Comparable to Lebron James' self-serving summer spectacle, "The Decision," Fox announced the new judges for "American Idol" yesterday in an online live-streaming announcement titled, "The Forum." It turned out to be the worst kept secret in Hollywood - Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler will form the panel when the show returns in January, to the surprise of no one who has had Internet access during the last few weeks. "Idol" has experienced a resurgence of buzz since its ninth season finale last May with the departure of television icon Simon Cowell and fellow judges Ellen Degeneres and Kara DioGuardi, and the excitement culminated in yesterday's blown out of proportion announcement.
Unfortunately for "Idol," the buzz may prove to be fleeting. After nine years in our living rooms, America's most popular talent show has become stale and lacks the entertainment value that it once had. Though still a family friendly show, the families that once gathered around to watch the wannabe singers have grown up and turned their attentions elsewhere. Sure, for those of us on Grounds, Ruben versus Clay was as an important cultural event as Bush v. Gore, but who among us can remember any "Idol" winners past Carrie Underwood without doing a quick Google search?
The good news is that the potential outrageous antics of Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler sitting next to one another are limitless. Will Lopez replace the classic Coca-Cola cup on the judges' table with a glass of champagne? Who will have the most ridiculous hair from week to week? Will Randy Jackson finally discover the wonders of a thesaurus? Will anyone on the panel offer constructive critiques to the real stars of the show - the contestants?
There comes a time in every show's lifespan where it starts to turn stale, and it often becomes embarrassing to watch the producers try and rectify the situation to save a dying brand. But with "Jenny-From-The-Block" and the infamous Aerosmith frontman on board, the curiosity factor is there and you count us in - well, at least for the first episode.
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