'American Idol' really sings this season
"AMERICAN IDOL": Final 12: Top Row, from left: Pia Toscano (holding image of Casey Abrams), James Durbin, Paul McDonald, Jacob Lusk and Scotty McCreery. Bottom Row, from left: Haley Reinhart, Karen Rodriguez, Stefano Langone, Naima Adedapo, Thia Megia and Lauren Alaina. (March 16, 2011) Credit: Fox
'American Idol" may be having its best season . . . ever. Ratings are solid, contestants are terrific, and even Ryan Seacrest seems less annoying. How did this happen? Naturally, I have theories.
CONTESTANTS This is a superlative group. The final 12 are all good, while the best of them -- Pia Toscano, Casey Abrams and Jacob Lusk -- are outstanding. That just doesn't happen with "Idol." The march to the finale has often revealed a contestant's soft spots, lack of charisma or borderline talent, while "Idol" dressed up their failings and smothered them in production values. Not necessary so far.
JUDGES Serious without the snark, lively without the silly and intelligent without the swagger. Emerging finally from Simon Cowell's shadow, Randy Jackson has become the wise elder, who neither piles on, nor sugarcoats. He simply says what is. Jennifer Lopez is calm, reasonable and consistent. Steven Tyler -- the biggest surprise of the entire season -- is full of passion and generosity. Malice is missing from this panel, and the absence is not regrettable.
TAPED VS. LIVE Most of this season has been taped, which allows editors to take out the bloat -- move it along, clean it up, make it ready for prime time. The production looks seamless many nights, and it ends on time.
NIGEL LYTHGOE The show runner has brought a genuine sense of "show" back -- a sense that each night is big and special. You'd better watch, or you'll miss something epochal.
RAY CHEW The music director's accompaniments have been lively, rarely dull -- at times too lively, because they can tend to override a contestant. But you'll also note that contestants have risen to the challenge. Chew's arrangements can be aggressive, but that forces the contestants out of their complacency, and forces their vocal range, too.
THE STAGE The expanded proscenium allows contestants to move, but not so much room that they disappear. The stage wall monitors are close enough to add to a performance, far enough away so that they don't obliterate one.
