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TV of Tomorrow: Fall TV Preview 2010

'American Idol' will 'tighten up' next season

simon-cowell-american-idol-3-320.jpg"American Idol" is going on a diet next season.

When FOX announced its midseason schedule for 2010-11 on Monday (May 17), it had "American Idol" in its usual Tuesday-Wednesday pattern starting in January. Once it gets to its live shows, though, Tuesday performance episodes will run for 90 minutes, while the Wednesday results show will be trimmed to a half-hour.

"We've looked at some feedback, and we feel the audience wants us to tighten up the results show, and they want more performances," FOX Chairman Peter Rice says. "So that's what we're going to try to give them next year. And it has the added benefit of opening up spots for new half-hour comedies."

Comedies "Running Wilde and "Mixed Signals" will share the 9:30 p.m. Tuesday spot after "Idol" next year, while "Raising Hope" is set for 8 p.m. Wednesdays at midseason, leading into the results show. (FOX's midseason schedule tends to be more subject to change than most, but that's the plan for now.)

Rice and FOX Entertainment president Kevin Reilly say they'll look at all the feedback on the show -- ranging from a "huge swath" of viewers who tell Reilly they love it just the way it is to the AmericanIdol.com survey done by the show's producers -- in considering how to tinker with the format for next season. "What we do every year on 'Idol' is go through all the research on the season and then talk about what's coming," Rice says.

Rice also says that a decision on hiring a replacement for Simon Cowell won't be made until after the season, and there is "no bigger decision" that the network has to make over the summer.

The new judge will have to bring both "music credibility and incredible entertainment value" to the table, Rice says. Because the decision-making process is likely to take some time, auditions for the show will start later than usual, likely in September.

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how about revamping the voting process? the way it is now it's noting more than a popularity contest!

Yes, it seems like the best candidates are voted off and the mediocre remain! This is rediculous.! There should ve a rule, if you vote once, that is it....Michael Lynch will become a recording star, and the rest of those guitar playing rejects will fade into history...I cannot believe this! I hate this season's candidates, Bowersox with her dredlocks, and thar other one with the long hair; ugh, I hate the mediocracy, the guitar playing; and most of all that the best are always booted off. As far as I am concerned, if they don't pick better candidates next year, then let AI go into the archives of TV history...It was a boring season.


This may be American Idol's worst season to date - but over the years the show has given us some great artists and launched many careers...

Kelly, Chris, Carrie, Fantasia, Adam... the list goes on and on.

Here's a great piece counting down the 10 best Idol singles so far... but do you agree?

http://www.remotepatrolled.com/2010/05/american-idol-%E2%80%93-the-10-best-singles-so-far%E2%80%A6/

I vote for no instruments. This is a singing competition (as Simon says) and revamp the voting limiting the amount of votes for each number.

tressa get an F'ing life

Bring in Kyle Sandilands! He was great on Australian Idol. :-)

"Michael Lynch will become a recording star" - in what universe? We'll never hear from this guy again

Audiences have been complaining about the overlong results show for several years already. The only reason they are listening now is because the ratings are now reflective of that.

The show is getting so boring and all that filler has got to go. The show goes on too long. Lets move it along Idol. I feel like I'm watching the biography channel. I'm in my 40's and this show just drags out. Go back to the format it used to be...a sing competition, short and to the point. This show is going to need a serious overhaul. Not to mention with Cowell leaving, this program could be on a sinking ship. Get someone assertive and opinionated but with a music background....Ellen doesn't count. It's 9:23 p.m. and I'm changing the channel. I'm really disappointed. Sincerely, a former loyal idol fan.....hmm

i vote to have a 5 min results show

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