Idol’s Producer Talks About Idol Changes & Cancelation of Idol Gives Back

By: Jen Smith
Fancast.com

American Idol has been all over the news lately, and it’s not yet on the air (which is a true sign of a hit water-cooler show!)

Executive Producer Ken Warwick took some time out of his busy schedule to talk to Fancast about some of the changes in store for the popular television show:

• Warwick tried his best to explain the complicated Wild Card round: The top 36 will perform over three weeks. Twelve people will perform each week. The top boy, the top girl, and the next highest vote-getter will make it through. The people with the fourth place votes will automatically make it to the Wild Card round, along with judges picks. It will contain either 9 or 10 contestants. The judges decide the final three.

• He made a concerted effort to show most of the semi finalists before the Top 36 rounds, but makes no promises.

• On adding Kara DioGuardi: he always wanted four judges and likes the dynamic she adds. She was picked for her ability to mold young idols into stars. She’s also a good singer. “She can and does, on a number of occasions, say ‘You should sing it like this,”‘ he said. “And then she lets it rip.” Don’t forget that in a tie, Simon gets the casting vote.

• Warwick says that there will be one less audition week and an additional week focused on the Hollywood round. He credits it to the overwhelming emotion the contestants feel during Hollywood week, which makes for great TV. He says that it gets a little boring to always show bad auditions, such as this year’s Puerto Rico round, which hardly had any good singers.

• Idol Gives Back won’t be on this year. Why? It’s pretty simple. First, he says these are difficult financial times for the country. Second, it was a tremendous stress on the producers to maintain every year. From now on, it’ll be every other year.

• He’s not at all worried about the lower ratings. “Every major show took a hit,” he said. In fact, their ratings weren’t down as much as most other shows and they regained most of their viewers for the finale. He adds that AI wouldn’t have been on for eight years if they weren’t doing something right.

• Warwick says that Simon Fuller’s absence hasn’t put more responsibilities on him; it’s only doubled the work load. After all, Fuller wasn’t there for the original show in England.

• And what about Paula Abdul? “We’ve never had any discussion about Paula’s job being in jeopardy. It’s not. America loves Paula. I hope she’s there the day it comes off the air.”