They're baaaack: 'American Idol' twists, turns and tart remarks

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

LYTHGOE On TV: 'American Idol' 7 p.m. tomorrow Fox

Here is the show that has launched stars, a Grammy nominee, arguments and profits. It has surprised people.

Well, most people. Nigel Lythgoe, who has been one of the show's producers since its British beginnings, insists he knew the "Idol" format would soar.

"That's what happens when you empower people and say, 'You're going to choose,' " Lythgoe says. "They will run with it."

And "Idol" has been a runaway success — not only in this country, but in England, Poland, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Australia, and South Africa. There's even been an idol winner from Jordan. The third edition of "American Idol" premieres at tomorrow on Fox. Plans call for showing the auditions at tomorrow through Wednesday, Jan. 27 and Jan. 28. (Tonight at 7, Hawai'i station KHON reruns "Aloha American Idol," a look at Hawai'i's tryouts and the exposure the state will get from the program.)

Then, viewers will see the 130 people who survived tryouts.

They'll take turns trying to dazzle the judges. "I've always found that part to be very cold, with just the piano," Lythgoe says.

So this year, he'll heat it up. An audience will be there, possibly surrounding the performers. A small orchestra will be there, too.

That's when the judges — Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson — trim the field to 32 semi-finalists for February. Then the viewers take over. Eventually the field will be narrowed to 12 and one hopeful will be eliminated each week.

The theme weeks — from '60s music to country — will be back, Lythgoe says. So, he assumes, will be a fourth chair for celebrity judges. "I know Simon hated it, but he hates anything that takes time away from him."

The "Idol" people talk that way. They take a caustic, British view.

Lythgoe started that himself, as a judge on a series that preceded "Idol" in England. "He had been the original Mr. Nasty on 'Popstars,' " Cowell wrote in "I don't mean to be rude, but ..." (Broadway Books; $21.95).

Now Lythgoe has no hesitance throwing barbs at Cowell.

"Simon is very aware of Simon now," he says. "He thinks about everything that he says and how it affects his book sales ... the only time he loves something is when he looks in the mirror."

That sort of British-style barb has worked well in both countries.

Two Simons — Cowell and former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller — wanted to create a show that was a little like "Popstars" but had more personal drama. The result became "Pop Idol" in England and then "American Idol" in the United States.

Cowell was a judge on both shows. Still, some people wondered if his bluntness would work here.

"It isn't the American way," Lythgoe says. "You don't have people saying exactly what they think."

That was obvious during the first auditions, Cowell wrote. "Paula was open-mouthed with horror. (At lunch time), I found her backstage, sobbing her eyes out."

Lythgoe intervened. "When you work with Simon Cowell, there are many times you have to be the diplomat," he says.

Eventually, the three judges clicked. The hosts, Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman, didn't. "They had no love for each other or for the show," Lythgoe says.

For the second year, Seacrest hosted alone and thrived. The talent has also improved.

"The first year, we had great performers, but not necessarily great singers," Lythgoe says. Tamyra Gray and Kelly Clarkson were the exceptions, with strong voices. Others — Justin Guarini, Nikki McKibbin, Ryan Starr — were richly telegenic.

In the second year, that changed. "I don't think Ruben Studdard is a great performer, although he has a wonderful smile," Lythgoe says.

He sang beautifully, though; so did Clay Aiken and Kimberley Locke. The 300-plus-pounder (Studdard) won — and has even been nominated for a Grammy. The ex-geek (Aiken) lost only narrowly. "Idol" had changed.

This year, Lythgoe still hopes for the whole looks-and-voice package. Auditions, he says, ranged from pleasant surprises in Hawai'i to disappointment elsewhere.

"Houston was terrible ... I don't think they'll let us back there again," he says.

As usual, the bad auditions will be shown. Staffers "screen out the bland" before the judges lend their ears. Then those wannabes — good or bad — face Cowell's barbs.