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Here are things that will not change, period:

The Ford commercials are staying put, as well as the product placements. (Coke, etc.) They won't settle for less now. I'll be drinking Pepsi Max regardless, so I don't care. That doesn't affect the performance I just watched.

There just isn't going to be a "recent hit" free for all. No artist who is making a name or a comeback right now wants to lose control of a recent hit. You can get some songs from the 2000's, but picking absolutely anything will not occur.

The results show will be back to 30 minutes. That's a good idea.

There will be no chance of full songs performed anytime soon. Not practical when there are 8 or more songs per week anyway, but they clearly don't want the 2 minute guitar solo after the bridge to take up time. I'm actually wishing the time alloted could increase but it ain't changing.

The judges are set, signed and delivered.


So we can't get that. What would improve the show that I think the producers would reasonably consider:

Cut back the auditions shows, maybe even to just one at the premiere. Most friends I have who watch wait until the Top 24 now. It was a gimmick that brought us William Hung. But fans are getting over it.

As most have said, more Hollywood auditions. There's real drama there, and actual chance to see dreams rise and fall. You'd get more people's emotions turned going that route than the laughter of a thousand "I Am Your Brother"'s.

Talent in the Top 24. Forget ths Danny Noriegas and Josiah Lemmings. Sorry. Can't be a credible operation looking for talent when you want trainwreck potential to get through. They got that right this season.

Don't set up the Ryan/Simon fake banter.

Specifically allow time for each contestant to respond to the judges comments, and allot it evenly.

No more booted singer reprising the song that got them booted. Stupid idea from the git.

Release the vote totals at the end of the season. You can't do it during, Michael Johns fans, when it's clear one or two people tower over the rest. But if there is nothing to hide, post finale is the time to prove it. I think this would actually get more fans talking about the show.

Define what "make it your own" means. I get that it means that the performer connects well with the song. It doesn't mean they trilled it up or changed the tempo or style necessarily.

Lay out whether a theme night requires you to stay within that genre or whether you are supposed to not do so. I didn't fault Kelly Clarkson for sounding old fashioned on "Stuff Like That There." It was the theme and she was awesome. Cook doing :"Music of the Night" was the same for me.

Raise the age limit to 18. No more stage parents for minors, nor added arranger concerns. This might be doubtful, but it is the best option. The tween girls will still swoon. But when only 1 or 2 minor performers get through, the teen fans latch on and stay with them strictly on age, it seems to me anyway. Make the kiddies actually pick out a favorite due to more than birthdate. I think they'd still gravitate to an 18 year old Archuleta, but at least then he (or anyone) earned their consideration instead of simply being a peer.

The instruments must stay. Look at the top 6. Cook used a guitar about 50% of the time. Archuleta used the piano what, twice? Syesha didn't play one. Castro used strings about 50%. Brooke did the piano and guitar some. Carly never used any. That's a pretty fair mix right there, no real favoritism in any sense.

And here's a thought that I really like. If they want to milk more out of idol, there's a good way to do so. I think fans want to learn more and feel they are a part of the show. With the results show going down to 30 minutes, still do an hour of programming. But the second half hour is an interview with the booted contestant, with a look back to fill a couple minutes, and then time to spend really learning about the person. The fans who only want to see the boot were going to switch the channel at the announcement anyway. But I think most fans would appreciate it meeting the contestants, hearing questions posed to them, seeing them handle themselves after being booted, and generally hearing about the relationships between the contestants as the series winds down throught the season. I learned more about Michael Johns from Larry King last night than I did on the show. A 30 minute interview would be a great way to help personalize the season without cutting into performance time, etc.

Michael

edited - I type just as well here as I do playing Edgic for Survivor. Damn.