Big changes will challenge ‘Idol’s’ empire

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As “American Idol” heads into its Hollywood round this week, it is once again the No. 1 series on television. But with new judge Ellen DeGeneres replacing the beloved and befuddling Paula Abdul beginning tonight, the quotable Simon Cowell signing off at the end of this season and the show’s star-making powers in need of a boost, the ninth installment of Fox’s singing competition finds itself in an unfamiliar spot: a creative crossroads.

While the judges prepare to choose this year’s 24 semifinalists, “American Idol” could be looking at its last season as a ratings champ. Or it could be on the verge of renaissance. Either way, prime time’s biggest winner is about to have one game-changing year.

“I definitely think ‘Idol’ is in a period of transition,” said Sandra Deane, editor for AOL Television. “Every week we see that the ratings are stable and still unbeatable, but this may be the last big easy win for them. People will stick around for Simon’s last season, but the transition to next season will be a huge, huge challenge. And I don’t know how they’re going to pull it off.”

So far, “Idol” is pulling off its usual ratings magic. Since the season kicked off last month, the Tuesday- and Wednesday-night audition episodes continue the “Idol” tradition of being the top-rated series in prime time.

It also appears to have survived Paula Abdul’s disappearing act. Last August, Abdul announced via Twitter that she was leaving “American Idol,” where she, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson have manned the judges’ table since the show premiered in summer 2002.

Industry watchers chalked up Abdul’s departure to a failed contract faceoff, but if she was hoping her absence would make the hearts of “Idol” fans grow fonder, she was shortchanged on that front, too. This season’s audition rounds featured a revolving roster of guest judges filling in for Abdul, and there was no major drop in the ratings and no collective cries of fan outrage.

“I love Paula, and I am absolutely shocked that I don’t miss her more,” Deane said. “She’s been great for all of these ‘Idol’ scandals and weird moments that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. But when it comes to the crux of the show, she didn’t add that much. It may be different once we get to the Top 12 (finalists), but I think it’s kind of fine without her.”

The bigger “Idol” shake-up starts to shake down tonight, when Judge Ellen makes her debut. Unlike singer/songwriter Kara DioGuardi, who joined the judging lineup last year, DeGeneres doesn’t know her way around a bandstand or a recording booth. So when Fox announced last September that the comedian and talk-show host would be the new fourth judge, “Idol” watchers noted DeGeneres’ lack of musical experience and her unimpressive stint on Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” and began to worry.

“As a comedian and a talk-show host, I really like her. But when she was a guest judge on ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ I found myself getting annoyed that she was just cracking jokes and not offering any real critiques,” said Andrea Reiher, who covers “Idol” for theZap2it.comWeb site. “If she just makes us laugh, how is that different from what Paula did?”

Perhaps DeGeneres’ first order of business should be helping “Idol” find its next hit-making winner. With last year’s runner-up Adam Lambert outpacing winner Kris Allen on Billboard magazine’s album-sales chart — Lambert’s debut CD was at No. 21 last week; Allen’s was at No. 101 — and Season 5 fourth-place finisher Chris Daughtry still wiping the floor with Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee, “Idol” hasn’t produced a best-selling winner since 2005, when Carrie Underwood rode her “Idol” triumph to country superstardom.

“We want to see success stories,” AOL’s Deane said. “It was three years between Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, so we’re about due. This season really needs to have a hit (singer), especially if they’re going to continue without Simon.”

Oh, yes. Simon. With his cut-to-the-chase critiques and total lack of schmoozy sympathy, Simon Cowell has always been the one voice “Idol” fans and performers wait to hear. With all due respect to Paula, Randy, Ryan Seacrest and the long-lost Brian Dunkleman, the sharp-eyed, stiletto-tongued Cowell is the force that turned “Idol” into a phenomenon, and “Idol” turned the merciless British talent scout into a millionaire celebrity.

And what will Cowell’s departure do to the show? It depends on whom you ask.

“Simon is the key to this entire show,” said AOL’s Deane. “Without Simon, you don’t really have ‘American Idol.’ They will be hard-pressed to do it without him.”

Television historian Tim Brooks is not so sure. As the co-author of “The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows,” Brooks knows that “M*ASH” survived without McLean Stevenson, “Cheers” carried on without Shelley Long, and “The Tonight Show” thrived under Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. If “American Idol” wants to keep its old place in the record books, maybe it’s time to start singing a brand-new tune.

“If they cast someone who is not a clone of Simon but has their own distinctive personality and their own element of surprise, this could be a very positive thing,” Brooks said. “I would be more worried if Paula was still there and Simon was sticking around and everything looked the same. This is an opportunity to give the show a new lease on life. It can’t remain the No. 1 show forever, but it could be in the Top 10 for years.”

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/09/big-changes-will-challenge-idols-empire/

I have no interest in IDOL this year. Last year was the only year I watched past auditions phase. I was never much of a fan of the show. But watching the auditions last year, I spotted Adam and was intriqued - still have the episodes with his performances taped on my DVR, LOL His loss to Kris was just depressing.... But, I don't think it hurt what hopefully will be a long successful career.

I think the IDOLs will miss out when Simon leaves. His critiques are really honest. I can't imagine who they will get as a replacement.

I'll be watching it for Ellen that's about it. I'm looking forward to the Hollywood week bit to hopefully catch glimpse of Danielle