Video Beat - EXTRA EXTRA Part 1- AMERICAN IDOL'S DECLINE - DRASTIC CHANGES ARE NECESSARY

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

American Idol is in trouble unless they change the voting rules to be more accurate on a talent basis. 50 votes per voter are too much. Judges should critique and not promote talent. Improvement needs to be done in the vetting process. The Jermaine Jones incident should never have happened nor should he have been exploited on International TV for what some believe to be for the benefit of stimulating higher ratings. - Recommended TV Listings

Wednesday April 18, 2012

AMERICAN IDOL IS LOSING its CREDIBILITY

What's up with the music programs on American television largely run by English nationals. After a series of mishaps American Idol is losing its charm and credibility. Ridding themselves of Simon was a major step up but since that time they have badly handled the Jermaine Jones incident and poor use of the save rule that cost Pia Toscano a shot at last season's title.

Insiders say that the Jones fiasco was 20-year-old assistant producers not doing their job properly in vetting his background. The producers then tried to cover their tracks by embarrassing him on camera to an International TV audience by revealing what they discovered about his background and why they were dismissing him from the show. It was in poor taste as in previous Idol negative incidents they dealt with the contestant in private. In this case they decided to make a TV special out of the confrontation.

The save rule was abused last season in using it too early by saving no voice Casey Abrams in the 11th position. Toscano was eliminated in the 9th with the save used up and was gone.

This season Jessica Sanchez who is by far the best voice in the competition and never in the bottom three received the fewest amount of votes and fortunately was saved. It was almost used up the week before when Jennifer Lopez wanted to save DeAndre Brackensick who is OK but no better than a Top 5 finish.

The voting system has faults as it appears that children with nothing to do but text messages are doing the voting where they can do 50 a program. More responsible people are most likely working and do not have the time to vote resulting in an infatuation and not a talent choice.

Only two contestants have never been selected in the bottom three are boys being pretty boys Phillip Phillips and Colton Dixon. We still can't figure out why Phillips is receiving so much praise with his growing voice.

The question is where is his true voice? Conversely Dixon has talent and though his voice is not as good as several other contestants he does possess the whole package of looks, image and talent.

As it now stands now the voting system does nothing for the credibility of the show. As the seasons go on the results indicate very young white female voters being dominate. The days of voting for the best voice are over. Gone are the days of overweight contestants with good voices like Ruben Studdard winning the title.

Today's voters can't identify with talent and are too impressionable in adhering to the judges promoting certain contestants.

The judges get it wrong by using a double standard. First they urge the voters to vote for the whole package including looks, their personal feelings about the contestant and last but not least voice. When Sanchez was on the cutting block the judges rushed to the stage and Randy Jackson then urged the voters to VOTE FOR THE BEST. Obviously Idol judges are in a muddle and having an identity crisis in dispensing bad advice.

The word is that the shows decreasing ratings numbers are prompting producers to make some urgent decisions such as staging the Jones dismissal and after we gave it some thought the Sanchez save could have been a set up to stimulate ratings.

Had Lopez had her way in using the save too early Sanchez could have been gone. By putting her (intentionally) at the bottom of the voting pile it could have been a setup to force using the save so it couldn't be wasted again as it was last season. Should that be the case it was a good move. Yes… we're working on a premise.

One thing the needs to be changed again is the judging. Lopez and her love for all the pretty boy male contestants is not using her brain plus she's too in love with herself. Last season she was fine but since her split with husband Marc Anthony she is overly caught up with all of the adulation and attention she has been given since she made her comeback to be a judge on the show.

Jackson is too old and has been on the show too long. He promotes himself too much. Baby Face would be a good replacement. He's younger, good looking and has a superb track record of success.

The now toned down Steven Tyler should remain given he appears to be the most honest in his critiques except in the case of Hollie Cavanagh as he's been blatantly tough on her. The bottom line is American Idol is in trouble if they don't make some radical changes as many industry insiders that we've interviewed have started that they have lost interest in the show.

Part 2 - THE RESULTS

AMERICAN IDOL'S FINAL 7 Finalists

* Hollie Cavanagh (born July 5, 1993) is from McKinney, Texas, she is 18 years old. She auditioned in Houston, Texas. She originally auditioned for season 10, but she was cut in the Sing for Your Life round.

* Colton Dixon (born October 19, 1991[40]) is from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, he is 20 years old. He auditioned in North Charleston, South Carolina. He originally auditioned for season 10, but he was cut in the Sing for Your Life round.

* Skylar Laine (born February 1, 1994[41]) is from Brandon, Mississippi, she is 18 years old. She auditioned in Houston, Texas.

* Joshua Ledet (born April 9, 1992) is from Westlake, Louisiana, he is 19 years old. He auditioned in Houston, Texas.

* Phillip Phillips (born September 20, 1990) is from Leesburg, Georgia, he is 21 years old. He auditioned in North Charleston, South Carolina.

* Jessica Sanchez (born August 4, 1995[43]) is from San Diego, California, she is 16 years old. She auditioned in San Diego, California. Before Idol, she was first known for her appearance on the first season of America's Got Talent.

* Elise Testone (born July 29, 1983) is from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, she is 28 years old. She auditioned in North Charleston, South Carolina.

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