At first, “American Idol: The Search for a Superstar” may have sounded like just another talent show.
But as this past summer progressed, it became clear it was something more: a genuine television phenomenon.
Many reaped huge benefits from the Fox show’s popularity. Eighties pop star Paula Abdul once again found fame as one of the show’s judges; her cohorts, music executives Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, emerged from behind-the-scenes roles to become genuine celebrities; host Ryan Seacrest went from radio personality to familiar TV face; and a number of aspiring stars, winner Kelly Clarkson foremost among them, found places in the spotlight.
Despite all the surprises the first “American Idol” yielded, there’s room for more as the second round starts Tuesday, with an expanded two-hour episode. Maintaining the successful formula, Seacrest (minus former co-host Brian Dunkleman) will introduce new shows each Tuesday and Wednesday. Starting Feb. 4, viewers again can participate by voting for their favorite contestant after the Tuesday hour, with the lowest vote-getter eliminated during the next night’s half-hour. A new element of the show is Kristin Holt, an ex-Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader who competed in the first contest, reporting from backstage.
“This show depends on who turns up,” says Cowell, labeled “Mr. Nasty” in some quarters for his frank critiques of “American Idol” contestants. “I never cease to be amazed by what happens out there on the road (during the initial auditions). I thought I had seen it all until we started working on this season. We found someone I think is the worst singer in the world, and I don’t say that lightly. What never ceases to amaze me is all these people who really believe they have talent when they have none at all. It’s incredible.”
Now that they’re familiar with the brand of feedback Cowell gives, “American Idol” hopefuls might be more ready for him. “They think they are,” he counters. “They come in with rehearsed lines, then they get blasted. Once they’re in the audition room, they’re so focused on being the next ‘American Idol,’ they forget everything they’ve rehearsed and just live for the moment. We’d talk to them beforehand and say, ‘Some of you are going to have a rough ride,’ but it was pretty much like the first time for the most part.”
The British-born Cowell warmed up for “American Idol” by also serving as a judge on “Pop Idol,” the original version done in England. He’s glad the latest crop of 32 finalists offers “a lot more variety in terms of shapes and sizes. You can see that just in the last six months, there’s been a sea change. The Britney (Spears) look is out, replaced by a quirkier Avril Lavigne look, and that’s reflected in the competition this time. I promise that you won’t know what to make of some of these people, but they are talented.”
