Idol Chatter & Voice Views

FOX executives outlined their plans for 2011 Monday morning, and there was certainly news on the Idol front.

Here it is …

* Next year, results shows will be shortened from an hour to 30 minutes.

* The show isn’t ready to name a replacement for Simon Cowell. In fact, since the search will likely take a while, auditions for next season will
probably be held in September. Last year, they began in June.

* Something was said about performance shows being 90 minutes long, but the media outlets reporting news from the press conference can’t see
to agree whether that means all performance shows or not.

Remember, Idol typically starts the season with 12 finalists performing in a two-hour show. Unless the pace picks up dramatically, I can’t imagine Idol cramming 12 songs into a 90-minute time slot.

As for shortened the results show, let’s all shout hooray at once.

Of course, the volume on the hooray should depend on what parts of the results show they keep and what parts they cut.

I could do without the Ford videos (fat chance). Everyone seems to agree that they could do without the group numbers (here’s hoping). I’d prefer they keep some of the guest performances, especially the ones featuring past contestants on the show.

But no doubt, trying to stretch the elimination of one contestant over a one-hour show … well, it saps all the drama out of something that should have dramatic potential.

So kudos for that move, FOX.