Worth Watching!

I have always been a fan of American Idol over the years because I loved to see the new talent start really raw and develop as the season progressed.  Regrettably. this series was very predictable season after season, and the format never really changed, except to try to make it more slick with higher production value.  The essence of the draw was always the talent for me though.  Over the past several years I lost interest in the repetitive nature of the format and for the last two or three seasons I really wasn't attentive to it.

 But I came back this season and am happy to tell you that the program has matured and hit a stride and rhythm that is just exactly what this kind of television should be.  Not only is it a vehicle for new and unvarnished talent, but the producers have finally struck the best balance between the emotional back stories of the contestants, highlighting only those that really have a chance to grow and win this competition.

 

In years past we were witness to many really bad auditions by people who didn't really have a shot at competing, but who the producers thought would titillate the audience and give the judges grist for snide comments and moments of ridicule.  That wore thin and I grew bored waiting for the talent that had a chance to win.  I wasn't particularly enamored of the judges either.  After Simon Cowell left, the judges comments became monotonously predictable.  For the past three seasons now, the judges are Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.  These three have great connection and interpersonal interaction.  

All three are different, yet share the same compassion and empathy for the people auditioning and competing.  We are still in the audition segments of this season, but the real competition promises to present some really unusual and gifted people who will try to grab the brass ring.

 

However, the reason I am engaged this season over other seasons is the way the structure of the auditions takes the time to tell the stories and reveal the journey with all its hopes and aspirations for the contestants.  The way the stories are told in advance of the actual moment when they sing their audition gives enough back story so that as a viewer, I am primed to experience the heartache or magnitude of the challenge each of these people has gone through to have this moment to change their lives.  I have now watched 4 episodes of auditions, and have been brought to tears at least once in each episode by who these people are and what they have experienced in their lives up to this moment.  The story of the extremely heavy set young

black woman who spent most of her young life homeless or living in a car was particularly poignant.  The courage she needed to do this audition was clearly apparent, and when she finally opened her mouth and completely stunned all of us, including the judges, it brought a welling up of emotion that I did not expect to feel.  And when the judges brought her mother into the room after the audition and we could see the moment between the two of them when their eyes met, it was heartrending and joyful.  

My point is that this and other stories are well told.  The focus of the series now seems to be firmly planted in revealing these kinds of human moments rather than only whether someone has a great voice or not.

 And now armed with this kind of information about many of the contestants, I am anxious to follow their journey because I know why this opportunity is so important to them.  I would invite all of you to try to find this program if you can and give it a viewing.  You won't be disappointed.  Kudos to American Idol, the new producers and the judges for providing a family viewing experience filled with empathy, encouragement and valuing the human spirit.

 

And just a word about Ryan Seacrest.  He has been with the series since the beginning and provides the glue that connects the stories of these people to the judges.  He is there as they walk through the door to

do the auditions and is there when they come out of the audition.  His smile and warmth has never been better.  He has matured with the series as well, and his confidence and comfortable affect garnered from all the years of experience gives the program that little extra boost of humanity and encouragement that provides the cherry on top of this sundae.

 

Bravo!