So JLo is gone, Randy might be a mentor. That's three positions open. It's been a fast week.
So here it the equation. Idol is bigger than Queen, Idol is bigger than the Olympics, Idol is bigger than Radio.
What will Idol do for Adam that it didn't do the first time? For those of us who venture to the comment sections at various sites we've seen the "ick", "gross", "dirty", "faggy", etc etc comments. Those people, probably scared by the AMAs, would never have seen Adam again at the various judging stints he's put on at the bravo channel or elsewhere. Those places are hidden in a deep corner that even fans sometimes don't find.
Idol is a shiny, if slightly tarnished star. It can't help but lend it's glow to it's stars and face it....the stars of the show have always been the judges. It is the number one show in America which means it is the number one show in the world. It is broadcast in over 100 other nations. The judges are celebrities and they don't sing on Jay Leno, they talk.
People will tune in. The Glamberts who love him already, the curious but open minded, and the gawkers hoping for a train wreck. It may not translate into "viewers" for Idol, we all know how easy it is to just skip to the good parts online instead of sitting thru it. But it will translate into respect, even if grudgingly given.
I use the stories that appear on the yahoo headlines as a bit of a barometer. They get thousands of comments. Gay rights issues get positive comments, the haters don't go after the movement, they go after the individual. "I don't hate gays, just him." So articles on individuals get the haters, and he's going to continue to get haters but they will be fewer and fewer and fewer. And an "he's icky but he's a good judge" is grudging respect. We can deal with that.
My only concern with the possibility is his judging strategy. Will he play by the "tv is a gameshow" rules and make a few waves (trademark Simon) or will he try to be his sunny, almost too nice self? Either extreme will be dangerous in the game of winning over skeptic's hearts. Yes, I know he'll just try and be himself, but he's also a strategizer. That's being himself too.
It won't be an easy path - but then the chance he took to try out for Idol wasn't either. It won't be a safe path - but if it was where would be the fun? It will be the worst of times - as was the AMAs. It will be the best of times - as was the AMA shockwaves that traveled the world. It will be up, it will be down. There will be falls and then there will be ninja rolls.
Hang on to your hats. The last three years have just been the coaster's meandering path to the highest point. It's not the downward slope we fear, oh no. It's the acceleration!
