American Idol 11: 50′s Songs, One Instrument/One Voice, Trash Talking The Voice

By On 01/08/2012 · 59 Comments · In American Idol, American Idol 11

I’ll be live blogging the American Idol Panel at the Television Critics Association tour taking place in Pasadena, CA.  The panel begins at 7:15 EST.

Attendees: Judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler.  Host Ryan Seacrest. Producers Ken Warwick and Cecil Frot-Coutaz.  Reality chief, Mike Darnell.

I’ll post tweets and updates here. And then later, links to news stories.  Watch this space!

Summary:   The American Idol “Performance Challenge” took place in Las Vegas and features songs from the 50s.  “They had to sing as a small group a late ’50s song, close harmonies.”  The next round, says Ken, “is back to ‘one voice, one instrument.’ That will get them down to the Top 24.”  (Via TV Line)

Ryan Seacrest wants to come back to Idol.  “I love this television show. I can’t imagine life without American Idol,” he says.  The producers want him back. “Our expectation is that Ryan will stay with the show, ” says Mike Darnell, “I think everyone has come to realize the value of Ryan Seacrest. It’s very hard to imagine [American Idol] without Ryan. We certainly want to keep him,” Ryan would not comment on the Today Show rumors. (Via THR)

Randy Jackson on X Factor, ““Simon and Paula are dear friends of ours… I think that ‘Idol’ is still the best TV of its kind anywhere, and we invented this whole game and everyone’s kind of copying it,” Randy said, referring to shows like “The X Factor” and “The Voice,” which were brought up numerous times during the TCA panel. “We wish him well.” (Via Access Hollywood)

There will be NO Idol Gives Back this year, although it remains an active charity.  (Via THR)

The gang trash-talked The Voice. Cecile Frot-Coutaz snarked that The Voice cast contestants, American Idol held open calls.  Randy Jackson said, “We will never, ever rip of Star Trek like The Voice did with the chairs.”  And on winner, Javier Colon’s previous record contract, “It was almost like second chance people; it wasn’t some new artist.”  Mike Darnell said it was a compliment that The Voice hired Kelly Clarkson to be a mentor, but that Idol wouldn’t be hiring a lot of people from The Voice.

Darnell on the trash talk, ” You have to have a response to these questions and the response is competitive. We’re having fun. I wouldn’t call it touchy, I’d call it healthy competition.”  (Via THR)

Click Here for the American Idol 11 Schedule

  • There was a technical failure introducing American Idol. Simon Cowell in the house?
  • Ryan Seacrest asked about “juggling all those balls” and steals the obvious joke by saying, “I like to juggle balls.”
  • “We’re a little bit more comfortable,” J-Lo says of season 2 of “American Idol.”
  • Steven Tyler: “I can’t go anywhere now,” due to added IDOL visibility. Says Aerosmith working on new album right now.
  • Steven Tyler says reaction from the rock community, esp. his own band, was negative at first but it’s been nothing but good since.
  • Ryan Seacrest: “I can’t imagine life without AMERICAN IDOL,” says he simply cannot comment on TODAY rumors.
  • Fox reality boss on Ryan Seacrest/IDOL contract talks/exit rumors: “Our expectation is that Ryan will stay with the show.”
  • “I only see myself hosting Idol,” Seacrest says. Mike Darnell: “Our expectation is he’ll be on the show for as long” as possible. #tca12
  • Ryan Seacrest asked if he’d bail on Fox and Idol to host The Voice: “I only see myself hosting on American Idol”; he’s “focused on this season.”
  • “This is the most authentic talent show,” Idol judge Randy Jackson says. “You have to call it as you see it.”
  • “I want to do it in a way they hear me, but there’s nothing wrong with a little tough love,” J-Lo says.
  • Randy Jackson says if another guy wins it will be because he’s the best contestant. And notes, as everyone knows, girls vote.
  • Fox’s Mike Darnell: “X-Factor is more over the top, campy, louder,” compared to #Idol. Idol is the “gold standard,” he says.
  • EP Ken Warwick also points out that “Idol” has produced the most stars of the singing shows.
  • American Idol panel is ripping X Factor: producer Warwick criticized Leona Lewis, Randy Jackson called it a place for a “second chance”
  • American Idol “performance challenge”: late 50s song; then one-voice, one instrument to get to top 24.
  • “Center portion of the series is always going to change” and “reinvent those middle rounds every year,” American Idol producer Warwick says
  • During the #AmericanIdol performance round in Las Vegas, contestants were asked to perform a 1950s song (at Aria’s Elvis theatre).
  • “I gotta call my lawyer,” says JLo upon hearing there’s a telenovela version of her movie “Maid in Manhattan” airing opposite “Idol.”
  • Fox reality boss: Kelly Clarkson joining THE VOICE “is a compliment to IDOL. We’re not hiring a lot of people from THE VOICE to be on our show.”
  • IDOL exec on THE VOICE’s less-goofy audition rounds: “They cast their show; we hold open calls.”
  • #Idol takes on The Voice. “We won’t rip off spinning chairs,” Randy Jackson says. Producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz blasts them for casting contestants.
  • “I’ve always wanted to get into her pants and now every once in a while she lets me,” says Steven, about wanting to wear J.Lo’s clothes
  • “The record business is still really in the toilet,” notes Randy Jackson, asked about lackluster sales for singing show champs.
  • Steven Tyler says about half of the songs have been written completely for the Aero album and another half are awaiting his lyrics. He says he doesn’t know if they’re hits but he thinks they’re good and that Joe Perry gets to town to work on it next week.

Via @BastardMachine, @realityblurred, @TVGuideMagazine @MattMitovich, @GlobeRodman

 
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  • http://twitter.com/bbmetsfan andy

    I love the trash talk.  I think it keeps everyone on their toes, and that’s a good thing.

  • Anonymous

    I can hardly wait!!  Idol’s worth waiting for. :)

  • Anonymous

    It’s a shame that they had to be nasty about The Voice, especially since that show probably won’t pose a real threat, but I did like the line about Kelly being on The Voice is a compliment to AI, since AI isn’t interested in hiring any of the Voice’s people.

  • http://twitter.com/KariannHart Kariann Hart

    I agree.  No need to make nasty comments about other shows.  Also, Idol needs to support ALL its alumni and winners!!  No exceptions.

    I assume they are talking about a singer being accompied by a piano, guitar, drums, etc.  Nothing else.  Makes for a better performance or reveals flaws in a voice.

  • Anonymous

    I love The Voice, but this was such a well deserved diss. I couldn’t stand “Douchebag Levine” saying all those things anymore and I’m glad Randy/The Producers put The Voice on it’s place. I LMAO at the STar Trek joke and What they said about Kelly Clarkson being a mentor on The Voice was also true.
    Can’t wait for idol to start again.

  • Anonymous

    The round to determine the Top 24 is “One Voice, One Instrument”.  No details on what that means exactly.

    I’m assuming it means no backup singers or backing band, just them and maybe an instrument if they play.

  • http://twitter.com/ItsHippoFun PinkHippo

    In this industry, dissing is a part of marketing. Heck, any other business for that matter.

    I have come to appreciate The Voice, but I’ve lived and breathed Idol for way to long now. 

  • Anonymous

    The b**ch flights between Idol, XFactor and The Voice peeps is often more entertaining than the actual shows

    50′s song? really? how is that supposed to be current/relevant? #blech

  • Anonymous

    Sorta OTT but the producer who is working with Aerosmith on this new album is Warren Huart, who has also worked with Kris and Maroon5 (among lots of others)

  • http://twitter.com/ItsHippoFun PinkHippo

    No matter how old a song is, a true artist/musician could definitely make it current.

    The 50s had a roster of great songs and artists. They’re better to listen to than some of today’s current hits.

  • Kirsten

    The round to determine the Top 24 is “One Voice, One Instrument”.  No details on what that means exactly.

    Isn’t that what they did in the airplane hanger last year? They could either play the instrument themselves or have somebody else play it, but it was just one instrument accompanying them during that round. They didn’t have a band.

    Just a stripped down version of a song where you can’t hide behind the band.

  • Anonymous

    Shh…Cecile…don’t say too much or people might remember that you produced the somewhat lesser than expected Season 1 of US X-Factor

    Where she cast contestants from youtube and myspace.

  • Not A Fangirl

    Here’s some more more cattiness from Warwick from Twitter:
      
    Ken Warwick says, “#Idol is the show that produces stars – points to Kelly Clarkson, Kat McPhee”

  • Kirsten

    Ken Warwick says, “#Idol is the show that produces stars – points to Kelly Clarkson, Kat McPhee”

    Shh….Ken…stop gloating or people will remember how you practically drove AI into the ground and Nigel had to be parachuted in to save your butt.

    Plus, I fear karma may have a twitter account.

  • mmb

    So now after 6-7 years Kat is, for the first time, being name-checked as one of idol’s big stars ( before her series even airs). Wonder if they will include her in the opening credits this year? If Smash is a hit her career will be major….

  • Anonymous

    Quoting Kirsten:

    “……….Somewhere, out there, Simon grinds a molar to its pulp.”

    LOL….HOW do you come up with these responses Kirsten?  Funny!!!!!

  • sd34567

    I don’t know about the trash talk.  To me, Idol is looking petty (Is that the word I want to use? I don’t know).  Ragging on the chairs and the contestants.

  • Anonymous

    I don’t know about the trash talk.  To me, Idol is looking like the petty ones.  Ragging on the chairs and the contestants.

    At least they are doing at the TCA’s, which few people pay attention to, The Voice actually did it, A LOT, on the air last year.  American Idol can back it up with ratings, but The Voice just looked silly, since not only were they drawing half of AI’s audience, but they purposely cast the show with some contestants who had been on American Idol.

  • Anonymous

    A few thoughts:

    From the looks if it so far, it looks like Ryan is leaning towards staying.

    I love that they are finally calling the voice out. I felt like it was in their job descriptions to diss idol at any given opportunity.

  • Incipit

    Somewhere, out there, Simon grinds a molar to its pulp.

    Heh. I can believe this – and even more – because Idol answering the Voice’s trash talking is a diss to his show – he’d likely even prefer XF to get all the comments – and none to his competition.
     
    Too funny.

  • electric_dog

    I cannot stand Randy and Warwick and the whole Idol pretending that they are “real” and that they don’t cast contestants.  Idol is more scripted than all dramas and comedies on TV taken together and they have had more plants on the show than New York Botanical Gardens. 

    What a bunch of smug assholes!

  • sd34567

    At least they are doing at the TCA’s, which few people pay attention to,
    The Voice actually did it, A LOT, on the air last year.  American Idol
    can back it up with ratings, but The Voice just looked silly, since not
    only were they drawing half of AI’s audience, but they purposely cast
    the show with some contestants who had been on American Idol. 

    Purposely?  I don’t think so.  What contestants were on Idol?  Frenchie and Vicci.  There were more?

  • Kirsten

    What contestants were on Idol?  Frenchie and Vicci.  There were more?

    Tori and Taylor Thompson who were on Cee Lo’s team where on the Idol spin-off American Juniors. They both made the group (i.e. “won”).

    Emily Valentine made it to Hollywood in Season 8 and was also on Cee Lo’s team. Cee Lo also had Kelsey who made it to Hollywood, but didn’t get airtime.

  • fuzzywuzzy

    “And on winner, Javier Colon’s
    previous record contract, “It was almost like second chance people; it wasn’t
    some new artist.”

    Oh, and Carly Smithson, Kristy Lee
    Cook and Michael Johns weren’t “second chance” people?  lol

    “Mike Darnell said it was a
    compliment that The Voice hired Kelly Clarkson to be a mentor, but that Idol
    wouldn’t be hiring a lot of people from The Voice.”

    But Idol didn’t think enough of
    Kelly to have her as a mentor? lol

    “IDOL exec on THE VOICE’s
    less-goofy audition rounds: “They cast their show; we hold open calls.”

    Oh, and Idol doesn’t “cast” their
    show?  lol  The hypocrisy is pretty thick.

  • superfudge

    I had to laugh at Idol acting like they don’t cast people for their show. They are such hypocrites.

    I can’t wait for Adam Levine’s response to this.

  • Anonymous

    I think they recruited people who had gone through some portion of AI for two reasons; for one it makes sense to cast not only reality show vets, but people who can actually sing (with the exception of the twins), and two, they wanted to make it seem like they would give a chance to talented people, who would normally get rejected by AI.  

  • Kylee

    Its not like Adam Levine and the rest of the voice aren’t hypocrites either. They all bragged about how they let anybody come in no matter how ugly or fat they are and that idol cares about appearances and judges them based on that. I wonder if the names Mandisa, Melinda Doolittle, Lakisha Jones, Crystal Bowersox, Jacob Lusk, Ruben Studdard, and Fantasia ring a bell? All of them were either overweight or didn’t have the classic Hollywood standard of “beauty.”

  • Karen C

    When was Vicci Martinez on Idol?

  • Anonymous

    When was Vicci Martinez on Idol?  

    Season 1, but she dropped out because she didn’t like the contract, want to sing cover songs, or have people tell her what to wear.  Apparently, she was okay with having the same restrictions with the voice.

  • Jean Richard

    Just  curious – who was “cast” on AI?

  • TBTW

    I actually think the female singer/model at the end of the credits last season looks like she’s modeled after Kat McPhee.  I also remember an interview with Paula once saying she was most surprised at Kat McPhee not hitting it big because she was so talented.  Looks like Smash may turn her in to a real star – good for her.

  • Idolfan11

    Also add Kelly Clarkson, Chris Sligh, Amanda Overmeyer, and Casey Abrams to that list.

  • sd34567

    “And on winner, Javier Colon’s
    previous record contract, “It was almost like second chance people; it wasn’t
    some new artist.”

    Oh, and Carly Smithson, Kristy Lee
    Cook and Michael Johns weren’t “second chance” people?  lol

    “Mike Darnell said it was a
    compliment that The Voice hired Kelly Clarkson to be a mentor, but that Idol
    wouldn’t be hiring a lot of people from The Voice.”

    But Idol didn’t think enough of
    Kelly to have her as a mentor? lol

    “IDOL exec on THE VOICE’s
    less-goofy audition rounds: “They cast their show; we hold open calls.”

    Oh, and Idol doesn’t “cast” their
    show?  lol  The hypocrisy is pretty thick. 

    Thank you.  The hypocrisy is very thick.  They have a lot of nerve running their mouths.

  • sd34567

    I don’t see that.  I still don’t think they purposely recruited people who were on Idol.

  • Anonymous

    Oh, and Idol doesn’t “cast” their
    show?  lol  The hypocrisy is pretty thick.

    There is a clear difference between what The Voice does and what Idol does. Idol has open casting calls. Every single idol contestant has gone through the open casting calls. The Voice contacts people and asks them to be on the show.

    I don’t see that.  I still don’t think they purposely recruited people who were on Idol.

    It is beyond obvious to me that they cast Frenchie Davis because she was the most famous of all the idol disqualifications.

  • Anonymous

    I had to laugh at Idol acting like they don’t cast people for their show. They are such hypocrites.

    Name one person that there is proof that idol reached out and contacted about being on the show.

  • sd34567

    It is beyond obvious to me that they cast Frenchie Davis because she was
    the most famous of all the idol disqualifications. 

    Frenchie is understandable.  But Vicci Martinez and apparently these other people who were on Idol?  I cannot see them going out of their way and purposely casting them.

  • Hazehel

    I don’t see that.  I still don’t think they purposely recruited people who were on Idol.

    The Voice’s contestants were all sought out by the producers, i.e. they were all ”purposely recruited”.  

  • http://twitter.com/Sassycatz Sassycatz

    Nevermind. Thought you were referencing the wrong Cook.

  • Mateja Praznik

    Why does it matter how the contestants are cast? It’s not like Idol presents us with 24 or at least 12 great contestants with real potential to be successful major label artists. We are extremely lucky if we get 3 good contestants per season.

    I really don’t care how they find contestants. IMO no method is better than the others, but you need a vision to know what to look for.

  • http://twitter.com/lufflyness Jenna

    As far as I can tell The Voice held their auditions through open casting and online…
    Having past Idol contestants doesn’t say anything except that a lot of people who audition for Idol are persistent. It makes a lot of sense that people who get rejected from one show will keep on auditioning for these other shows. I remember before Idol there was that show Popstars and at least 4 or 5 finalists from there ended up on the earlier seasons of Idol. Kelly said she auditioned for that show as well.

  • http://twitter.com/lufflyness Jenna

    I haven’t read anything about The Voice doing this either… Who was proven to be specifically contacted?
    And from what I understand Idol does sometimes invite past Hollywood contestants they found interesting but didn’t make it to the live shows to re-audition and skip the cattle call, which isn’t that bad since they did already go through the process but it is a similar principle.

  • Hazehel

    There were supposed to be open auditions held, but there was little evidence those presented on TV chosen to be in front of judges were chosen from those auditions, they go straight to the swivel chair round in the studio where only the few people already chosen by the producers were shown.  Most of those shown already had plenty of prior experience, and the show producers said they find the best people in the country. 

  • Hazehel

    I haven’t read anything about The Voice doing this either… Who was proven to be specifically contacted?

    Here, for example, 
    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/miracle-voice-202039 
    they said they were looking for talent as early as August 2010, but the auditions weren’t even held until January 2011 according the NBC own website.  Unless they have some strange ability to audition people without the auditionees actually being aware of the audition, they must have sought out the contestants themselves.  

    I have never seen evidence that people can skip the cattle on Idol apart from those who won specific contests like Jordin Spark who won Arizona Idol and got an audition in front of the producers.

  • sd34567

    But I was responding to a post that said that The Voice “purposely recruited” former Idol contestants.  That’s the part that was ridiculous to me.

  • http://twitter.com/tinawinabina Tinawina

    I don’t care if The Voice casts their show. If they want a contestant pool that’s more seasoned then fine.

    It sounds like Randy et all were ribbing The Voice in a half jokey way. That would be fine to me, though I agree that if they were being serious that would come off as petty. AI is in the strongest position right now. All they have to do is shut up, stay above it all, and put on top notch season. No need to put yourself in a position to look bad.

  • http://twitter.com/tinawinabina Tinawina

    I don’t care if The Voice casts their show. If they want a contestant pool that’s more seasoned then fine.

    It sounds like Randy et all were ribbing The Voice in a half jokey way. That would be fine to me, though I agree that if they were being serious that would come off as petty. AI is in the strongest position right now. All they have to do is shut up, stay above it all, and put on top notch season. No need to put yourself in a position to look bad.

  • sandrajane

    Leona Lewis was criticized?  Whatever for?  Girl is harmless.

  • sandrajane

    Leona Lewis was criticized?  Whatever for?  Girl is harmless.

  • Hazehel

    But I was responding to a post that said that The Voice “purposely recruited” former Idol contestants.  That’s the part that was ridiculous to me.

    I don’t see how it can be ridiculous.  Frenchie Davis was well-known for being a contestant rejected by Idol, so casting her must be seen as a deliberate act by The Voice.

  • tripp_ncwy

    Wasn’t her rejection from AI used as part of her intro package?

  • tripp_ncwy

    Wasn’t her rejection from AI used as part of her intro package?

  • Anonymous

    As a sort of homage to the awesome-looking “Once Upon A Time” (I unfortunately haven’t had time to watch it; if you’ve seen it, please tell me how it is), here is a fairy tale that I created to explain the success of “American Idol” and its alumni through the years. A long time ago, the earliest civilizations were held together by music. Music helped the people maintain peace and unity. It was a Gift, and all around the world, there were special people with unique abilities chosen by some power of the universe to protect it. They were called the Guardians of the Gift, and they would sing (some also played instruments) and share the Gift with the World. But their happy existence was brought to an end when a great Dark Force descended upon the Earth, leading to massive war and division. The Gift wasn’t strong enough to stop it, and the Guardians were forced to go into hiding. However, they left behind a message saying that they would appear again sometime in the future, in the land where people are free, at a time when said land is in distress and the Gift will be cherished once more. One of the producers (I’m not sure which one) knew about the Guardians and the Gift and wanted to bring them back into the spotlight so that they might be able to share the Gift with the world. So when he/she heard that Simon Cowell was taking a show called “American Idol” to the United States, the Land of the Free, and that the country was in panic after 9/11 and needed comforting, he/she signed on to the production team. And as the team traveled across the country searching for the next music superstar, he/she looked at the auras of every individual who auditioned and found the Guardians. And as the number of remaining contestants dwindled down, he/she made sure that the Guardians were put in the final rounds. So if you suspect that the voting was at all rigged at any point in the show’s history, or that the judges made a bad call in Hollywood, that producer did it to make sure the rightful Guardians ended up in the Top 10/12/13. And it was in those finalist rounds that the Guardians of the Gift were re-introduced to the world. Mind you, the producer never told the other staff members about the legend, for he/she feared they would call him/her crazy and fire him/her, and he/she never told the alumni about their capabilities for fear of scaring them away from the show. So whenever it appears that someone was unjustly eliminated in the semi-finals, it was only because that contestant was not a Guardian. And when Mario ended up in the Top 12 in Season 4, he was subconsciously told to drop out by whatever power of the universe created the Gift so that the rightful Guardian, Nikko, could come back. And when it seems that a talentless individual mistakenly made the finals, it is just the workings of that power, as a sign that even poor singers have a place and a purpose.  And the reason why all of the Guardians will flock to Idol instead of other shows like The X Factor or The Voice is because Idol was the first and original in the era of American reality singing competitions. They will unknowingly follow the example of Kelly, the Head Guardian and most powerful of all the Guardians, and the other Leader Guardians (Ruben, Fantasia, Carrie, Taylor, Jordin, David C, Kris, Lee, Scotty). So far, 120 Guardians have been discovered, but the message did not specify how many there were all together, and the show cannot be canceled until they have all been found and brought back into the spotlight. Only then, when they have been re-united, will they be able to access their wide array of powers. (Go ahead, make fun of this all you want. I don’t actually believe in it; I just thought it was a fun story).

  • sd34567

    It sounds like Randy et all were ribbing The Voice in a half jokey way.
    That would be fine to me, though I agree that if they were being serious
    that would come off as petty. AI is in the strongest position right
    now. All they have to do is shut up, stay above it all, and put on top
    notch season. No need to put yourself in a position to look bad. 

    I’ve read tweets that basically said that Idol seemed threatened by The Voice.  That they weren’t really ribbing and actually being very petty.

  • sd34567

    Like I said, Frenchie is understandable.  But Vicci Martinez?  Those sisters who were on Cee-Lo’s team?  Emily Valentine?  Were they “purposely recruited” because they had an Idol background?

  • Anonymous

    Like I said, Frenchie is understandable.  But Vicci Martinez?  Those sisters who were on Cee-Lo’s team?  Emily Valentine?  Were they “purposely recruited” because they had an Idol background?

    If you want to discount the others, Frenchie is still enough evidence to show that they cast the show for other reasons than the stated purpose of finding artists based on nothing but their voices.  Her casting also goes against several barbs that they threw at AI during the season, when they said that those who made it onto AI could never make it on The Voice, because unlike AI they picked their singers based on their talent.

  • Anonymous

    As far as I can tell The Voice held their auditions through open casting and online…

    They used a headhunter the first season, which is understandable.  At the beginning they were pretty upfront about this.  They personally contacted people who appeared on other talent show, and who posted videos of themselves singing on youtube, myspace and other sites.  This makes sense, and both AI and the X Factor use the same resources.  They are all television shows, and even if people don’t realize it, they tune in every week to see a story unfold, so the producers aren’t going to leave anything to chance, they are going to try and include people who will help them to tell particular stories.  

  • mchcat

    Lauren tried out twice for AGT and was not put thru at all. When she told that to Peirs Morgan  – he responded “…my show – disgraceful”

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