REVIEW: A dream is a wish ‘American Idol’ should not make

Before there were chair turns, celebrity coaches and the pursuit of instafame, there was “American Idol.” Originally premiering in the summer of 2002, the talent competition was the place for singers to jump-start their careers in the music industry.

After a 15-season run, the show left Fox in 2015 only to be revived on ABC this year. While the format remains intact, the feeling of “been there, done that” lingers. Although the television industry is continuing down a revival path, “American Idol” is one of those shows that should have remained on the shelf.

As the latest edition under the Disney umbrella, “American Idol” continues its emphasis on helping inexperienced singers tackle their bucket list. However, a format that has gone relatively unchanged after 15 years is bound to leave viewers searching for another program.

Katy and the Judgementals

Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. Those three names will forever be linked to the initial success of “American Idol.” Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Those three names will be slightly linked to the continued downfall of “American Idol.”

The trio, having named themselves “Katy and the Judgementals,” is far from the scathing, Simon-like judgments that made Cowell a household name. Perry, Richie and Bryan are nice enough to keep from breaking hearts, but not fully able to separate the backstories from the talent, or lack thereof.

While having pop, country and r&b staples sitting in the judges’ chairs is helpful, they lack the chemistry needed to be interesting and the discernment to not send average singers to Hollywood. While Cowell, Abdul and Jackson brought previous experience from various aspects of the music industry to the table, these reboot judges are simply familiar faces with fan bases.

The future idols?

If you are expecting the next Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood or Adam Lambert, don’t hold too tight to that hope. While there were some notable auditions such as Dennis Lorenzo and Alyssa Raghu, the majority of the other Hollywood round advancers would never have made the cut in past seasons.

While there have not been many big standout performers, as of now, there are still a few more weeks to possibly turn the tide. However, will there be an audience interested enough to bother investing time and votes?

Unlike its competition “The Voice,” “American Idol” allows for obnoxiously over the top auditions in order to seemingly boost entertainment. While this method worked back in the 2000s, it now only spotlights how glaring out of touch the show has become. With YouTube and social media access at the touch of a button, watching someone embarrass themselves is easier than ever. Why continue beating a dead horse on television?

Disney, dim the lights…it’s time to go?

Ryan Seacrest, having recently been under the media microscope for sexual harassment allegations, has returned as the host of “Idol.” Although Seacrest has been cleared of the allegations, in a time where Hollywood is leading the Time’s Up movement, it is odd having him return as the face of the talent competition.

Add to that the Trevor Holmes audition where Perry spent more time commenting on his attractiveness, rather than his ability to sing. In addition, Perry has also made headlines for kissing Benjamin Glaze during his audition after he stated he had never kissed a girl before.

Will “American Idol” survive beyond season 16? It is possible, but the real question is, should it? If the competition continues to stick to its tired and reused format from over a decade ago, it will inevitably end on a lower note than it originally left.

Also published on Medium.