I loved season 7 but don’t agree it was the best ever. I’ve enjoyed all of the seasons I’ve watched for various seasons although less so when my favorite goes home early (5 & 7). I like a few of the top 12 which is probably more than I did last season at this time.

There are way too many people. The Old format was better. I felt like I knew them better. Plus, for all the proclaimed changes, it looks and feels the same. They needed something fun. Should have picked fewer contestants, had a flashier stage, maybe had some sing offs along with them singing a full song. I liked the longer time with the judges. They were actually entertaining last night.

Bottom line. It’s too formal. Too structured.

But I feel that the show will get better once we get to see some of the final 12 contestants perform more than once.

Yes, it will be nice to have the same contestants every week, but I’m afraid they will be less polished than previous years since they all have not performed regularly in the semis. Maybe the wildcard winners will have a slight edge.

Is anyone, besides me, missing allowing the contestants to use intruments at this point?

I miss them. Yeah, it removes their “crutches” to focus just on their vocal ability, but it also removes a big part of their musical identity. I’m not getting this decision at all.

Personally, I’m not vested in any of these guys.

This year, I feel like I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t even know the contestants. Is anyone, besides me, missing allowing the contestants to use intruments at this point?

No you are not the lone stranger.

Not knowing the contestants and not watching them grow takes away one of the most beautiful things that Idol has to offer. For example David Cook started out as a cute bad boy rocker guy that turned into a gorgeous man that oozes charisma that can sing anything.

And the lack of instruments is making the show seem more karaoke like instead of giving the contestants a chance to perform in a real world setting. Last year they searched for natural artistry, and this year they are searching for a pre-packaged pop-tart. But Idol is not the only ones in the music industry shoving pop-tarts in our faces. Most of the music industry has been watered down as a whole.

But I feel that the show will get better once we get to see some of the final 12 contestants perform more than once.

I would like them to keep the wildcard thing and just let America bring one more person back. Maybe a top 13, lol. Please bring Nigel back, idol needs him so bad.

It’s like TPTB meant gimmicks and backstory when they told us they would focus more on “getting to know” contestants.

I think that they got so scared when a couple of non-Idol-like personalities almost kicked out the two they did want, Jason and Brooke, they got too close for comfort with his Uke and guitar and Brooke with her instruments.

I agree with Jason succeeding in throwing a spanner into the works but I IMO, Brooke was never really that much of a threat.

There were so many fantastic young guys last year for the tweens and teens to love. Who will it be this year?

Kris Allen?

They’ve lost a lot of the younger demo they had when the show was in its prime. They would have to do something dramatic to make the show more appealing to younger viewers to regain those eyeballs. And simply having contestants that appeal to that demo isn’t going to cut it. Why do you think Jive is working to get Archie the larger teen fanbase that he’s supposed to have as the cute, talented teen that he is? Because Idol failed to get him enough of those fans to start raking in the money that comes with marketing to that crowd. And if any contestant was going to bring in younger viewers, it was him. So, IMO, Idol is just getting old for the young. They’re bored with it and have moved on.