American Idol could move to New York City, adopt Big Brother format

Changes are coming to American Idol next season, as anyone can see the writing on the wall and some of it has already been publicly written. But according to a report, those changes could be far greater than anyone might have imagined. While Simon Cowell is contractually obligated to leave, any of the other three judges (including longtime judge Randy Jackson, relative newcomer Kara DioGuardi, and rookie Ellen Degeneres could also be sent packing, with only host Ryan Seacrest being secure in his job. But that’s not all, as the show could be moved to New York City and adopt a Big Brother-style format in which the audience gets to see the contestants bickering with each other during off-hours.

A move to Manhattan could serve as a nod to the growing knock on the show that it’s actually more “South and Midwest” Idol than “American” Idol. But then again, the show has spent the past nine seasons based in Hollywood and yet it couldn’t possibly be any more disconnected from the surrounding Los Angeles music scene than it is; merely moving the show wouldn’t be enough to change the minds of big city viewers who’ve already decided that the show is for small town musicians and the small town viewers who root for them. And while the “Big Brother” stuff would give the show a new take on things, the top contestants consistently putting on a public display of solidarity down the stretch has long been considered one of the show’s hallmarks and part of what makes them worth rooting for. While we might have perhaps enjoyed seeing more behind the scenes interaction between roommates Adam Lambert and Kris Allen last year, any private fights they might have had over who might have been snoring too loudly are probably best to have been left private. And if the show really is interested in fostering careers for its contestants, sparing them the indignity of airing such quibbles (or worse, any real personal disputes) on television wouldn’t be doing any of them any favors.

It’s worth keeping in mind that even if the referenced source is accurate, the suddenly-struggling show is probably just being thorough by looking at all its options. That having been said, even an iconic long running television show doesn’t lose seventeen percent or more of its audience in one season and not see some changes as a result.

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