American Idol Producer Ken Warwick Inks a New Deal

Oh, MJ, I couldn’t agree with you MORE!! So many weird and stupid decisions left to Ken, although some of it I think is also Simon Fuller (but I could be wrong). It does seem like Nigel had a much better handle on things. Both Ken and director Bruce need to GO. Bring back Nigel and a good, solid director who doesn’t get an itch in his (or her) ass if the camera lingers on a close-up for a few more seconds.

And someone really needs to take a look at the Finale. Unbelievable wasted opportunities this year in favor of those stupid “award” segments, giving valuable airtime to the FAILS of the show, when there could have been at least another 15 minutes of performances, including duets. Another Adam/Allison duet would have been a huge highlight (I would have chosen “Gimme Shelter” by the Stones) — but now I’m getting a bit off topic, ain’t I?

And someone really needs to take a look at the Finale. Unbelievable wasted opportunities this year in favor of those stupid ‘award’  segments, giving valuable airtime to the FAILS of the show, when there could have been at least another 15 minutes of performances, including duets. Another Adam/Allison duet would have been a huge highlight (I would have chosen ‘Gimme Shelter’  by the Stones) ‘” but now I’m getting a bit off topic, ain’t I?

Haha, I agree broddybounce. Those stupid awards and waaaay too much time given to Norman whats-his-name. Wasted talent and entertainment time. :furious_tb: Come home, Nigel!

If it weren’t for the relatively talented pool of idols this year, this season would have been a new milestone for the show—cheesiest and most technically inept season ever.From the technical guffaws. hokiest themes, corniest group numbers with equally corny song choice and choreography (not talking about the disco theme group number), inconsistent lineup of guestings (Miley Cyrus?duet with Joss Stone and Smokey? etc.) to the ridiculous “new ideas”(the opening where the judges walk up the stage, the stairs,the SAVE,and most disastrous-the 4th judge), this season could have been one of the worst.

Actually, it’s not really the idea of the 4th judge that’s irritating as the choice of the judge itself–Kara’s annoying or she’s trying too hard to be cool or something.

Plus the blatant favoritism that could only have come from the producers of the show–there was a time when it was just getting to be nauseating.The only saving grace this show had this season were the idols who really seemed like likable people.

If it weren’t for the relatively talented pool of idols this year, this season would have been a new milestone for the show’”cheesiest and most technically inept season ever.From the technical guffaws. hokiest themes, corniest group numbers with equally corny song choice and choreography (not talking about the disco theme group number), inconsistent lineup of guestings (Miley Cyrus?duet with Joss Stone and Smokey? etc.) to the ridiculous ‘new ideas’ (the opening where the judges walk up the stage, the stairs,the SAVE,and most disastrous-the 4th judge), this season could have been one of the worst.

Actually, it’s not really the idea of the 4th judge that’s irritating as the choice of the judge itself’“Kara’s annoying or she’s trying too hard to be cool or something.

Plus the blatant favoritism that could only have come from the producers of the show’“there was a time when it was just getting to be nauseating.The only saving grace this show had this season were the idols who really seemed like likable people.

ITA. The idols saved this season for me as well, especially Anoop, Danny and Matt. The producers manipulations could have made this one of the worst seasons, but the contestants who seem like likeable people helped save it.

I miss Nigel also. The ton of bricks pimping in the audition/Hollywood shows was all Ken Warwick. This could have been a “jump the shark” season, if it hadn’t been for some real good talent, Kris and Allison, sneaking past Warwick’s orchestrations.

Nooooooooo!!!! That really sucks. Ken Warwick is just what Idol does NOT need.

If it wasn’t for the Top 6 – even 7 – and the merciful advent of the DVR, this season wouldn’t have jumped the shark, it would have crash-landed right into the shark tank. Feeding frenzy to ensue.

Better than Nigel, how about you, mj, in his place?

The pimping didn’t help the annoyance levels, but you cant fault Danny and Adam for that.

If American Idol is inviting back AI Season 8 management to return and giving them hefty contracts , their bottom line ( e.g. profitability)from 2009 operations must be strong.
With the current economic conditions, corporations are jettisoning quickly management who cannot produce the required figures. I am sure if there are signs of profit erosion, top management would quickly change the producers and directors. These corporations usually give these positions enough rope to run their jobs and it can also turn out to be just enough rope to hang themselves.

So we got all three year deals? Simon too? I think that tells us we got 3 more years of Idol for sure.

I also tend to agree that I am not sure we can trust ratings numbers anymore though advertisers still rely on it, wisely or unwisely, though I would agree that TV viewership is certainly down overall and certainly more fragmented because there is more to do to entertain yourself. I would bet many people don’t watch the Idol the TV show but watch all the videos just like many people are watching whole TV episodes of TV shows on line rather than on TV. So I think the Idol Franchise is still going strong financially no matter what the perception is.

It’s all Adam’s fault that I even know who Ken Warwick even is. For 7 years I just blissfully watched Idol, got a little be involved in the on-air compatition and maybe joined into a conversation about Idol at work (when someone else started it.)

Now, I not only know who Ken is, I can list the foolish decisions he’s responsible for. Too bad they don’t let the Idol viewers vote for the judges and exec. producer.

So I guess this mean more judges talking, more “innovative” changes, and even less contestants’ singing.

I miss Nigel. There. I said it.

Ditto. I can live with a 4th judge. I can even live with the judges save. But I absolutely despise, more than words can accurately describe, the top 36. He should be drop-kicked into oblivion for that craptastic move alone. Blech.

Agree with everyone’s sentiments about Nigel and Ken. Another thing that struck me in reading this though is that they seem to be willing to dish out HUGE amounts of money to Simon, Ryan and Ken but are balking at Paula’s negotiations? Sounds very odd to me. Everyone says they want her back……make it happen!

And someone really needs to take a look at the Finale. Unbelievable wasted opportunities this year in favor of those stupid ‘award’  segments, giving valuable airtime to the FAILS of the show, when there could have been at least another 15 minutes of performances, including duets.

Actually, the “Golden Idol Awards,” or whatever the hell they’re called, are a legacy from the Nigel years, so we can’t lay that at Warwick’s feet. The hugest FAIL during the Finale that we can blame on Warwick, aside of course from Nobo, is having Kris’s coronation turned into a WTF? Krorge (as in Jorge) moment instead of a Kradam lovefest. Seriously, the last few minutes of the Finale are the highest-rated minutes of the entire TV season — would it have killed them to rehearse it so everybody knew where they were supposed to stand?

I don’t want to rehash AI8 any further, and I assume the debacle of the Top 36 elimination format has already been thoroughly dissected and trashed here on MJ’s, but for that blunder alone Warwick deserves to be shown the door. I hope the situation is rectified next season, or I’m going to bolt. The one thing he did do right, to be fair, is to give Hollywood week more airtime.

mj, I couldn’t agree with you more, but when you look at the ratings for SYTYCD (which puts American Idol to shame on so many different levels) compared to the wretched America’s Got Talent, it’s clear that the average viewer prefers the cheese and nonsense. It’s a damn shame, but I suspect if ever there were an Idol season with astute judging, live group performances (with actual arranged music and choreography), and an emphasis on talent and current music, it would be its last.

What’s truly amazing is that every season a few really terrific contestants and genuinely memorable performances take place.

Do we need a “tweet campaign” to bring back Nigel? :tongue_wink_ee:

I hate Season 8, but I have to say there were a few things it did better – better themes (having 2 Beatles weeks in Season 7 was such a terrible idea), better mentors, more interesting and current guest performers. But the bad outweighs the good here, and the worse bits were the relentless pimping and the semi-final format. The dreadful semi-final format meant that most of those who advanced to the top 13 were the favorites of the judges and producers and not necessary of those who watched the show (the voting was largely a charade here), and the outrageous pimping put me off contestants I would be normally be a great fan of (e.g. Adam) and certainly made me actively dislike some of them (e.g. Danny).

I don’t think it is an accident that the winner of the show is someone who wasn’t pimped to high heaven early on, an unfancied one who somehow managed to squeak through the blatantly unfair semi-final heavily stacked in favour of the early favorites. Many people just have this gag reflex when they see the producers and judges trying to shove their favorites down our throat. If they want to pimp someone next time, do it with some subtlety, OK?

Actually, the ‘Golden Idol Awards,’  or whatever the hell they’re called, are a legacy from the Nigel years, so we can’t lay that at Warwick’s feet.

Actually, you’re right! But somehow it seemed more obtrusive this year, maybe because there was more talent available and it wasn’t utilized well enough and a producer in Warwick’s position should have had the savvy to figure that out — and to realize that those awards need to go. I also feel that, for Adam’s spots they should have utilized Queen twice — once for Adam’s “celeb duet” spot, and then again for the Kradam “We Are The Champions.” KISS was fun but, with the exception for the very short “Beth,” did nothing to show off Adam’s voice — whereas him doing Queen would have been EPIC!

The hugest FAIL during the Finale that we can blame on Warwick, aside of course from Nobo, is having Kris’s coronation turned into a WTF? Krorge (as in Jorge) moment instead of a Kradam lovefest. Seriously, the last few minutes of the Finale are the highest-rated minutes of the entire TV season ‘” would it have killed them to rehearse it so everybody knew where they were supposed to stand?

No one has mentioned this before that I’ve seen — and you are SO RIGHT. Thanks for pointing out another epic fail.

Count me in the officially disappointed column. The only thing that would make this make sense for me is if others were strongly against Adam being on the show and he essentially put his foot down and insisted that he be in the top 36 so that the viewers could decide. Like him or or hate him, Adam brought an excitement to a season that otherwise would likely have been a snooze fest (the arguing over his Country Week performance being epic). That’s the only thing I can think of that could possibly even begin to redeem all his other FAIL this year.

I think I’m the only one who liked it as a top 36. haha.

I am fine with a Top 36 so long as they do not do that stupid Three Group Top Three move on only. I hated the way we created the Top 12(13) this year. Ken’s a dipshit and Kara needs a ball gag.

Hate, hate, HATED the Top 36 format.

I don’t think it is an accident that the winner of the show is someone who wasn’t pimped to high heaven early on, an unfancied one who somehow managed to squeak through the blatantly unfair semi-final heavily stacked in favour of the early favorites. Many people just have this gag reflex when they see the producers and judges trying to shove their favorites down our throat. If they want to pimp someone next time, do it with some subtlety, OK?

But the blatant pimping has been going on from the beginning of the series. It’s what stopped me watching it, except in clips and/or recaps, for years. I couldn’t take it anymore. And Nigel has been doing the same thing, again quite successfully, where success is determined as the person the show is clearly pimping wins, on SYTYCD as well. I wouldn’t have watched AI again unless I had seen Adam’s RoF clip, become addicted and then went back and watched the rest of the show and was hooked going forward. I’m done with SYTYCD after last year’s successful pimp job for Josh Allen. So regarding the pimping? I don’t see how it would get any better if Nigel were back in charge.

Now it certainly does appear that Nigel runs a tighter ship, both from how much better things ran when he was at AI and how smoothly things run at SYTYCD. So there is that. But he still does the pimping stuff galore and I lobster hate all the crap he brings to both shows with attitudes about ‘manliness.’

So my radical proposal is get someone other than either Ken or Nigel. Surely there are producers out there that would love to work on the most popular show on TV who are competent like Nigel, but not with his negatives? Of course, why didn’t they hire that person instead of Ken, we’ll never know.

But seems like the show is fine with the amount of money they are making, which despite lowered ratings, is even more than before. And would rather just harden what they do have, rather than make another change after only one season. I disagree. If someone isn’t working out, than you don’t keep them on.

So it seems the Peter Principle is alive and well on AI.

The one thing he did do right, to be fair, is to give Hollywood week more airtime.

The results shows overall were also greatly improved this year. More entertainment, less filler. So, I’ll give Ken that.

I miss Nigel. There. I said it.

Sigh – don’t we all…..

Haha, I remember when everyone was complaining about Nigel when he was on the show. Oh well, I’m glad I get hopefully three more years of Idol!

So my radical proposal is get someone other than either Ken or Nigel. Surely there are producers out there that would love to work on the most popular show on TV who are competent like Nigel, but not with his negatives? Of course, why didn’t they hire that person instead of Ken, we’ll never know.

That would be you, mj!

Warwick is retarded. The show was just piles of filler and manipulation this year. Also stuffed with horrible performers like Kanye West and emphasis on drama.

I agree the result shows were better than performance nights often
and Top 36 sucks – go back to Top 20 was it ?? and let the people whittle it down slowly to Top 10 themselves and they have time to get to know those singers and those singers have second chances etc.

Yeah for Ken!!……..NOT

Im not opposed to the 4th judge/Kara….i have more of a problem w. ryan’s time consuming lame jokes and paula/simon’s childish antics. instead of controlling this, the producers infamously decided to split up the judging ‘ ¦an idiotic move that Ken was responbile for yet he receives a pat on the back by Fox.

Im ok with the top 36 format….as it gives more kids the opportunity to appear before America. Who knows, maybe Allison and Kris would not have made a top 20 cut. What I do not agree w. is putting in “personalities” over real talent (norman gentle anyone???) AND wasting the wildcard on the likes of package “artists” like megan and jasmine. I understand the judges make this decision but i find it hard to believe the show producers dont have a say in who simon and company select.

And yes, hooray for more hollywood week airtime…but a big boo hiss for wasting 75% of the airtime on jerry springer style drama. No more bikini girl..thats why we have the audition rounds, to laugh at these type of silly performers.

Hollywood week is supposed to be about talent. And for anyone that believes you need bad singing/drama to create memorable moments….two words for yall..White Chocolate. Now THAT performance was what hollywood week should have been all about. I would much rather have seen kris/matt the other contestants practice for their routine than watch bikini girl roll her eyes and twirl her hair.

IF you spend more time on the contestants during hollywood week, then you can have a top 36 that people are somewhat familiar with. And if you do a top 20, then at least we would understand why some people didnt make the cut. Again, another idiotic move by Ken.

and wasnt ken responsible for getting keith urban (country) to sing with kris (not country!! at all) ….why? so random. as irrelevant as Adam singing w. Kiss (now Bowie would have been a diff story)…and i wont even go into his out of touch selections for the top 2, that did nothing to showcase adam or kris’ singing or performing styles. ugh.

But the blatant pimping has been going on from the beginning of the series.

It’s just worse this year. Previous years I just watched with some mild amusement at the pimping, this year I felt they have crossed a line into a level that I find offensive. The pimping was both excessive (both Adam and Danny) and disproportionate (Danny in particular), as well as distasteful at times (vis-Ã  -vis the dead wife affair) and unreasonable.

However, I don’t think I would be as annoyed as I was if the excessive pimping weren’t coupled with the odious semi-final format. I assume because of the way the semi-final was formulated, they had to do this mad pimping just to make sure that can get the people they want into the Top 13. In previous years, you feel that despite all the pimping, it is ultimately the people who decide what happens to the contestants. This year it felt more like a producers’ and judges’ game, that they have written a script well in advance before the semi-final that there should be a Adam-Danny finale with a supporting cast of Lil, Scott, Jasmine, Megan, Matt and Anoop among the Top 13, and they will use all the tricks they have, and add a few more (jugdges’ pick, judges’ save and what have you) just to get what they want.

I think that, for a variety of reasons, neither Danny nor Adam would have won this year, and it is quite fortuitous that Kris won because I think there were other semi-finalists who could very well have won this year if they had advanced to the Top 13 (Ricky Braddy, Felicia Barton and quite a few others). It is what made it felt so unfair, and why I felt the producers have violated the spirit of the competition and the reason that made AI the success it has been – the viewers feel that they are the ones who are creating the stars; they vote for them, watch them grow (or falter as the case may be) as they progress through the show each week, root for them, support them after the show is over and obsessively track their post-Idol career. This year it felt more like the producers and judges were saying – “we have a couple of people here we want to make a star of, just vote for them, stupid”. Few, perhaps as few as two or three (and Kris is one of these very few), outside of their pre-ordained finalists got a fair chance to progress. The whole thing just sticks in the throat for me.

I hate the Top 36 too but… if there was no Top 36 I’m almost positive Kris Allen would have never made it.

Warwick is so terrible, Ju’not Joyner is gonig to expose him and also mention how Nigel Lythgoe is missed.