American Idol: A Journey

The Latest Round of American Idol return in January 2007

American Idol has brought fame and fortune to many of todays top music chart performers. From Carrie Underwood, to Taylor Hicks, to Chris Daughtry Idol contestants have held their own in the music industry.  American Idol premiered on American television under the name of American Idol: The Search for a Superstar. It is part of an Idol series which started in the United Kingdom as Pop Idol, and consequently has variation around the world including Australian Idol and Singapore Idol. All shows run under a similar basic format and operate as talent shows meant to find the best undiscovered talent in each country. 

 American Idol has grown into a corporate advertisement and marketing giant that is endorsed by advertisers willing to shell out millions just just 30 second spots. American Idol also utilizes product placement advertisement throughout the show as a revenue producer. Ever notice the Coca-Cola logs all over the place?  American Idol is shown on the Fox network  on US TV and produced by 19 Entertainment. Initially shopped around and rejected by many other networks,American Idol has found its permanent home partly due to the presence of judge Simon Cowell. The sharp and critical, Simon Cowell, was initially a judge on Britain’s Pop Idol, and has since become an American household name due to his blunt and searing critiques of many of the American Idol contestants.

Simon Cowell has since produced ill-faded American Inventor and the latest television talent competition, America’s Got Talent. The success of American Idol is irrefutablehaving won the top spot on Neilson Ratings for  several years and  having more loyal fans watching than the Olympics, The Grammy Awards and the NBA Playoffs.

American Idol is hosted by the affable Ryan Seacrest who we first meet during the audition process. The talent competition holds auditions in several US cities including LA, Memphis. Salt Lake City and Boston.  The competition is so popular with thousands attempting to audition, that associate producers and judges prescreen contestants in the parking lot at many venues. If an audition has the talent, then he or she is passed through to Directors Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller. The contestants must get the green light from the producers to move forward then, the contestant is then allowed a chance to impress the celebrity judges by — meeting Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. Once the contestant performs a song or two for Simon, Paula and Randy, the final judgment on whether they will advance to Hollywood is given. Each contestant needs two out of three votes, and if the vote is in the contestant’s favor, he or she gets the famous yellow ticket and they are sent to Hollywood for a week of exhausting performances and tough judging. At the end of Hollywood week, the top 24 have evolved and usually represent a diverse group of males and females of all races and musical genres.

There are several criteria one must meet in order to try out for Idol. All audition hopefuls must be between the ages of 16-29 years of age and not have a recording contract or talent representation. Release forms must be signed by all in order to enable American Idol to use your voice or image during any part of its broadcasts.

American Idol starts another season in January 2007. The  American Idol concept is ingrained into our society and producers will continue to ride the gravy train. American idol is here to stay.

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