Best Reality Host” category. Now, I’m just as surprised as you’re to see that DOND is considered a reality show and not a game show (I think it’s the amount of time they focus on the contestants and the family members on stage and the tears and the personal stories that tip some primetime game shows into the reality realm). Burnett doesn’t think it’s fair that you’ve someone like Jeff Probst, who hosts an unscripted (?) show like Survivor put up against people who host talent shows and game shows. Read more
Ryan Seacrest’s name added to New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
August 9, 2008
Filed under: TV Royalty, Programming, OpEd, American Idol, Music and Variety, Celebrities, Talk Show, Host, Emmys, Reality-Free
In the Lame Title Department, ABC’s annual New Year’s Eve show will now be called Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.
I dunno…couldn’t they have come up with something snappier? Like maybe Dick and Ryan’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve … oh never mind.
Ryan Seacrest’s name added to New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
August 8, 2008
Filed under: Television Royalty, Programming, OpEd, American Idol, Music and Variety, Celebrities, Speak Show, Host, Emmys, Reality-Free
In the Lame Title Department, ABC’s annual New Year’s Eve show will now be called Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.
I dunno…couldn’t they’ve come up with something snappier? Like maybe Dick and Ryan’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve … oh never mind.
Even American Idol’s executive producer is bored with American Idol
August 5, 2008
Filed under: Industry, American Idol, News and Gossip, So You Think You Can Dance
It’s been several years since I’ve cared about the outcome of American Idol. The contestants are all starting to look the same to me and half the time I get them confused with people on Top Model. Apparently, I’m not alone. While it’s still a ridiculously high-rated show, Last season’s Idol did experience a ratings dip. Now, even its executive producer is jumping ship.
Nigel Lythgoe has produced Idol for seven seasons, but according to sources, he’s grown fatigued of the singing competition and has said privately that he’s “not passionate about it anymore.” Instead, Lythgoe is going to spend more time with his other successful Fox competition show, So You Think You Can Dance. This comes on the heels of news that Fox has picked up Dance for a 5th season.
Heidi Klum will host the Emmys?
July 29, 2008
Filed under: American Idol, Survivor, Celebrities, Project Runway, Dancing With The Stars, Awards, Emmys
Indeed she will, but she’ll have some help. In a change born of trying to keep current with the say of TV today, the Emmys will be hosted by the five nominees in the Reality Television Host category. Klum will share hosting duties with Ryan Seacrest, Jeff Probst, Howie Mandel, and (the man that should win it all) Tom Bergeron.
It’s a great idea. The standard formula of these shows is something just asking to be shaken up. Klum is probably the biggest question mark here, for the simple fact that she has Tim Gunn to handle much of the unscripted action. I’ll be curious to see how she handles the role, and I’m confident that the rest of the nominees will be just fine. The linked article also has a great stat. The average audience of the five nominated shows has been as high as 70 million. Jiminy. The broadcast takes place Sept. 21st, on ABC.
Heidi Klum will host the Emmys?
July 28, 2008
Filed under: American Idol, Survivor, Celebrities, Project Runway, Dancing With The Stars, Awards, Emmys
Indeed she will, but she’ll have some help. In a change born of trying to keep current with the say of TV this day, the Emmys will be hosted by the five nominees in the Reality Television Host category. Klum will share hosting duties with Ryan Seacrest, Jeff Probst, Howie Mandel, and (the man that should win it all) Tom Bergeron.
It’s a great idea. The standard formula of these shows is something just asking to be shaken up. Klum is probably the biggest question mark here, for the easy fact that she has Tim Gunn to handle much of the unscripted action. I’ll be curious to see how she handles the role, and I’m confident that the rest of the nominees will be just fine. The linked article also has a great stat. The average audience of the five nominated shows has been as high as 70 million. Jiminy. The broadcast takes place Sept. 21st, on ABC.
It’s the WGA versus American Idol
July 12, 2008
Filed under: Industry, American Idol, WGA Strike
With the WGA Strike as ancient history, the guild is now pushing to have reality shows join its organization. In an effort to do this, the WGA is specifically targeting the show American Idol.
They’re calling it the Truth Tour and it begins with a Wednesday morning press conference in front of WGA headquarters following by a set of fake auditions at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, where auditions are held for the actual American Idol. They call it “the version they don’t want you to see”. Read more
A history of reality television (part four): Show me your talents - VIDEOS
July 10, 2008
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, American Idol, The Apprentice, Video, America’s Next Top Model, Project Runway, Hell’s Kitchen
Television and the talent show have been partners since the very first days of the industry. Taking the best (and sometimes worst) performers and putting them in front of the camera, these shows introduced viewers to personalities that either faded into the background or became household names. Usually, these personalities had a talent that would entertain the public — singing, dancing, telling jokes — that they would use once they left the talent show stage to increase their fame.
It continued in this fashion throughout the decades. Until, of course, the 21st Century and the Reality Revolution. While standard, yet bigger and bolder, talent shows continued, network programmers began to realize that there were more talented people than just performers. There were models, clothing designers, chefs, hair stylists, and businesspeople out there ready to show their stuff and make it big. So, they turned some of their attention away from singers and dancers and focused on the others. The result? A schedule full of top models, top chefs, top businesspeople, and top inventors.
American Idol auditions announced
June 27, 2008
Filed under: OpEd, American Idol, Contestants, Casting
The eighth season of American Idol will begin auditions on Thursday July 17th in San Francisco. Other cities that will be holding try-outs for the hit singing competition show are Louisville, Kentucky; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; Kansas City, Missouri; Jacksonville, Florida; East Rutherford, New Jersey; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Any Television Squad readers going to sing for Paula, Randy and Simon? If I were to audition (and I won’t), I think I’d sing something by Stevie Wonder (cause no one ever sings anything by him), or Mariah Carey (cause her songs are super easy), or maybe I’d just do my own composition and dedicate it to Simon (he likes that stuff).
