American Idol

Ho-hum, American Idol announces superstar panel

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New American Idol judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry will appear on GMA on Wednesday.

New American Idol judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry will appear on GMA on Wednesday.

 

The announcement that Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan will join Katy Perry on ABC’s American Idol reboot generated lots of headlines Friday and Saturday.

If it prompted much of a buzz among fans on social media, I missed it.

Naturally, there are fans of Katy, Luke and Lionel out there eager to see the stars in a new role.

And perhaps their excitement will reach a fever pitch as American Idol’s 2018 debut nears. ABC better hope so, considering the big bucks being paid out for a superstar judging panel.

To me, it’s just another panel of music star judges. You know, like we saw on the old version of Idol. Or like we see twice a year on The Voice.

Before the Katy Perry announcement, I was hoping ABC would do something bold, like a judging panel filled with former Idol contestants.

I mean, ABC is hoping to revive a once-proud franchise. What better way to lure back viewers than bring back some of their past favorites as judges?

Of course, The Voice quickly snatched up Kelly Clarkson, who had been so brilliant during a guest judging stint in Season 15. The show also snagged Jennifer Hudson, who had impressed on The Voice UK.

But there were still plenty of options for ABC. At that point, my dream judging panel would have been … drum roll, please … Adam Lambert, David Cook and Kellie Pickler.

Adam and David were every bit as impressive as any star judge out there when they returned to Idol in guest mentor roles. They’re articulate and didn’t shy away from constructive criticism. And both have avid fan bases.

As for Kellie, let’s face it, she’s made her career as much off her personality as her music. Her audacious performance of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” remains one of my all-time favorite Idol memories. And with her around, things wouldn’t get dull.

Alas, ABC decided superstars were needed to draw viewers to a show that’s only been off the air for a year.

We’ll see if it works. I just hope ABC has done something to ensure Katy, Lionel and Luke are capable of doing the job they’ve been hired to do.

Remember when Steven Tyler first took his seat on the Idol panel and found nothing negative to say about 110 consecutive performances?

Or how about the Mariah Carey disaster, sure-fire proof that not everyone who can dazzle with her voice can judge a reality show?

For now, I’m afraid my reaction to the Katy-Luke-Lionel triumvirate is the same as my reaction to the show’s too-soon return.

Ho-hum.

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7 Comments

  1. Sassette Smurfling October 3, 2017 at 1:13 pm -  Reply

    Will you be watching the needlessly rebooted “Idol” or will you boycott it?

    • Mark Franklin October 3, 2017 at 1:45 pm -  Reply

      I’ll be watching. Look at the name of my blog. I’ll be watching because I feel obligated to. We’ll see how it goes. I bailed on the third season of The X Factor because I simply COULD NOT stand the show.

      • Sassette Smurfling October 3, 2017 at 3:23 pm -  Reply

        I gave up on “Idol” after season 7. Although David Cook was my favorite that season, I had enough of the producers’ manipulations, especially how Michael Johns was treated.

        If I had continued watching, I can’t imagine my fury would have been after the top 36 robbery of Ricky Braddy, Kristen McNamara, Mishavonna Henson, Jesse Langseth, Junot Joyner, and Felicia Barton.

        They all got the Lisa Leuscher treatment because of Simon Cowell and TPTB.

        Here’s an idea for your blog: how about instead of recaps, you feature new CDs and singles of “Idol” alums that have been released with very little publicity.

        Did you know that Gedeon Luke (McKinney) released an album? He was on “Idol” season 5, but lost to that ridiculous Kevin Covais, partially because the producers mentioned very little of his backstory.

        Did you know that Ayla Brown, also of season 5, has released a few albums and singles? She has succeeded despite the producers’ depicting her as a spoiled rich brat.

        Furthermore, A.J. Tabaldo (season 6) has an CD available on iTunes. He had no airtime before the semifinals and had no chance to compete with the “Idol” induced Sanjayamania.

        You spotlight some “Voice” alums who have put out recordings, although many have fallen through the cracks because of the producers/coaches tactics and the greed of NBC doing two seasons a year.

        From what I’ve heard seasons 12-15 of “Idol” were especially painful. I have a feeling that Katy Perry will just be another JLO. And another WGWG will win.

        Don’t feel obligated to validate “Idol’s” rebooting.

        Fight back!

        • Mark Franklin October 3, 2017 at 5:48 pm -  Reply

          I’ve always thought of Season 8 as the beginning of a sharp decline for Idol. The finale should have been Allison and Adam. Having anyone but Adam win was pure folly. And the show got at least half of Top 13 wrong thanks in part to a ludicrous semifinal format.

  2. Sassette Smurfling October 3, 2017 at 1:17 pm -  Reply

    By the way, the new “Idol” logo looks like an Advil gel capsule.

    I have a feeling that’s going to be appropriate.

  3. Sassette Smurfling October 3, 2017 at 9:43 pm -  Reply

    Here’s an idea for your blog: how about instead of recaps, you feature new CDs and singles of “Idol” alums that have been released with very little publicity.

    Did you know that Gedeon Luke (McKinney) released an album? He was on “Idol” season 5, but lost to that ridiculous Kevin Covais, partially because the producers mentioned very little of his backstory.

    Did you know that Ayla Brown, also of season 5, has released a few albums and singles? She has succeeded despite the producers’ depicting her as a spoiled rich brat.

    Furthermore, A.J. Tabaldo (season 6) has an CD available on iTunes. He had no airtime before the semifinals and had no chance to compete with the “Idol” induced Sanjayamania.

    You spotlight some “Voice” alums who have put out recordings, although many have fallen through the cracks because of the producers/coaches tactics and the greed of NBC doing two seasons a year.

    From what I’ve heard seasons 12-15 of “Idol” were especially painful. I have a feeling that Katy Perry will just be another JLO. And another WGWG will win.

    Don’t feel obligated to validate “Idol’s” rebooting.

    Fight back!

  4. Daphne October 4, 2017 at 2:15 pm -  Reply

    The only Idol alum they were interested in was Kelly. Daughtry and Adam said they were never asked, even though they wanted the job. Cook has resorted to crowd funding and hasn’t been relevant in years.

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