‘American Idol’ reboot struggled for passing grade
When ABC revived “American Idol,” just two years after the curtain fell on its 15-season run on Fox, many wondered whether the show would be able to capture its old magic.
The show was years removed from its heyday, when 30 million viewers tuned in weekly to root (and vote) for aspiring singers like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Adam Lambert, with its final seasons at Fox mostly remembered for its A-list judges, sagging ratings and inability to launch a viable star.
ABC’s revival of “Idol,” which saw Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan fill the judges’ panel and the return of longtime host Ryan Seacrest, wrapped its two-night season ender Monday with the crowning of Maddie Poppe, a 20-year-old folk-pop singer from Clarksville, Iowa. The two-hour finale drew 8.7 million viewers, but the real test for hopefuls has just begun.
With ABC committed to a second season, here are some grades for the revived show.
Judges: On paper, Perry, Bryan and Richie couldn’t appear more dissonant — respectively, a pop chameleon, a country superstar and a distinguished crooner. But it mostly worked. They ultimately had far more chemistry than that of a number of previous superstar panels, even if Perry’s knack for slapstick distracted the process. Most compelling was their commitment to constructive critiques that allowed contestants to tangibly improve. (B+)
Talent: This season’s top 10 was the most diverse and dynamic crop of talent the show had seen in ages. There were powerhouse vocalists, performers who arrived to their first audition as fully realized artists just needing a shot, singers who matured over the competition and talent that felt plucked from radio. A number of the top finalists, along with Poppe, legitimately have a shot at making an impression in the industry. (A)
Live shows: “Idol” live shows are without equal when it comes to singing competitions. Built around themes that can be imaginative (Grammy hits, arena anthems) or quite standard (Motown, country night), the live shows are where contestants truly get to show their range. The reboot unfolded on a far more truncated schedule, with just five weeks of live shows, about half of previous seasons. It left little room for the performances to really become interesting. (D)
Viewer engagement: Each week, Seacrest boasted about how many votes had poured in. But it made us wonder who exactly was voting. This year’s top 10 was an extremely impressive group, rich in diversity — both in ethnicity and talent. Yet there seemed to be a massive disconnect, considering how the people of color were the first to go. Sure, it’s up to the viewing audience, but it was startling enough to cause a judges’ intervention, an online backlash and be the subject of interviews for contestants. (D+)
Finale: Let’s start with the good. That Disney-esque fairy tale reveal that the top two finalists, Poppe and 19-year-old country crooner Caleb Lee Hutchinson, had been secretly dating since meeting early on in the competition was one of the biggest shocks an “Idol” finale had ever seen. But the fun pretty much ended there as the finale lacked serious pizazz and felt little like the whopper of a season ender viewers had been treated to in the past. (C-)