Hawai'i's 'Idol' will compete tomorrow
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Hawai'i's "American Idol" competitor, Jordan Segundo, appears on Fox at 7 to 8 p.m. tomorrow and 7:30 to 8:30 Wednesday night.
Advertiser library photo
There will be a viewing party 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow at Dave & Busters, co-hosted by I-94/AT&T Wireless.
Jordan Segundo is representing Hawai'i on Fox's "American Idol."
But the top candidate for enduring star status on "American Idol" is the show itself.
The talent competition's first two episodes of this season, which drew more viewers than the first edition's successful finale last summer, proved that Fox's talent competition isn't a reality flash in the pan.
"Idol's" producers, who envision the series as an annual event, favor scheduling another competition early next year.
International success convinced the producers that "Idol" can be an enduring franchise. For example, the opening episode of a second competition in Poland, one of 14 countries where the show has or will run, topped the first season's finale by 19 percent.
"We're in the business of managing this brand for the long term," says Cecile Frot-Coutaz of FremantleMedia, which produces "Idol" with 19 Television.
Avoiding overexposure is key to continued success. Frot-Coutaz would like more time between competitions to maximize each winner's reign.
"Idol" returned quickly this winter to take advantage of larger numbers of TV viewers during the regular season and squelch copycats. Fall is the earliest that a new version could air, but producers say early 2004 would work better.
Mike Darnell, Fox's reality chief, also sees "Idol" as "a once-a-year thing, like Miss America."
Last season, "Idol" scheduled one episode of national auditions. Its popularity, due in large part to judge Simon Cowell's caustic comments, led to three audition episodes this season.
A field of 234 singers was winnowed to 32 on Jan. 29. Now fields of eight competitors are being showcased each week, and the narrowing continues.
