A change is on the way at American Idol.
Late last week, judge Steven Tyler announced he will not be returning to the iconic talent show next season, so that he can devote more time to being front man of Aerosmith. A day later, Jennifer Lopez announced her exit from the show as well. Will Randy Jackson be next?
American Idol is the granddaddy of today’s current talent showcase offerings. But its age is showing and it has been called stale and weak on star power behind the judges station. Simon Cowell, who defected to start a U.S. version of “The X-Factor,” landed Britney Spears and Demi Lovato as judges. NBC’s “The Voice” made major ratings inroads with their star-studded panel of Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. Now, American Idol is on the clock.
After more than 10 seasons, American Idol is still using the same host, the same logo, the same format, and at least one of the same original judges. Should Randy Jackson return with 2 new judges? Or would American Idol be wise to start with a totally fresh slate of judges and a refreshed format?
Word on the street is that singing superstar Mariah Carey is under serious consideration to join the panel. Former contestants Clay Aiken and Adam Lambert are also said to be under consideration.
So, it’s logical to ask the question: are these shows still about the talent, or merely about the star names attached to the title? It’s also logical to ask: is American Idol even relevant anymore?
