Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Death of Singapore Idol?

Is Season 4 a Myth?
A few days ago, Airi posted a link to a vid of the Flying Dutchman appealing to Channel 5 to change up the format of Idol so that viewers could get to know the contestants more intimately. Watch...


Basically FD's point is that to vote objectively, the audience/voters need to get to know the contestants better. He felt that Airi's passion for music and his intelligence never really came through on the show. I guess he has a point, considering that the singing portion is only about 2 minutes and the VT preceding that is probably about 90 seconds. In earlier rounds, both durations are even shorter.

Maybe the solution to that isn't less contestants as suggested, but a longer programme? Instead of just 1 hour, it could be 90 minutes. Looking at American Idol, they've got longer episodes at the start of the season (and tons more auditions episodes) that enables them to draw out storylines (plus their editing is more succinct la). Aside from the fact that they have a lot more content (so many OTT auditions), they also tend to do profiles from early on and spend much time developing those 'characters'. I found Season 8 of AI to be very 'developed'. Every single one of the Top24 were followed from auditions stages. So in a way, it wasn't so random - we were already 'prepped' to fall in love with Anoop, Danny, Adam, Allison, the two rednecks, etc right from the start, so in a way it was predictably who were the ones going thru - all of the ones they focused on (except for Tatiana, she's just there for her 'unique' laugh). Lets see what they do with Season 9 (American Idol Season 9 premieres on 13th/14th Jan, Starworld, Channel 5).

Btw, you all know who FD is right? For the uninitiated (or non-Singaporean), FD is short for Flying Dutchman. FD is a radio personality, he helms the morning show on top Singapore radio station Class95FM. He's also co-host of Channel News Asia's 'BlogTV', a show that covers hot topics discussed on blogs and the internet.

Last week, I was privileged enough to get an invite from the producer of BlogTV to appear on the show to discuss Idol. OMG, flattered can? I'm like so Ms Fail on cam (I bet they didn't see that shot of me looking down my own shirt on national tv (@maressaz watched it on replay a few times just to laugh) OR that shot of me and Justin hurriedly sitting back down in our seats to clap when the jib (crane) camera swung in front of us), maybe they want me for comic relief? LOL! (click to enlarge pic)













Anyway, as flattered as I am, I had to pass cos unfortunately, taping is on Thursday night, and I'll be in Hong Kong having my 'charchanteng' nissin noodles at the time - post-Idol 'family holiday'.

But I think I did good, made up for it by suggesting they give @izked a call, he IS the Official Blogger after all, and guess what - he said OK and so did.......SYLSYL aaaannnnddd....*drum roll please* Uncle Ken!!!
Its gonna be an interesting show! Telecast details are as follows :
Thursday, 7th January, 2010.
9.15pm LIVE! online at www.blogtv.sg
9.30pm ChannelNewsAsia (if you can't go online to watch)

So catch Judge Ken Lim, Singapore Idol runner-up Sylvia Ratonel and Official Idol Blogger Izked on BlogTV with The Flying Dutchman and Phin! I'll definitely be hunting around Tsim Sha Tsui for 'internet' tomorrow night at 9pm - maybe my hotel will have free wifi? Pray pray pray got!

Anyway, back to the 'death of Idol', I doubt there's been much talk about a Season 4 within the MediaCorp walls, based on experience from previous seasons, there needs to be a break of a year or two before any new talents can be 'harvested'. In fact, I actually hear a tiny bit more buzz about the possibility of 'X-Factor', or 'Singapore's Got Talent' but then again, until a press release comes out, I wouldn't start queueing anywhere.

Perhaps it IS time to hang up the old 'Idol' cape. Industry watchers in the US have been criticising Fox for what they say is a tired format that is losing its draw. So its no surprise that Singapore would feel the same. The 'Idol' franchise has been around for a good 8-9 years, people are not just familiar with it, they're almost 'over' it in most places. So I doubt changing the format is going to help. I think what needs to change, is people's attitudes. Contrary to what Airi said on the finale about 'more love than hate', working on Idol has shown me that people prefer to be vocal about their hate. It would be great if we all worked on the positive and the biggest positive for Idol is that its a great platform to boost to local music. Spread the love y'all!

xoxo, s.

18 comments:

  1. This guy makes sense too:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqEDjDbGrjI

    I agree with him, I think it's not dead. There's just a lot of people wishing it were dead just because they didn't get what they want. And ultimately, people who make noise get more media attention than people who actually give enough of a crap to vote. So in the end the producers also headache and discontinue the show to avoid the backlash.

    Our SI franchise is still young. You know why? The viewers are still stuck at the "Anything but big diva voices should burn in musical hell" phase, which was sooo Seasons 1-3 of American Idol. Should give SI some time to evolve instead of sponging off every single trendy talent show there is. Doncha know that the success of a show is proportional to the amount of controversy it generates? Oh, and you all don't want to get your very much-desired (for whatsoever stupid reason) "non-male non-Malay" winner, is it?

    But, whatever...thanks, Singapore, for your oh-so-mature stomping and ranting and whining in protest just because you can't handle the "same" person winning three seasons (like, seriously? open your freaking mind!)Now we'll probably have to put up with some other new talent show knock-off that Mediacorp hasn't had any experience producing.

    Agree with you summerr..the one thing that needs to change, is us. We'll never be happy if are always looking for things to be unhappy about.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Haha, hey the last paragraph sounds familiar!

    Anyway, miss you babe! *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  3. up to which time i m able to get this driver.

    My web site: http://isd.yonsei.ac.kr/?document_srl=14534

    ReplyDelete
  4. up until which time i m able to obtain this driver.

    Feel free to visit my blog post; Xerox phaser 8560dn

    ReplyDelete
  5. WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching
    for life insurance policy no medical exam

    Stop by my page - xerox 8560

    ReplyDelete
  6. WOW!!!!
    WOW... wow. wow. wow. I like it.


    Really really delighted that the amount of something new provides new life and new sentiment to something
    old. xxx

    my webpage :: infobc.uniud.it

    ReplyDelete
  7. i have actually been having problem to print tags, since i
    had my computer system cleanded out & handled I have been having problem attempting to make tags.


    my web-site ... xerox phaser 8560dn

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thks guy, there are still good fellows, cya.

    Look into my homepage - xerox phaser 8560 maintenance kit

    ReplyDelete
  9. This printer doesn't have a current choose switch. It is sold as a 110 volt version or a 220 volt model. To convert the printer from one version to the various other, you would certainly have to change both the power provide and the fuser. At the very least it merely didn't power up.
    If you had relocated the printer in the contrary instructions, it would most likely have gone bang and/or tripped
    out the whole office.

    Here is my web page: Xerox phaser 8560 color printer

    ReplyDelete
  10. What's Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely useful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & assist other customers like its helped me. Good job.

    Feel free to visit my webpage: home cellulite treatment

    ReplyDelete
  11. Switched out the cartridge, exact same issue with grinding.
    Don't know what to do due to the fact that its 6 years aged, and no genuine repair spots. I could tear it apart and look at it. Many thanks.

    my blog :: xerox phaser 8560 maintenance kit

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello colleagues, how is all, and what you want to say on the topic of this paragraph, in my view its genuinely
    amazing for me.

    my web blog ... best cellulite treatment

    ReplyDelete
  13. It is the best time to make a few plans for the longer term and
    it's time to be happy. I've read this post and if I may just I wish to recommend
    you some fascinating issues or suggestions.

    Perhaps you could write next articles regarding this article.

    I wish to read more issues about it!

    Feel free to visit my web blog home cellulite treatment

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff prior to
    and you are just extremely excellent. I really like what you've obtained here, certainly like what you are saying and the best way in which you are saying it. You're making it entertaining and you continue to take
    care of to keep it sensible. I can not wait to learn much more from you.

    That is really a tremendous website.

    my page :: design website

    ReplyDelete
  15. When someone writes an piece of writing he/she maintains the plan
    of a user in his/her brain that how a user can understand it.
    Thus that's why this article is perfect. Thanks!

    Feel free to visit my blog post - place to buy twitter

    ReplyDelete
  16. gucci shoulder bag
    Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
    Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how
    can we communicate?

    ReplyDelete
  17. After looking over a number of the blog posts on your site, I truly appreciate your technique of blogging.
    I book-marked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back
    soon. Take a look at my website too and let me know how you feel.


    my website; na pierwszej stronie

    ReplyDelete
  18. Just apply the milk on your scalp and tie a towel or some
    cloth around your hair to prevent loss of the milk from your hair.
    Scalp massage promotes hair growth by reducing stress
    and tension. In addition, almost daily use of coconut oil
    on my body had also left my fingernails very strong and they are growing at an alarming rate.



    Feel free to visit my site Mikki More

    ReplyDelete