First off, kudos to Ken Warwick, executive producer of American Idol.
Unlike Nigel Lythgoe, he doesn’t deny the obvious.
Idol has a gender problem.
In a conference call with the media Wednesday afternoon, Warwick said voting in most reality shows is driven by “mums” and young girls.
With the advent of text voting and, this season, online voting, “we are aware very much that the voting could quite possibly be skewed to the boys.”
Warwick said Idol executives plan to have “a long discussion” about “how to keep it fair” at the end of Season 10.
One possibility: limiting the number of text or online votes.
That’s probably welcome news for Idol viewers, who last week found themselves confronted with a final eight that included just two girls, but all six guys who entered this year’s finals.
And no Pia Toscano, who was undeniably one of the most talented singers on Season 10, but wound up as the low vote-getter two weeks ago and left in ninth place.
“Personally, she went at the wrong time for me,” Warwick said. “But people vote, and that’s it.”
Nothing in terms of voting changes will happen until Season 11, he said.
Among the other news delivered by Warwick during the conference call:
* We might get new music from the Idol winner earlier this year. It will depend on the winner and how prepared they are to release an album, Warwick said. In the past, the Idol winners album has typically hit stores in the November time frame.
* He said if he were a record company, he’d want to get music from Pia Toscano out as early as possible to capitalize on the buzz surrounding her now. That’s not a conflict for Idol, he said, in part because none of the remaining contestants are likely to specialize in power ballads the way Pia is.
* He thinks one of the secrets to the success of Season 10 is the fact that the cast is not only talented, but diverse.
* The selection of the new judges has worked well, too, Warwick said. He labeled Jennifer Lopez a no-brainer based on her talent, beauty and eloquence.
* As for Steven Tyler: “It was a leap of faith on both of our parts to do this. He wasn’t sure he was doing the right thing. Neither were we. We knew we couldn’t replace Simon. We had to go another way. There have been many judges on other shows that haven’t worked. This has absolutely worked spectacularly. Mostly because the guy has a heart.”
* Despite criticism that the judges haven’t been critical enough, Warwick said he’s not about to tell judges to make comments to satisfy the viewing public. “I know people love disagreements and arguments, but I wouldn’t influence the judges to say anything they didn’t believe.”
* Idol doesn’t have a set limit on the number of times a contestant can perform with an instrument. It’s taken on a case-by-case basis. Bottom line: There will be no hiding behind an instrument all season long.
* Idol has no problem with Pia appearing on a rival network’s “Dancing with the Stars” next week. She’s scheduled to sing on the show Tuesday night.
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