USA USA! (American Idol)

Member Name: excelsior81

Product:	American Idol
Date:	26/02/09 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Watching the Americans get some home truths!

Disadvantages: Some dreadful wannabees

A good few years back now we all couldn't believe it when Will Young beat Gareth Gates to win Pop Idol...and then followed the myriad of shows in the similar format....100,000 contestants, narrowed down to twelve..then to one...

We have changed our format in the UK and now have the X factor, which is managed by Simon Cowell....America has kept with the 'Idol' format and is now in its eigth season managed by Simon Fuller...but led by ...Simon Cowell!!!

I love the American Idol show and all the joy that it brings to my viewing on ITV2.

We start each season with the audition process. This is by FAR the most entertaining part of the show as we see deluded Americans who all think they are the next Britney...only to be told that they are rubbish and never going to be famous...Now Americans hate this more than we do (in X factor we have just eccentric English people) and I love it when they decide to tell the world before they go to sign for the judges that they are going to be guaranteed a record deal and world tour......we then cut to them singing horrifically and the judges looking ashen, then the judges give their verdicts...followed usually, by Simon's bodyguard having to come in and rescue him!

After the auditions they spin out the series for a few extra weeks with the lucky 'golden ticket' winners from the first auditions, wittling them down to the top 32.... we then go to live shows that the public get to vote for...now this is the genius of the series because the audience gets to vote early on making loads of money! In the first heat of season eight they recorded thirty million votes....for a heat!

The top 12 are then decided and get fabulous makeovers and for the next twelve weeks America is taken over by Idol fever...it is a real phenomenan and an amazing televisual spectacular. Adverts are dominated by the finalists and people (and even whole states) get behind contestants.

The final is one of the biggest nights in American television and lasts for hours, mostly with huge amounts of commerical breaks.

Some great singers have been found and made it around the world in the last few years, my favourites are Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia Burrino....both are great and give strong performances.

Idol is a great show for the UK if you are missing the X Factor and Britain's Got Talent, it makes addicitive viewing, easy viewing and is a good bit of fun.

Just don't be surprised to hear Simon Cowell using all of the same catch phrases as usual!

Summary: Give it a go and enjoy!