Catching up with couple of days of thread and here are my thoughts:
a) We are clearly finally on the home stretch. The latest TMZ report is again planted, does not contain Enrique anymore, finally publicly states what we all knew, that Randy is out (and who said it yesterday that you publish news you want to downplay on the Friday before a holiday - lol), everything lines up for the "surprise announcement" and it looks like there is a good chance that they actually are making Adam that surprise announcement. WOW! #teamIbelieve
b) Contrary to what I read the last few days here, I think that Nigel is good news for Adam, not bad. Where does that doubt come from about him? Just like Simon, Nigel can have a poker face at times or respond with political agenda, as needed, at the Exec. Producer level that is part of the job.
Nigel gave Adam his first live performance after the AMA, when everybody was quacking that Adam is too risky for live TV. Nigel knows bs when he sees it.
Beyond that one event. Nigel likes drama and controversy and exciting TV. He brought via his work in both dance and music a hell of a lot of different forms of gay American art into mainstream living rooms across America (without talking it up as such) and he appreciates professionalism. So, you tell me what he thinks about Adam. Does he need to run around with a Glambert flag in hand, so we think of him in Adam's corner? Really? He is a professional. All is well there, imo. Except that he may have personally held up the show with his own contract situation, otherwise, I see now downside for Adam in any shape or form.
c) I am still a bit mystified why Enrique stayed in the picture as token candidate for so long and obviously played along by being quiet about it. It cannot be in his interest to be that Latin token candidate. Even if he can clearly say that he was not interested in judging on AI, thereby making it his choice rather than a rejection by AI, but still he is not gaining from this story, imo. And the comparison with Adam who would then step into "his" slot 4, is not doing anything for him either. So I am puzzled about that.
I can see why idol producers would be comparing Enrique vs Adam with more seriousness. One of the major concerns Idol must have had given the declining numbers, was whether their broadcast reach in the international market could be maintained. I would not be surprised, if after the snoozefest of the last three years (Simon's last + two JLo/ST) there was some concern expressed from oversees about that. Now which candidate on the panel would make more oversees regions wanting to continue receiving American Idol? Enrique or Adam? If you ask me, the answer would interestingly be Adam and not Enrique.
Finally:
d) Has there been any announcement regarding Jimmy Iovine's role? I have not heard or read a word yet, and if he decided to leave, I would have also expected that to be a Friday before Labor Day announcement.
So, I am happily going into this long weekend and having a smile on my face just like Adam. It's been quite a ride and the homestretch is ahead and will show us all whether we are right or not.
Something is up and Adam is clearly happy about it.
