I greeted the first “American Idol” of the season with mixed feelings — excited the show was back, but annoyed that I had to sit through the grueling audition episodes before the real studio competition begins.
(I could skip them, sure, but I’d miss all the back story stuff that shapes the entire season…so I motor through. Best strategy: DVR, then fast forward.)
And as I sat there, watching the first show LIVE, I could understand why Simon Cowell decided to leave AI after this season.
With Paula Abdul gone, Kara DioGuardi has become a stronger, more strident voice on the panel and I’m already tired of her. Randy is his usual mix of useless cliches, and guest judges are filling in until Ellen Degeneres appears in the Hollywood shows. I think it will be hard for her to break out of the nice gal personality she has established, so I don’t expect much substance in her feedback.
So now, more than ever, Simon is the only judge on the panel who has industry experience and credibility and entertains, all at the same time. If I were him, I wouldn’t want that burden either. At least when Paula was around, with her combination of industry experience and bizarre craziness, he had someone to banter with. I doubt he and Ellen are going to go head-to-head…and if they do, she’ll want a dance-off.
Not. Gonna. Happen.
So, even though I think your leaving spells the end of “American Idol,” Simon, I wish you well. Perhaps it’s time for this monster to be felled.
And if anyone can do it, it’s you.
