Judge’s departure has viewers hitting a sour note
January 25, 2010
Filed under A&E
Last week, “American Idol” judge and creator Simon Cowell announced season nine would be his last. This surprising announcement comes months after Paula Abdul decided she would not be returning due to contract disagreements. Cowell’s reason for leaving the hit show was to focus more on his other show “The X Factor,” which discovered Leona Lewis. He would like to bring the British TV show to the United States. In an interview with the New York Post, Cowell said he doesn’t feel his departure will be “the death of Idol.”
Fred Silverman, former head of FOX networking programming, summed up American Idol’s future to The New York Post.
“He’s the voice everybody wants to hear,” Silverman said. “It doesn’t mean the show will fail without him. But it will be nowhere near as successful as it was in its heyday.”
Rumors are already flying about who is going to replace Cowell on the judge’s table. Elton John and “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest are a couple of the names being discussed.
The latest judge’s shake up has junior Marissa Turcios saying she doesn’t think she will continue watching next season.
“Simon was the only one who spoke his mind and didn’t pretend to like their auditions. He tells them straight up what they are going to hear in the music industry. I don’ think I am going to be watching next season.” Turcios said. “They already lost two entertaining judges. There is no one who can replace Simon. Replacing Paula Abdul with Kara Dioguardi wasn’t a good idea and it didn’t go over with well with me. They should just go ahead and end it after this season.
Senior Meagan Adams agrees with Turcios. Simon was the one judge who spoke his mind and when he leaves she will no longer be watching.
“I think that his opinion is the only one that matters and the show will not be good without him. American Idol will not be the same.”
Adams says, ” I will only watch the show next season depending on who they choose to replace Cowell, but anyone who is chosen to replace him will always sit in his shadow.” “American Idol” should be canceled after this season unless the show is completely reconstructed and changed. It won’t ever be the same with two out of the original three judges gone.”
Senior Karina Villanueva speaks for the few who are happy Simon Cowell is leaving.
“The show will be a breathe of fresh air,” Villanueva said. “Yes, he did speak the truth but he shouldn’t have been so rude. He did really kill people’s dreams. I think anyone who has a good background in music should replace him, maybe a retired singer or someone who is the head of a record label.”
Villanueva said she doesn’t think the change will keep views from tuning in to Idol.
I’m positive people will continue to watch even though Simon and Paula are gone,” she said. “They are going to want to compare the judges.”
Despite losing Paula Abdul this season, “American Idol” had a strong season premiere. It brought in 30 million viewers, a one percent increase from last year. It is still too early to tell how Simon’s departure will affect the show’s future, but expect people to be tuning in for the latest “Idol” drama.
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