Are Randy Jackson's "dawg" days over?
Along with the addition of Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, the other biggest change to American Idol's judging table has been the toughening up of the last original judge.
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Nine years ago, a brutally honest record exec named Simon Cowell was so vicious as a judge on a new musical talent show that a few performers he rudely rejected came after him with baseball bats. Fellow judge Paula Abdul was so put out by his rough treatment of young singers that at one point during the first season, she stormed off the set threatening to quit. The third judge, Randy Jackson, once could be seen standing up angrily behind the judges' table, looking like he was going to clobber Cowell.
Despite that rocky beginning, or perhaps because ...
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Tens of millions of viewers or not, American Idol isn't one to let any grass grow under its feet.
Already this season, the Fox juggernaut has introduced a fourth judge (the wonderfully articulate and lucid Kara DioGuardi) and surprised us with a Top 13 (two of whom will get sent packing this Wednesday night).
But the show isn't done with the tweaks. Calling in to Idol host Ryan Seacrest's KISS-FM radio show, exec producer Ken Warwick hinted at a rule change being revealed on this week's results show that will emerge as a "big talking point" once America gets wind of it.
What's the change? Warwick ...
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American Idol is plumbing its past to bolster its future, in the wake of a seven percent audience decline for the previous cycle.
Among the changes on tap for Season 8, premiering Jan. 13, is the resurrection of two elements from seasons gone by — one of which affects game play, the other offering fun (if not deliciously catty) insight into the semifinalists.
As hinted in recent weeks, Season 8 will ...
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American Idol executive producer Ken Warwick has responded to Paula Abdul's recent comments and, in turn, the tragedy which recently befell a fan of Abdul's, stressing that he never would knowingly put a dangerous person in front of the judges.
Detailing the process by which wannabes are surveyed as they enter the early audition rounds, Warwick told reporters in a Monday conference call, "It's always been that if someone looked like they were a bit dangerous or led us to believe they weren't as sensible as they should be ...
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