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'American Idol' survey: Is it asking the right questions?
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The official "American Idol" website has launched a survey where viewers can voice their opinions regarding the current state of the show. One has to assume it's because Simon Cowell is leaving and the current season is getting less-then-stellar reviews, so the show is probably trying to regroup going forward. But is the survey asking the right questions?The survey makes very little mention of Simon Cowell or his possible replacement. We realize he is leaving the show and there is nothing "Idol" can do about that, but perhaps the show would like to gauge the level of feelings the viewers have about his impending departure. Would that help them gauge just how important his replacement is? Also, the survey never asks questions about the interest level that is vested in who replaces Simon or asks for any replacement suggestions. We think that might have been an avenue to explore, especially since the talent pool will most likely get even thinner if there isn't a dynamic replacement for Simon.
Secondly, the survey asks about the lack of Paula Abdul quite a bit. Isn't this kind of a moot point? Is there really a chance she'll come back. We happen to think it's much more likely Simon snags her to judge "The X Factor" in the fall of 2011. Is it even worth it to ask about Paula? And do people really miss her that much anyway?
Finally, as one of our alert commenters pointed out, the survey doesn't address one of the biggest issues -- the voting. The judges were everywhere prior to the current season saying that this was the Year of the Woman on "Idol," but we still ended up with a 4 men-1 woman Top 5. The show hasn't had a female winner since Season 6 and the "Idol" machine desperately needs to produce another Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson and this year the highly-lauded Crystal might not even win because Lee Dewyze has been hot on her heels for weeks. The problem is that millions of people watch the show but they don't vote! They couldn't possibly, or the number of votes (around 30 million) would be significantly higher, since many people vote several times.
We are surprised the survey didn't have questions to compare the amount of "Idol" watched versus the amount of votes cast each week. We also think they should have asked how the viewers would feel about a one-vote-per-phone-number idea.
Either way, we don't think the survey will necessarily provide the magic fix for "American Idol." They still need to find a dynamite replacement for Simon Cowell and they need to find a way to keep the cute-but-not-as-talented men from dominating the competition. Short of stacking the Top 24 with ugly and untalented men, we don't know what the answers are. But we don't think this survey even knows what the problems are.
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Maybe they should have asked, "Do you really think we don't fudge the results for this show every week and your votes mean nothing?" Um, no?
Andrea mentioned some good points, notably a minsicule number of mass texting voters dictating to the audience who will be on. Most people tune in to be entertained. They don't vote, or if they do, are not spending two hours after the show churning out 800 text votes.
I'd add the judges are not entertaining anymore, two are blatantly attacking their non-favorites and bootlicking the 3 Chosen Ones all season. Other than the 3, the judges are nasty (Simon and Kara the Simon mini-me), cliched and lazy (Randy), or nice but clueless (Ellen). Add Seacreast now MC'ing as a frequently nasty, smarmy, preening jerk. Watch DWTS for a night and you will see how vastly inferior Idols judges and MC now are compared to the rival show.
Look at Siobhan Magnus..the sort of contestant the show was supposed to be all about. Find a madly talented, interesting, appealing young contestant...give them all the support they need to gain confidence, grow and succeed. Instead the Idol machine beat her down along with Benami, Katie, Tim, Alex, Lily as threats to Crystal.
Magnus leaves and on other shows does a pretty good job of convincing hosts and audiences that Idol indeed found a teen contestant with everything...still being formed into a performer...and kicked that talent to curbside ASAP.
1. One vote per phone #, ISP.
2. Whatever it takes, get rid of Kara.
3. Decide if the show is about attracting viewers to get large ratings or the whole show should be about selecting 1-2 boring contestants "most likely to sell in their box niche" to put piddly money in judges side pockets from piddly little recording contracts that are 1/200th of the revenue lost in the ratings drops.
4. End the blatant favortism and targeting of "favorites rivals". The hostility of judges to Tim Urban and Siobhan Magnus..the summary discarding of Alex Lambert and Benami left a foul taste.
5. The producers fill the show with garbage slop of little if any entertainment value.
6. Stupid little sadistic stunts like Seacrest does, the asinine insistance on "sob story narratives", the idiot "musical chairs" game for elimination night..all irritating wastes. The homoerotic jousting of Seacrest and Cowell? Brrrrr!
How many extra points does "Big Mike" get for being black?
He should have been dropped about 10 shows ago.
Are you honest in reflecting the votes of your viewers?
They should limit the voting to no more than 3 per person, or less if possible. I used to have fun voting in past years until I realized it had to be mostly teen girls deciding the winners every season. Perhaps they could fix all the problems by renaming the show American Teen Idol. Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and the Jonas Brothers could be the judges. Then I could just find something else to watch.
I couldn't vote tonight for Mike. When I called the line sounded dead then cut off.
I tried the other 3 and they were fine - so I voted for the ones I didn't want to. I live on the Gulf Coast in South Texas, did anyone else have trouble?????
The survey covered every aspect of the show and allowed voters to give their opinions about the judges themselves, the number of judges, Paula, Ryan, the contestants, the mentors, the themes, the coverage of the contestants.
I agree with all the points made by Jennifer C and selena. I already took the Idol survey, and I basically gave poor grades to all of the judges and Seacrest. I told them that I was underwhelmed by this season's weak talent, and I hate the concept of the judges' save.
Also, I would have liked to tell them that I'm sick of the blatant favoritism shown by the judges. I hate how the judges decide to use 2-3 contestants per season as their punching bags, like Tim Urban and Siobhan Magnus.
I wanted them to ask about the voting system I think that a lot of Idol fans would want a limit to the number of votes per phone. I know a lot of people who vote 10 times for their favorite contestant, but they don't realize that their votes are meaningless when another fan can power vote for 2 hours and vote 1000 times or more.
I don't think the real talent is there...Siobhan Magnus and Aaron Kelly seemed to have the voices that should win..I think the producers are to blame as the majority of the audiences that would listen to Sinatra would be in bed at the time of the airing and wouldn't know how to vote either. Sorry for the sarcasm but in order to keep the audience interested you have to have music that appeals to all ages as well as talent. I don't think the judges have anything to do with lower ratings. Most people I spoke to said they don't care who wins since they don't see talent like Kelly Pickler, Clay Aiken Adam Lambert etc..there is not a real contest here. I think the judges are disappointed in the lack of talent in the finalists as well..Maybe give them that survey and I am sure I am right. What the audience wants is to sit on the edge of their seat and hope the talented person they like goes on and at this point it is just not there so it takes from the excitement.
One of the questions should have been about those very annoying swaybots. I have NO idea why they are still on the show. Was hoping there would be a "suggestion box" for opinions in that survey.