American Idolseason 23 welcomed Carrie Underwood as the show’s newest judge, but with her getting blamed for the show’s downturn,there are quite a few issues that she didn’t cause by becoming a judge on the series. ThroughoutAmerican Idolseason 23, viewers have noticed that some of the cracks in the show’s foundation have become more pronounced, especially with a new judge in the mix. As Carrie has been adjusting to what’s going on in her new role, she’s been doing her best to figure out what works for her as anAmerican Idoljudge and what doesn’t.
Despite knowing that there are various ways to provide the contestants' feedback and that they’ll take what they want and leave the rest behind,it’s always been difficult for a new judge to adapt to theAmerican Idolprocessin their first season. Some viewers have been struggling with the way Carrie,a previousAmerican Idolwinner, has been moving through her time on the show thus far. Rather than pointing out the issues that are already loud and clear with the series, though,Idolfans have put the problems onto Carrie joining the series, which is hardly an issue.
While there have been somewho have enjoyed the way Carrie’s shown upfor the show, others have struggled to see her as a good fit for the judges panel. Regardless, with Carrie on the show to stay for at least a season, viewers should be turning their attention to the rest of the issues that have cropped up forAmerican Idolin recent years. After the show, which felt tired and dated in its original form, ended its run on FOX in 2016,seeing it back just a few years later and largely unchanged on ABC has been polarizing.
WithAmerican Idolcontinuing to use the same judging style, the same format, and similar performance conventions, it’s clear that the reboot of the series wasn’t meant to change the show, but to bring it into a new space. Moving from FOX to ABC allowedAmerican Idolto use different intellectual property, accessing the Disney library, but it didn’t change the root problems that still exist on the competition series today. WithCarrie taking the brunt of the criticismabout the season thus far,turning a spotlight on some of the issues she’s not associated with could create major change.
6American Idol’s Auditions Aren’t Interesting Anymore
They’re Too Similar & Positive
Although the audition process onAmerican Idolhas been similar throughout the run of the show, it’s become a lot less interesting over the years. WhilesomeIdolauditions are still memorable, the majority of the auditions are used more as a platform than as an entry point for the audience into a contestant’s background or a setup for their performance. More often than not,the auditions are used to make the judges on the show more relatable than to introduce the contestant who is actually auditioning for the series, which can create a lot of confusion for the audience.
WhileAmerican Idolauditions are an incredibly important part of the process, in the past,Idolauditions weren’t always consistently positive or empowering. In the show’s first iteration, viewers were interested in seeing good auditions, bad auditions, and everything in between. It became clear after a few seasons of the original run that seeing frequent poor auditions wasn’t working in the wayAmerican Idolproducers wanted, but removing them almost entirely from the series has also had an adverse impact on the experience of watching the show. At this point,American Idol’sauditions have grown boringand uninteresting to watch.
5American Idol’s Luke Bryan Isn’t Judging Critically
He’s Not Giving Intentional Feedback
AlthoughLuke Bryan was one of the biggest starsof the moment when he joinedAmerican Idol’sreboot on ABC in 2018, things have changed considerably since he first started judging on the show. Luke, who’s primarily in country music, has been a great performer in his own right, butjudging the performances of others hasn’t been his strong suitsince early on in his time onAmerican Idol.While he’s able to assess the performances well enough, he doesn’t often give critical feedback that can help enhance a performance or make a performer better in the Idol competition overall.
Throughout his time onAmerican Idol,Luke has often been seenas the more silly, charismatic judge than someone who performers are looking to for advice on their vocal ability or presence. While Luke is a great performer in his own right, he just doesn’t often give critical feedback in the same way that other judges have in the past, which makes it tough to rely on him as a contestant. ThoughLuke has been an asset toAmerican Idoloverall, his time on the show has made it clear that there are others judges that can provide critical feedback.
4American Idol’s Hollywood Week Isn’t Intense Anymore
It Doesn’t Create The Same Stress
Although the show has continued to tout Hollywood week as the most intense part of the competition by a long shot,American Idol’sHollywood week hasn’t been as intense as it used to bein years. While the early seasons of the show used Hollywood week to put the contestants into an intense situation they’d likely face in the music industry, things have changed both in society at large and the in the industry since the beginning of the series. Hollywood week, now, is used as more of a gauge of who should move forward, not as a pressure cooker.
Throughout the years thatAmerican Idolhas been on the air, there have been a lot of changes within the music industry that have meant changes need to be made on the show. Hollywood week initially simulated an audition process that competitors may face within the music industry, but at this point,it’s become far different than any situation that the show’s contestants would face in reality. Revamping Hollywood week has helped in the past, but changing it entirelyin the future seasons ofAmerican Idolcould make a major difference in preparing the contestants for the competition’s next steps.
3American Idol’s Lionel Richie Is Disconnected With The Current Industry
He’s Too Much Of A Legend
AlthoughLionel Richie is one of the best judgesAmerican Idolhas put on the panel, there are issues with him on the show that cause contestants to struggle more often than not. While Lionel, who’s become a music legend throughout his career, is one of the most popular artists in the world and has become an incredible judge in his own right through the years, there’s a lot that flies over his head when it comes to the current climate of the industry. Lionel, while he’s still a working artist, is a legendary artist who’s become out of touch.
AsLionel has continued on the series, he’s able to judge the Idol talent and offer feedback that does work well for the contestants, but his takes and reads on the current state of the industry aren’t always helpful in gettingAmerican Idolcontestants to where they need to be as artists. While he’s able to improve their performance, the other side of the industry has changed significantly, and Lionel doesn’t often have to deal with it as someone so far into his own career.Lionel may be a great judge, but his out of touch nature is an issue.
2American Idol Focuses On The Judges Too Often
The Contestants Should Be The Focus
AsAmerican Idolcontinues to show new contestants from season to season, the series focuses on their backstories enough to make it clear who they are, but there’s often a more intense focus on the judges than the contestants. Throughout the years, the judges onAmerican Idolhave become more familiar to viewers. While some have been more behind-the-scenes in the way they live their lives, others have been very public stars. The issue with bringing public personalities onto the show is thatthey often pull the focus away from the contestants competing onAmerican Idolin the first place.
ThroughoutAmerican Idol’srun, the different styles of judges have made the show more interesting, but with the series leaning into bringing incredibly famous performers into the mix rather than a lower tier of judge who either knows the music industry or works in a less public capacity, things have changed.It’s been interesting to get to know theAmerican Idoljudges better over the years, but it’s also been a detriment to the contestants who are looking to make their mark on the industry. The judges pull too much focus away from the performers, which is a major problem.
1American Idol’s Ryan Seacrest Can Be An Insensitive Host
He’s Been On The Job For Too Long
AlthoughRyan Seacrest has been the longest-running figureonAmerican Idol, as he’s become more of a famous host and media mogul, he’s also lost his touch in some ways.American Idolwas one of Ryan’s first hosting jobs, and the fact that he was relatively unknown to the public was a great part of seeing him on screen. As a charming, young host,Ryan wound up growing withIdolin a way that was positive for his careerand public perception. While Ryan is still a charming host that knows his boundaries,he’s changed in the last 20 years.
While it’s not expected that Ryan wouldn’t change asAmerican Idolhas gone on, the changes in his life also impact the way he operates as a host. It’s Ryan’s job to keep things going, regardless of what’s happening on the show, and while he takes this job seriously,he also doesn’t always approach the hosting job in the most sensitive way. Becoming out of touch in his own ways, Ryan may have changed too much to continue to be the host ofAmerican Idol. With more in common with the judges than contestants, Ryan’s changed too much forIdol.
American Idolairs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.
