Idol Chatter 1-14-08: Season 7 Preview
American Idol fans, it's almost here! Tomorrow night, January 15th, TV's hottest show blasts back into your living rooms, with a new collection of singers hoping to become the next pop phenom.
The first few weeks of Idol, as always, follow the team around to various cities across America and focus on try-outs. You'll see the best of the best and the best of the worst, and while the next William Hung may be hiding in Philadelphia, Dallas, San Diego, Omaha, Atlanta, Charleston or Miami, we'll find plenty of truly talented singers who you could send to the finale this May!
The City of Brotherly Love hosts Tuesday's Idol auditions episode, and we'll travel to Dallas on Wednesday night to continue the search.
What can you expect from the first night of Season 7, though?
FOX43 has a sneak peek at some of the stand-outs from Philly. Check out these clips, and see if any of these would-be stars make it to Hollywood!
America, meet...SALOTTA.
News teases featuring three Philly audition singers.
A few more performances. Will they make the cut?
How about this bunch? You never know...the next Idol could be in this clip!
According to FOX43 Idol Expert Clive Collins (who was kind enough to comment on the upcoming season via phone interview this weekend), San Diego is the big city to watch, this year.
Collins: "I've heard many of the auditions, and, so far, this season truly looks like it will be much, much better than season 6. Season 6 was an absolute disaster, and even season 5's greatest claim to fame, Chris Daughtry, only came in a disappointing fourth place. This year will be different, mark my words. Idol is going to be bigger and better than ever, and it's not just hot air. Not that anything I ever say is just hot air, of course. But, yes...watch San Diego. The Chargers may not be the only winners coming out of that city, this year!"
A few small changes are being kicked around for season 7, as producers try to fine-tune TV's most successful series. You may just see some contestants who make it past the auditions this year playing instruments to accompany their singing.
And remember how many minutes were wasted watching video montages about how great the guest star musicians last season? Gwen Stefani and Barry Manilow be damned...the focus in season 7 will be squarely on the contestants, perhaps more than ever! Expect a closer look at all of the contestants, so you can find out who they are, what they're like and where they came from.
Collins: "It's important for the fans to make an emotional connection with these singers. In order to keep the audience coming back, you need an engaging group of young people for whom audiences would be glad to tune in and vote every week. If you don't like any of the talent, why would you bother watching? Unless, of course, Sanjaya makes it to the Top 24, again. He won't, by the way. Season 7 is about true talent, though I'm sure there will be plenty of surprises along the way."
There you have it!
Check out FOX43's Electric Blogaloo again, soon! Loads more American Idol updates and behind-the-scenes chatter from our FOX43 Idol Experts will be posted every week!
