Think pink when you imagine Nicki Minaj as an American Idol judge - (Philip Nelson t - photo)

For what it's worth new American Idol judge Keith Urban seems down to earth - (paddynapper - photo)

Video Beat EXTRA - IT'S AMERICAN IDOL TIME 4 NEW JUDGES

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

In a questionable move the powers that be chose the quirky Hip hop, R&B, pop off beat 29 year old singer Nicki MInaj and country singer Keith Urban 44 who will turn 45 October 26th prior to the new airing of the show in January. Off the top it seems that this is a quick fix to a cancerous problem…. regarding the Idol powers that be getting it right in making good decisions. For what it's worth new American Idol judge Keith Urban seems down to earth - Recommended TV Listings

Thursday September 20, 2012

AMERICAN IDOL CONTINUE TO MAKE QUESTIONABLE DECISIONS

It was crunch time for American Idol as to who they would hire as the new judges and the decision had to be made quickly since the new season's auditions are about to begin. In a questionable move the powers that be chose the quirky Hip hop, R&B and pop off beat 29-year old singer Nicki MInaj and country singer Keith Urban 44 who will turn 45 October 26th prior to the new season's airing in January. Off the top it seems that this is a quick fix for a cancerous problem…. regarding the Idol powers that be getting it right in making good decisions.

The selection of Urban seems to be a good one given he's a down to earth guy and nice talent. Down to earth is something that Idol is missing. Last season Steven Tyler was the nearest thing to being that as Jennifer Lopez was all about her and judge Randy Jackson is always about him.

Minaj is a not well liked wild child that comes off as a diva and is far from down to earth. She comes off as aloof, pretentious, fake and plastic. If you read the comments about her and her talent on You Tube she and her talent are not respected. If it's real you're looking she's apparently not it.

Idol has lost the plot again in a show that was originally designed to discover the BEST new unknown SINGERS the focused has shifted to focus on what they think is an all-star judging panel. As the show grew in popularity and highly rated the then unknown to the USA TV viewing public judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson and marginally recognized Paula Abdul the focus shifted from the show being about the talent to the judges promoting themselves, their projects and their CV's while the talent was shifted to the background.

As the judge's egos grew the conflicts began with Cowell taking the reigns as the main spokesperson. His acrid persona eventually wore thin on the American viewing public. Ratings started to slip and the conflicts grew. The Idol decision makers then tried to fix it by replacing Paula Abdul with songwriter Kara DioGuardi.

That failed to spice up the show and they then added a well known TV talk show host Ellen Degeneres as a fourth judge. That turned into a disaster as Degeneres was out of her element trying t judge music which isn't in her background. Having four judges created a problem of taking too long for the judges all to give their critiques and the show ran into time overruns which created a problem of appeasing advertisers whose commercials weren't aired due to the lack of time.

Degeneres and DioGuardi both departed as DioGuardi and Cowell had several verbal on air conflicts. Cowell also departed in a dispute with the powers that be on how the show should be produced thus he started his own show the X-Factor which he developed in Britain and was running during the off season of American idol.

All of these decisions failed as ratings continued its downward slide. The Idol decision makers then made another fatal judgment by placing name talent as judges with Jennifer Lopez and Steve Tyler. After two seasons that decision went up in flames as Tyler announced he was leaving the show to focus on his band Aerosmith. The following day after hearing the news Lopez also quit the show.

The irony is that during the first season the two judges critiquing was fair. This past season Lopez returned to her DIVA persona and it appeared that the show was all about her as the program continually praised her projects. By the look on Tyler's face half way through last season he seemed annoyed about something that has yet to be disclosed as old timer and the last original judge on Idol Randy Jackson embellished his control of the show with his excessive Cowell like ranting critiques and his diarrhea of the mouth disease in praising his background in the music business became more extreme. The result was the show was all about them.

When the program first aired they were the only game in town now they have competition with Cowell's show X-Factor is now in its second season the and a major competitor The Voice also in its third season and growing in popularity. The word is Idol powers wanted to challenge Cowell signing of Britney Spears and young judge Demi Lovato, 20 to attract a younger audience. The Voice has three well known judges but they are not the youth type as that of the Nick Jonas also 20 of the Jonas Brothers are who was considered for an Idol judging post.

With Idol's new choices what the program currently has is a panel that doesn't make sense. Minaj is recognized as singing songs with foul language and her image is not what one would consider wholesome. Urban is an interesting choice and will be the judge that makes a difference in the overall profile of the decision making if he can express his opinion and overcome Jackson's control of power.

With Jackson, Mariah Carey and Minaj there are three minority judges who are closer to soul than the balance of the genres of the previous judging panels. Will that make a difference? With Jackson being Carey's manager who negotiated her $18 million deal to be an Idol judge will the show now be all about THEM?

Should this controversial decision be another Idol failure raises the question will this be the last American Idol season on the air? If Jackson is there this season to steady the ship with his experience while the show is in transition to keep things organized while the three new judges get their feet wet and on the ground it makes sense.

If there is a next season it would be good for Jackson to step down for a replacement of some new YOUNG blood with intelligence, experience and knowledge about the music business which is much different than performing. The other option is for Idol to have only three judges to eliminate too much chatter and time overruns that the show experienced in the past with the failed four judge system.

Should Minaj not make the grade it would be interesting to replace her with Nick Jonas to compliment Carey and Urban and that would be a good blend and variance of age and talent going forward should idol survive this season. One thing that needs to be straightened out is the judging should return to being based on talent and quality of voice and not who gets ones panties wet.

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