I just saw the press release from the folks at Fox announcing the schedules for the upcoming season of American Idol, which begins on January 13.  Well, it's basically a list of what airs when, from the audition episodes to the Hollywood episodes to the competition proper, and something suddenly occurred to me.  Sure, there's been much play—perhaps outside the thing with Paula Abdul—about the fact that there will be less audition episodes, but am I the only one who thinks that it isn't exactly going to be the case?

Last season we were treated to four weeks' worth of auditions, which proved to be perhaps the most amusing, or most aggravating, part of the series.  Here's when we see the beginnings of contestants who eventually get catapulted to the final 12—that's how I got to pay specific attention to David Archuleta, although I'll admit I'm not a fan—and, of course, those people who think they have what it takes, despite obviously not having any.  (Okay.  They have what it takes to get Idol to give them a few seconds of airtime.)  This season, we're getting three weeks' worth, and although that in itself is a significant change, consider this: we'll have four hours' worth of auditions on the first week, and five hours more in the next two.

I've got nothing against the audition episodes.  Indeed, they are an amusing part of the show, if only for those untalented people who claim otherwise.  Personally, though, they are audition episodes, and as we all know by now, it isn't where the entire show revolves.  This is a talent search, and we're out to look for new talent, not just see people crash and burn on the first try. ( That's permissible further into the show, because by then, they've proven to the world that they have talent.)  Eventually, of course, I'd get bored by seeing a four-week freak show, and before we know it, Hollywood's already happened and I've burned half my attention span.  Nine hours still feel too much, and judging by what we've seen before, I don't want it that way next season.

Then again, Idol producers have announced that they'll be moving their emphasis from the funny stuff to the good stuff.  So, we should perhaps expect nine hours of something more uplifting—good talents with a teary back story, perhaps?—and then we get to the nitty-gritty that is two weeks (and five hours, since then last episode's a two-hour one) of the Hollywood round.  Well, that should make the show look more competitive than before, which is always a good thing.  And, perhaps this tactic is to discourage those people who attend American Idol auditions to show off and get their few seconds (not 15 minutes, note!) of fame rather than jumpstart their dreams altogether.  Cunning, cunning…


-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Fox
(Image courtesy of Fox)