Even though the show is currently in its ninth season and its panel of judges has changed throughout the years, “American Idol” remains one of the most popular programs on television today. Its combination of young talent, smart judges and song choices has made “AI” a massive success. Although the show is nearly a decade old, it’s still a fun and entertaining program that continues to inspire.
If you’re unfamiliar with the singing competition, “AI” gives young people the chance to sing and become the next American Idol. At the beginning of this season (as in past seasons), the show went on the road to various locations throughout the country to find young talent to compete on the program. Young singers performed in front of the judging panel which included a revolving door of guest judges who took the place of Paul Abdul, who left the show after last season. On the show, we are currently down to a final few contestants and each week the contestant with the lowest numbers of votes from viewers is sent home until one of the remaining contestants becomes the next American Idol.
One of the major changes this year was on the panel of judges. After several guest judges took turns during the audition portion of the program, comedian Ellen DeGeneres became the fourth official judge. So far she’s been a solid addition. Although Abdul had better chemistry with Simon Cowell and seemed to have more fun, DeGeneres has a great sense of humor that shines, which sometimes helps when she doesn’t want to be too critical of a contestant.
With a lot of reality shows, it’s disappointing when certain contestants are booted from the program earlier than expected. For example, several weeks ago, Alex Lambert was kicked off of American Idol to the disappointment of many fans, including myself. Lambert was a strong singer voted off way too early. He should’ve made it to the top 10 or 12, if not further.
However, along with such disappointments, there are uplifting stories on the show. During the audition portion of the show, AI frequently focused on people dealing with difficult circumstances who had overcome major obstacles in their lives. It was inspiring to see these people stand up and fight for a chance to achieve stardom. Throughout the show’s tenure, there have also been numerous contestants who are young parents, who are trying to create a better future for their children. In a recent video introduction of contestant Crystal Bowersox, her fellow contestant, Andrew Garcia, spoke about the two of them as young parents. He said, “We’re trying to, y’know, live our dream, and provide for our kids doing what we love.” That sentiment of young parents hoping to provide a better life for their children is exciting and inspiring.
In addition to the personal stories, there are also contestants who develop musically as the season progresses. Tim Urban, who always seems to be smiling and having fun, has had some rough times on the “Idol” stage. As the judges said several weeks ago, Urban has faced some intense criticism from them but he has used those criticisms to become a better singer. Over the past several weeks, he has given strong performances on the show which demonstrates how much he has improved while on the show.
Nevertheless, AI does have some flaws. Some of the dialogue between the host and the judges is awkward and the program can get gimmicky. During the final part of the season, the program typically eliminates one contestant every week until the end of the competition. However, several weeks ago, the judges used their one “save” of the season to prevent the contestant who had received the lowest number of votes from going home. It seems unfair that the judges can “save” a contestant they want to keep on the program when in most other weeks, the voters at home can choose who gets to stay and who needs to leave.
Despite that, there’s a reason “American Idol” is massively successful. It celebrates young talent, highlights great music and shows inspiring people overcoming tough circumstances. It also has a smart panel of judges who often offer solid critiques that help contestants improve their performances.
“American Idol” is a great show that’s created new young musical stars, and judging from its contestants this year and its great ratings, is likely to keep doing so in the future.