[WendyBird]

So, what do you all think of this new format? The judges and producers picking 36 contestants, and us voting to get the top 12?

I like it in one way, but also don't. It's kind of nice that "we" get to decide who the top 12 will be. But, I don't like this grouping and then only getting 3 from each group.

From this weeks show, I like Anoop, and Danny. All I cared about was them getting on. I soo didn't think Micheal should have beat out Anoop. I know it was because of the "good guy" thing.

I didn't like any of the girls a whole lot. Some of them were good. But none were, "Oh man! They have to make it!" Then, so long as Tatiana didn't get through, that's all I cared about!!!

[sleepybear]

Yes... I'm glad Tatiana is out. She was more annoying than Sanjaia (sp?). The drama was too much.

I'm confused though... if they're picking 3 people from each group they'll only have 9. I thought maybe they'd pick 2 from each group to battle or something (so they'd have 4 from each group), but they didn't. Maybe I'm just not understanding something?

[.Michelle.]

I normally watch AI but for some reason this year I haven't been interested. Is it any good? The new judging format you described sounds weird to me.

[WendyBird]

After we choose the 9, the judges/producers get to pick 3 for the "wild card" singers.

Michelle, they narrowed the contestants down to the top 36. Then every week, 12 of them sing. We call in and vote. The top guy and the top girl move on. Then, whomever had the next highest amount of votes, boy or girl, moves on. So, every week, 12 sing and 9 are eliminated. This will go on for 4 weeks. Crazy, if you ask me!

[TheMommyProject]

I like the format, it's very similar to Canadian Idol who go from 30 or so down to 10 by votes and not by judges.

As for AI so far this year, I'm enjoying it. I totally pegged the 3 from this week's group even before they sang. I really like Danny, he's an awesome singer, but I get really annoyed at how the producers are giving him an insanely huge advantage by exploiting the fact that his wife just passed away. The powers that be for that show are getting really good and showing what they need to ensure the ones they want make it through. I'm not saying it's totally rigged, but it's pushed in one direction over another. But even despite that, I still always watch and enjoy, especially when they get to top 12.

[.Michelle.]

Isn't that how they used to do it when AI first started? Or maybe I am thinking of something else.

[SandyJ]

I do watch Idol but my DH and I keep wistfully wishing we were watching Rock Star instead. Rock Star started as a contest to find a new front person for INXS. Then Tommy Lee decided to form a new band called Supernova and season 2 was looking for a front person for that band. All of the contestants were professionals who had been singing gigs in clubs forever, most of them in their late 20s and early 30s, but for some reason or another had not made it big yet. EVERY contestant was phenomenally good and the competition was really fierce. I still follow the career of some of the top singers. Do you remember Chris Daughtry from Season 4 of Idol? One of my favorite Idol contestants. He auditioned for Rock Star and didn't make it in. Rock Star was definitely about Rock music. Rock Star kinda ruined Idol for us, because its SO obvious how amateur the Idol singers are.

Another Rock Star fun fact- in both seasons the winners were Canadian, the runners up were American, and 3rd place was Australian in both seasons.

Still, without Rock Star we are addicted to Idol.

[.Michelle.]

I really liked Rock Star too! I pretty much only listen to rock music so that is probably why I am not into AI as much. Most of it isn't really my taste in music. I watched a lot when Chris Daughtry and David Cook were in it because they always sang songs I liked.

[WineKeepsMeSane]

We watched Rock Star religiously!!! I don't really watch AI but it has produced some artists I like - Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, etc. but also some ones I really don't!