Idol Chatter & Voice Views

We’re closing in on the start of another season of American Idol.

That means it’s time to start checking out what the judges are saying about Season 11, and what we should read into those comments.

Here goes …

The talent

Steven Tyler: “(The auditoners) are better than ever. Last year there were some we saw and thought, ‘Ringers. They’re going to go in’. This year there are a lot more than that. Not just one or two. The talent is coming stronger and stronger.”

Translation: This is a yearly Idol mantra.  The talent is better than ever.  Forget that this comment comes from Steven, who’s only in his second year as judge.  I’m sure you’d hear the same from Randy.

Fact is, the odds are stacked against Idol when it comes to repeating the talent level of Season 10.  Season 5 and Season 7 were two of Idol’s best ever.  The casts in Season 6 and Season 8 weren’t nearly as deep or diverse.

The judging

Randy Jackson: “This is the most authentic talent show.  And the judges should always call it as they see it, not as people want them to call it. People say, ‘It should be tougher; it should be this; it should be that.’ You have to call it as you see it, do you know what I mean? We try to help and mentor and nurture the talent, not tear them down.”

Steven Tyler: “We recognize the ones who have that magic because we’ve seen it in ourselves, or in other people over the course of our careers. We see that in these kids. So to be hard on them is pointless.”

Translation: Don’t expect anyone on the panel to step into the Simon Cowell role in Season 11.  And that’s OK.  Judges can judge without being mean-spirited.  That said, this panel desperately needs to give contestants and viewers more guidance than a year ago.  And since Randy is pretty much beyond hope, that task will fall to Steven and Jennifer Lopez.

It’s time for Steven, in particular, to earn his pay.  During the same press outings, he boasted about the big jump in sales of Aerosmith music after he joined the judging panel.  Well, selling Aerosmith merchandise isn’t his job on Idol.  Judging is.   I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: This guy watched 110 performances in the Season 10 finals, liked every one, then awarded the early rounds in the finale to Lauren Alaina because she’s “prettier” than Scotty McCreery. That’s not judging.

The teens

Ken Warwick, executive producer: He indicated that more young contestants are trying out this year, emboldened by the success of Scotty and Lauren.  They were 16 and 15, respectively, when they auditioned and wound up being the youngest pair yet to make the season finale.

Translation: Scotty and Lauren were deserving of their spots in the final 13.  But Idol spent way too much time focusing on the youngest contestants last year, many of whom weren’t ready for prime time (remember Jaycee Bardeaux?  I’d put Thia Megia in this group, too.) Here’s hoping there’s more balance in Season 11 and that older contestants — especially those talented enough to write their own music — get as much screen time in the audition episodes as the 15s.

Hollywood Week

Jennifer Lopez: “Kids were forgetting their words. Shaking in their voice. People we thought were going to be in the Top 10 were just crumbling. We were like, ‘What is going on?’ I guess it was the pressure of seeing the previous season and how it was big.”

Translation: I hope that’s the focus of the drama during Hollywood Week — performances gone awry.  Because this show should be about the performances, not the phony drama Idol has focused on once contestants reached Hollywood in some past seasons.  Remember the Tatiana mess from Season 8?   Hollywood Week was much more bearable in Season 10.

The gender problem

Randy Jackson: “May the best talent win.  If it’s another boy this year — in my eyes, that’s who should win. Look at the success of Justin Bieber — a lot of girls vote for boys. It’s just what happens, you know what I mean?”

Translation: Idol hasn’t done a thing to address its gender problem, despite the fact that a boy has won the past four seasons, despite the fact that the first five contestants eliminated last year were girls.  A single crazed fan can continue to cast as many votes as humanly possible for the cutest guy of their choice.   Question:  Would Idol still be on the air if Justin Guarini had beaten Kelly Clarkson in Season 1?  Just asking.  Because I’m convinced that’s what would happen today.

Star-makers:

Randy Jackson, bristling at the suggestion that some non-winners have outperformed winners in the recent past:  “I don’t think that’s true.  I mean, Scotty McCreery is now a platinum artist, which today is like selling 10 million records. I think probably the only three artists who are bigger are Adele, Rihanna and (Lady) Gaga.”

Translation: Oh, no, Randy’s gone delusional and the season hasn’t even started.  Look, Scotty has every right to be proud of his accomplishments.  His debut album has done better than the first album from any Idol winner since David Cook.  He just started a major tour.  Three months after its release, the album is still in the top five on the country album chart.

But, Randy, oh, Randy.  Scotty hasn’t even had a major hit single yet.  And you think he’s the fourth biggest artist around?  He isn’t even the fourth biggest artist in country music.  And since you like taking shots at The Voice, I’d have to point out that Voice judge Blake Shelton and wife Miranda Lambert are both bigger country stars than Scotty.  No wonder you have so little credibility as a judge.

Check back in Wednesday evening.  I’ll be blogging live during the opening episode.  And after each audition show, I’ll try to provide more information on the singers you should keep your eyes on as Season 11 progresses.