Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Just a hunch …

American Idol’s most valuable off-season acquisition wasn’t Jennifer Lopez or Stephen Tyler.

It was the show’s reunion with former executive producer Nigel Lythgoe.

A return to three judges. Shorter results shows. A focus on contestants rather than judges.

All sound like changes for the better as Idol prepares for season 10.

And lost amid all the hoopla surrounding the anti-climactic announcement of the new judges were two other changes for the better.

No more guest mentors. No more themes that force contestants to sing music they have no business singing.

All at once now: Hooray!

Sorry, but I always had trouble believing the guest mentors had a major, lasting impact on the Idol contestants.

The mentors met with the contestants for what? A few minutes? Then they were expected to offer a meaningful critique that would help shape a contestant’s career.

And, let’s face it, most of the guest mentors were on the show because they had a new product to hawk, be it a movie or CD.

Any credibility Idol mentors had took a long-lasting blow to the belly when 17-year-old Miley Cyrus was picked to help the season nine contestants. Among the things I don’t need when watching Idol: countless closeups of Miley chewing bubble gum.

So for season 10, instead of guest mentors, Idol will have an in-house mentor — Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, a guy who used to produce albums for Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Dire Straits and U2.

Gee, novel concept. Someone who can work with the Idols all season rather than a few minutes on a Saturday morning.

Even more exciting, Idol theme weeks are likely to get a major overhaul.

Nigel sent out a tweet over the weekend, encouraging fans to submit suggested themes.

“We want music for American Idol that will let the singers stay in their natural genres,” he wrote. “Any ideas?”

Yeah, there were a few.

He later followed with this tweet: “I love one-hit wonders — guilty pleasures — their graduation year — break-up songs and original. Thanks for your ideas.”

Wow, did he say originals? Idol contestants might actually get to perform songs they’ve written? I’ve been begging for that for three years.

Of course, the change would mean no more Kristy Lee Cook singing Mariah Carey. No more Casey James singing Frank Sinatra.

What’s Nigel trying to do? Spoil our fun?

Personally, I think Idol has plenty of fun — more than enough — with off-kilter performances during the auditions.

By the time contestants reach the finals, they shouldn’t be set up to fail. They should take the stage knowing they have a chance to deliver a knockout performance.

Again, gee, what a novel concept — letting the finalists do what they do best, be that R&B, country music or pop.

And hopefully not a Frank Sinatra song among them.

Thanks, Nigel.