Ellen Out, Kara Uncertain
So the word is Ellen is out for sure, Kara is most likely out too, leaving just Randy as the only judge returning next season on American Idol. I think Ellen leaving is absolutely a positive change for the show as she did not fit the American Idol concept.
As for Kara possibly leaving, I am mixed on this one. She does know the business and she is actually not the type of female judge that tries to make all the contestants feel better if they don't do well which I think is a good thing. But she does seem to try to put the contestants in to a box like Michael Burgi who used to be a regular on the Programming Insider podcast pointed out.
Jennifer Lopez & Steven Tyler Reportedly In
I am not a fan of either of these two. I will have to wait and see how they do as judges on American Idol before I can say if this is a good move or a bad move like Ellen.
Billy Bell finally eliminated on "So You Think You Can Dance"
So You Think You Can Dance has had a very disappointing season this year. The all-stars are too involved in the show. They are dancing with the contestants in the performance shows each week, then on the results shows for the opening number, then during the musical performers towards the end of the show. And for a few weeks they had a look back segment on some of the all-stars. They need to drop the all-star format for next season.
Then there were the injuries of Alex, Ashley, and Billy that hurt the show just like the Baseball season interfered with that Fall season last year. The injuries this season were just kind of a fluke.
But the thing that really bothered me the most this season was Billy Bell. He was given one opportunity after another to continue on the show. The week Alex left due to an injury, Billy should have been eliminated that week. The week Ashley left due to an injury, Billy should have been eliminated that week too. Last week when Billy and the other 2 bottom 3 were spared, Billy should have been eliminated yet again.
Billy's extended stay on the show ultimately put Jose into a bad situation when 2 of the bottom 3 were eliminated this week. Jose also had two lousy numbers this week that didn't suit his personality almost ensuring that he would be in the bottom 3. So I feel that Billy staying hurt Jose's chances this week a lot and that Jose was almost forced off the show. But at least Billy is off the show now which is where he belongs.
Nigel Lythgoe has a lot of fixing to do
Nigel is set to return to American Idol which he left a year or two ago to focus on other dancing projects. Those projects were not so successful so now he is going back to help American Idol which is now fading in recent years.
So Nigel not only has to make major changes to So You Think You Can Dance which seems to be losing interest the last few years as well, but he also has to fix American Idol too.
I have to say good luck to Nigel, because neither show will be easy to fix. The two shows' formats are becoming too predictable. Hopefully they will come up with new ways to make these shows fresh and current again.
