For ‘Idol,’ More Hope and Less Humiliation

By EDWARD WYATT
Published: January 12, 2009

LOS ANGELES — On the new season of “American Idol,” humiliation is out, aspiration is in.
Whether a reflection of the dynamic times in which we live or an indication that its formula was feeling a little long in the tooth, “American Idol” has plenty of changes in store for its eighth season, which begins Tuesday on Fox.

Along with a new, fourth judge, more semifinalists and a “wild-card” round that gives some contestants a second chance to go to the finals, commercials promoting the new season have shown fewer of the bizarre and obviously untalented contestants than in previous years.

Also, “American Idol” this season will feature three rather than four weeks of auditions, moving on more quickly to the Hollywood round and spending less time featuring contestants whose sole purpose in auditioning seemed to be to make fools of themselves in front of the judges — which in most cases was the only way they were going to get on television.

This season “they couldn’t just come in a costume and guarantee that they were going to get on TV, not anymore,” Ken Warwick, an executive producer of “Idol,” told reporters last month.

Read the full article at nytimes.com