Network Ten, scapegoat of Australia’s free-to-air programming woes, are reportedly considering an Australian Idol renaissance.
According to reports in The Daily Telegraph, the chrome and fireworks franchise of the format that spawned a dozen imitators is back on the drawing board at Network Ten, where chief programming officer Bev McGarvey says the Christ-like resurrection of Idol is not off the cards:
“Like all networks, we’re always looking at new options and shows. Australian Idol is a consideration, as are many, many other things, but it would be wrong to say it will definitely return to Ten.”
Vague noncommittal statements aside, earlier this month, McGarvey told industry blog TV Tonight that “it’s fairly obvious from our crowded schedule that we do miss our Idol days. It was the grandfather of those shows [they] are doing everywhere right now.
Idol was such a brand defining show with the Sydney Opera House finales, they were fantastic TV. It was sort of the beginning of Event Television for us.”
The market for these kind of shows, however, is best described as ‘saturated.’ Nine’s The Voice currently holds court as reigning champion, followed closely by Seven’s X-Factor, with the series Nine recently poached from Seven, Australia’s Got Talent, soon to undergo a revamp sans talent show detritus Sandilands, hopefully.
This year’s season of American Idol, currently screening on Ten, is the franchise’s worst-rating in its twelve year history despite the highly-publicised, highly-doctored feud between judges Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey.
Should Ten breathe new life into an Idol reboot, I would suggest a battle royale-style, All-Stars format. Picture this: Guy Sebastian faces off against Stan Walker for #swaggiest Idol bro; Ricki-Lee Coulter, Paulini, Cosmo De Whatsit, Marcia Hines and Anthony Callea would all try to out-diva Jess Mauboy; Lisa Mitchell and Matt Corby would feign like they were never on Australian Idol and pen a duet to bookend the (colder end of the) Hottest 100; everyone could confuse the names and faces of Kate DeAraugo, Casey Donovan and Natalie Gauci, while in a far off corner, Shannon Noll and Wes Carr nail an a-capalla version of ‘What About Me?’ Acoustics guitars tuned, facial hair coiffed, denim flared.
“Nice harmonies bro; who are you again?” They would ask each other at the exact same time, as if they were looking in a mirror through space and time.
Ratings, Logies, television, life gold.
Photo by Matt King via Getty
