We Made Mistakes, Says Nigel Lythgoe

Oh well, at least Nigel didn’t deflect blame and succumb to making the Reaganesque “mistakes were made” excuse, although that would have made for some pretty awesome snark material. TPTB appear to be taking at least some responsibility for  the latest  less than buzz-worthy season. (Though, I still maintain there is a boatload of talent present in the S6 bunch…)

Nigel Lythgoe, the executive producer of both shows who also serves as a sharp-tongued judge on Dance, said there’s plenty ‘  and that we should all expect some changes on Idol next season. ”We realized we made mistakes on Idol last season, ” he said. ”We were so engrossed with the mentors and didn’t really focus on the Melinda Doolittles of the show. We didn’t know them as much as the Kellie Picklers of last season.”

We’re all attached to them a little more, ” Lythgoe said about Dance‘s focus on its contestants’ lives. ”I think that’s affected us all a little bit more. There are little emotional hooks that come out.” As for an Idol tune-up plan for season 7, Lythgoe revealed the production team is always looking to ”tinker with the program, ” adding that ultimately he’d like to see the Idol contestants be as strong as his prized top 10 on So You Think You Can Dance.

Personally, I can do without the super-contrived Pickler-like back stories. However, what makes the show work are the contestants themselves. Once the producers decide that the kids aren’t the real stars of the show, then it’s all over.

So, sure, invite your special guests Nigel, but they should always ALWAYS take a backseat to the kids. Feature more of the Top 44 in the audition phase. Expand the Hollywood Rounds back to 4 episodes. And, make the contestants the central focus of the taped bits featured on the show. It’s a pretty simple formula TPTB started out with back in 2002. Next year, they need to get back to basics. and as Fox entertainment chairman Peter Liguori said,

“We’re one watercooler contestant away from another surge, There’s still a feeling about an upcoming ‘Idol’ season.”

About mj santilli 34832 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!