Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox/PictureGroup
After Pia Toscano’s surprising early exit and the almost-ouster of Casey Abrams from American Idol, questions have swirled about the singing competition’s voting process and what — if anything — should be done to fix it. The show’s executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said in a recent interview that the voting process could be changing, and earlier today, fellow American Idol executive producer Ken Warwick confirmed that the minds behind Idol will be evaluating the voting system.
“We’re going to have discussions about it,” Warwick said in an interview with journalists from around the country. “Maybe we’ll change the voting system slightly next year. Maybe we’ll limit the number of SMS votes or online votes, but it will remain the same this year.” And that’s worth noting: Warwick kept reiterating that no voting changes — some have suggested that the show should adopt So You Think You Can Dance‘s tactic of letting the judges choose who goes home from a bottom three, as voted by America — will be implemented this year. Warwick did address the judge-centric voting, specifically. “I wouldn’t put too much faith in anything,” he said. “That’s just one of the solutions or ideas on the table. There are a number. We won’t be putting anything into practice — well, I’m pretty sure we won’t — until next year.”
Warwick spoke on a variety of other topics about American Idol, including the judges liking everyone on the show this year, whether he’s fearful about The X-Factor‘s premiere this fall, and advice he’d have for Pia. Keep reading for all the details from Warwick:
• Does it hurt the show that the judges all like all the contestants on the show this year? “The truth of the matter is that these kids are very good, and I wouldn’t influence the judges to say anything they didn’t believe. However, Jen [Lopez] did say last week, ‘I only have two girlies left, you’re one of my girls. Come on, America!’ They are trying to keep things on the straight and narrow, where there is a genuine feeling.”
• Why do boys do better on the show? “We are aware that, with the social networking that goes on these days and with the Tweeting and text votes — because predominantly young girls and moms are the driving force behind these kinds of shows, probably more prominently now — the vote is going to be slewed toward boys. We’re going to have discussions about [changing the voting system next year].”
• Are those in the American Idol camp scared of The X-Factor‘s impending fall premiere? “I can’t get worried about it. What will be, will be. I’m amazed and very proud of the fact that we’ve been here for 10 years.”
• What should Pia Toscano do next? “She needs to be able to record songs that people want to buy and listen to and download. Hopefully, she’ll get some expert guidance and talent behind her. Personally, she went at the wrong time for me. The girl obviously has something that people want to listen to, and that’s why she’s been successful. She’s a nice girl, she’s lovely, and she’s on a lot of shows at the moment, mostly because people think an injustice was done. Bless her, she’s on the show again this week, she’ll be going on the tour at the end of the series, and I sincerely hope she makes it.”
• Is there a hard and fast rule about using instruments on the show? “No, it’s really up to producers’ discretion. If someone came to me and said they wanted to perform behind a guitar every week, I would say ‘No.’ I’ve got to be fair and sensible. I told them at the beginning, ‘I don’t want any of this hiding behind a guitar every week.’ Every year is different, sometimes it isn’t an issue. I do believe this year it isn’t an issue. I think the only way I can treat it fairly is to take it on a case-by-case basis.”
Read more:
‘American Idol’ Central
What should Pia sing on ‘DWTS’?
All of EW.com’s episode recaps
Exclusive on-the-scene ‘Idol’ reports
american idol is crazy why r american vote off the best singing
american are banannas
Nigel’s new idea sounds terrible. I hope Nigel doesn’t change the show his way. That would suck. Voters vote and there will be a bottom 3 but then the judges get to pick who goes home out of the bottom 3..sounds horrible. Imagine how that would be like: the judges left out Lauren Turner, Kendra Chantelle and Colton Dixon. He said maybe to that idea. Nigel, if you do that I wont watch your show next year. Give viewers control, not your stupid judges.
Agreed. I’d like to see them implement a DWTS-style voting system where the number of votes is limited per phone line. That way, viewers are still in control but it eliminates tweenage power-voting.
I love Simon and BoomerMatch.net was amazing
I thought the idea was for people to vote endlessly so that their idol wins — which would then lead to record sales. I don’t think there’s a problem with the voting, there’s a problem with waiting 6 months for the idol winner to release a CD.
I used to feel the same way, but recent years have shown otherwise…and it has nothing to do with the six month rule. Fact of the matter is, whether someone only has time to vote once or can devote a whole two hours to it…that’s still just one record sale.
And sadly…had all the people who voted for Lee last year had bothered to buy his CD, he would have had a number one album. But once they’re off the show, the Idols are surely not guaranteed success. Today’s American teens are all about the moment and not sustaining their appreciation for an artist. Lee, Kris, and Taylor (and even Crystal) all failed to ignite sales that indicate a longevity of fan following, so I think placing limits on the number of times you can vote would allow someone with genuine talent to last a bit longer. I’m sure Scotty is there only because young girls and women find him cute. He’ll have a great career in country, but don’t look for him to get a Grammy, an Oscar or a Tony any time soon.
Reality is that voting multiple times does not translate into ANY music sales, let alone multiple music sales. Just because someone text thousands of times for a contestant, no longer means they will buy even ONE song from that same contestant. They’re voting in a televised popularity contest, NOT for the music they’re going to buy.
That’s why the voting isn’t resulting in winners who sell music.
It will be very hard for Idol to limit texting voting. With AT&T as a major sponsor – who gets million$$$ each time there’s a vote – I doubt Nigel or Ken will walk away from that any time soon.
suzan S sounds smart.
What do you want most In this new year 2011 ?
Nothing can be better than me eting the spec ial one at this sp cial time
___M’ixedMatching.℃’óM__
It is the most successful int erracial d a ting c lu b !
Come to get rid of your damn sing le li fe….
I know this is going to be hard for many of you to believe, but many people’s lives do not revolve around who wins or loses on American Idol. My wife and I are simply too busy reading and listening to baroque music to watch network or cable T.V., much to our benefit it appears. You guys need to get a life that doesn’t revolve around the ups and downs on strangers on television.
Apparently you are not too busy reading American Idol articles on EW. I would have expected the classics instead from a braggart such as yourself.
Kinnison: Perhaps in your literary perusings you’ve come across Jonathan Swift. I’m sure you’ll find many characters resembling yourself in Lilliput.
Quite the Renaissance man, listening to Baroque music, reading the classics, and posting on EW Idol message boards! Impressive…
If you don’t watch the show, why are you reading about it and commenting on it? Maybe you need to “get a life” that doesn’t “revolve around” posting your opinions of shows you are “too busy” to watch.
My life does revolve around “American Idol”. It’s one of the best shows on TV. Reminds me of Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour and The Hit Parade. Free entertainment every week! By the way, I read approximately 70 books a year, probably double both you and the missus. I enjoy baroque style music as well, but that doesn’t mean I can’t ‘rock & roll’ a little as well. Quick being so critical!
Kinnison = Oblivious
Bragging about “baroque” music. Best laugh I’ve had all day.
vote 5707
How about ONE person ONE vote????? That would be wayyyy too simple now wouldn’t it? Can’t hype that.
Totally agree….or just open the vote to the public for the last 3 contestants….only allowing one vote per cell/PC IP address.
LOL i know right!
I strongly disagree with judges being able to pick who goes home from a publicly voted bottom three. This just opens the whole show up to producer influence. I think the voting should be changed to voting for your least favourite to go home. This would eliminate vote splitting and it would likely eliminate contestants who rely on controversy over talent (ie Sanjaya).
That’s a very negative approach, and still problematic in its own right.
Try this: Every vote carries a $1 fee that goes to the contestant’s favorite charity. This will automatically limit the voting and do some good as well.
I’m not paying to vote, even if it goes to charity. I’ll pick my own charitable contributions, thank you.
I think they should do DWTS style voting — 7 contestants, 7 votes per phone, 7 votes per IP address.
Oh please Kinnison, I listen to baroque music and I am an avid reader, but I still enjoy the fun of Idol. I also have a very full life. Lighten up.
Look Pia sing .but she had the wrong attitude .everyone I talked to said the same thing .it seemed like she was too good for everybody else .the people can see that in her .that’s why she got voted off
They should limit votes to ten per person. But another interesting thing they could do is have the judges choose the Bottom 3 and then use the votes cast by America. That probably wouldn’t happen though since it would take the judges the whole hour to decide whose in the bottom 3
love kevin’s idea (But another interesting thing they could do is have the judges choose the Bottom 3 and then use the votes cast by America.) that would be VERY interesting…..
I think the producers should change the voting process to allow people to vote for the contestant they think should be KICKED OFF each week. That would better reflect who MOST people think is the best. Each week you would be losing the person that most people thought should be kicked off, thus leaving the best contestants for the next week. Thanks for listening.
4
just make the voting system like So You Think You Can Dance: judged pick from the voters’ bottom 3 on who goes home for the first half of the season; the rest of the season is totally, unfortunately, up to voters only.
When we vote for the office of President of America(more important than American Idol)we are allowed only one vote!!!Why do we need to change this concept that we need to get more than one
vote to get it right???
Dude, it’s president of the Unied States of America.
Dude, it’s president of the United States of America!
I think they should change the system. the current system has been abused by groups like vote for the worst. it is to easy to make a voting program that spoofs your email address or IP address.
The voting should change. There needs to be only one vote per person whether it be online or by phone. That would make all voting more fair.
Why can’t the judges decide who goes onto the next round, and who is eliminated, like they do in Hollywood week?
Free Pia!