“One of the best cities” American Idol has ever had? That would be Pittsburgh!
Last July 13, contestants got ready to enter Heinz Field to register for "American Idol" auditions after being in line all night.
Fox's "American Idol" staged its first Pittsburgh auditions in July and September, and Fox alternative entertainment president Mike Darnell had high praise for those who tried out.
"The Pittsburgh production went great," he said. "It was actually one of the best cities we've ever had."
Maybe he says that about other cities, too, but executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz also had high praise for the Pittsburgh audition episode, which is slated to air Jan. 19, the second episode of the show's 11th season.
"We had some really good people there, both boys and girls," she said. "The whole episode is good people pretty much, 90 percent of it."
"Idol" watchers know that's not always the case with some auditions full of duds. So might the "Idol" team return to Pittsburgh?
"Maybe," Ms. Frot-Coutaz said. "We've had a history of going back to some places. It was the first time for us, and it really delivered."
"Idol" may need more help than usual this year because of increased competition from other singing series demanding viewer attention, including "The Voice" on NBC and even "X Factor" on Fox. Will viewers still be willing to commit to "Idol"?
In their press conference Sunday, the "Idol" team gleefully skewered their rivals, both "X Factor" and "The Voice."
"Simon [Cowell] and Paula [Abdul] are dear friends of ours, but I think 'Idol' is still the best TV show," said "Idol" judge Randy Jackson. "We're the original, we invented this game, and everybody is now copying. Simon has done well with his show, probably not the expectations that he wanted, but we wish him well, but we've gone on with this and done well."
Mr. Darnell, who has to love both of his children, said "X Factor" by its nature is "more over the top, more variety. It can't go louder." He called "Idol" a more intimate show.
" 'American Idol' is the gold standard of this stuff whether you are talking about any of the other shows," he said. "We've had several waves of competitors over the last 10 years and this show has stood up extraordinarily tall, and last year we sat here and people were suspicious we couldn't come back with this television show, and we came roaring back."
Executive producer Ken Warwick tweaked "X Factor," noting Leona Lewis was a star for 21/2 minutes," before adding, "None of these other shows are producing the stars we are."
Mr. Jackson then went after "The Voice," noting its winner previously had a deal with a record company.
"It was almost like a show for second chance people, not a new artist," he said, before later adding, "We will never rip off 'Star Trek' the way 'The Voice' did with spinning chairs."
Mr. Darnell said he's not bothered by "Idol" star Kelly Clarkson agreeing to be a mentor on "The Voice" in that show's new season.
"I think it's a compliment to 'Idol.' This show has created superstars, and other shows want to use superstars in those shows," he said. "We're not hiring a lot of people from 'The Voice' to be on our show."
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