Idol thoughts

Watching American Idol is one of my biggest pet peeves. I admit it. If you know me you'd probably wonder why since I am extremely picky with everything I listen to or watch. Growing up in Europe I wasn't exposed to too many live shows on TV with live music, at least not at a decent time of day. After I emigrated I embraced the opportunity to watch live performances (good and bad) on a weekly basis during season 2. Also, I am fascinated with the marketing idea behind the show that is pure genius. If you look at the success of the show over 8 seasons with mostly mediocre entertainment you have to admit that someone had a bright idea leading up to this phenomenon.

What is Idol?
It is a reality TV show dressed up as a singing competition. It is also a marketing campaign to find the public's favorite before they get signed to a record deal. This idea in and of itself is probably the smartest one I've seen in a long time. You ask the public whose record they want to buy and who they want to see performing live on stage. It is so simple yet so powerful an idea, it's like getting a big bonus once the revenue from the actual show dries up.

Is this show trying to find the best singer?
No. I believe that really great singers (if they audition) are generally turned down during pre-auditions by the producer's staff. Unless they can generate a buzz that is, but more on that later. The singers on the show need to be able to carry a tune. They should also have at least some stage presence and be able to perform well. But honestly, there are thousands of singers out there that are better at both disciplines than most contestants.

Monetary considerations:
If a show is successful, the ratings go up and the advertising income grows. By season two or three Idol was established as such a big audience hog that other networks re-scheduled their best and highest rated shows at other non-conflicting times.
I don't know how much the show earns with the voting system. But let's face it, if you can generate more than 30 million phone calls in two hours, there's probably a slice of the cake for you.

Buzz:
The buzz is what makes the show. Contrary to popular belief that this show is a singing competition it is all about controversy and the public's interaction. While I write this I realize that I am feeding right into the shows ratings.

Here is why it works:
If you want a real singing competition and find a fantastic singer, you wouldn't let the public vote. You would use a panel of real industry specialists judge the contestants week after week. The problem is that nobody would watch the show after three seasons. The public needs to have the power to vote for their favorites, and favorites don’t mean the best. By allowing the public to vote as much as they want you generate a ton of phone and text traffic. Why would you want to have a voting mechanism where anyone can vote once for or against each contestant? You would run the risk that the bad and sometimes colorful ones go home early and the buzz dies. What better marketing than millions of people fighting in forums and bulletin boards? Talking about the show day after day, everyone trying to bring their point across to non-believers? You can't get advertising like that for free.

LA, we have a problem?
What's different this year is not the judge's save that is being beat to death every week. It's a small spice compared to the one contestant that slipped by the producers. Or did he?
There is one contestant that could hold his own in a real talent competition. His consistent solid performances are way above everyone else's. And he has not only the talent but the experience and knowledge of his instrument. Yet he is a very colorful character that causes a bigger stir than a tornado in Kansas. Once again, it will be the image reigning supreme over the singing in the end. And the cash cow will be filled to the top when this season is over. Thank you for watching, voting, blogging and breathing Idol.

I have to admit that I was quite surprised this season when a most prominent judge proclaimed on the show that "this show is not artistic". That sums it up nicely.