We all know that Simon Cowell’s boasts about how the American version of “The X Factor” was gonna eat “American Idol”‘s lunch and then hit it in the head with its own lunchpail didn’t quite come to fruition, ratings-wise, but the show certainly maintained a viewership and, most importantly, a pop culture buzz.

Are you ready for some "Idol?"

So as Cowell’s old show returns to FOX for its season opener, one wonders (well, at least this one does) whether it can keep its own ratings excitement going this year, without some new twists. (I would like to propose Exile Island, where they exile JLo and keep her there until she can stop self-promoting and give a daggone straight criticism after Hollywood Week.) But as far as I know, it’s status quo, with the same judges, same host and same Clown Town auditions – for you newbies to my “Idol” blogs, that’s my name for the early city auditions when idiots show up dressed as kung fu chickens or what have you. I find it awful filler, and I don’t love watching delusional idiots with over-indulgent parents losing their crap on TV. I can see that in the food court in the Boca Mall.

Also, I wonder what the fact of “The Voice” will do to “Idol” – I love the former show because they’ve already narrowed the field to the people who can legitimately sing and those who sing even better. We don’t have to deal with the idiots. I know some people like that because it works for “Idol.” But “The Voice” and its success has shown that some also like just focusing on the excitement of weeding the most talented from the talent pool.

So … what do you guys think? You watching it this year?

UPDATE: Questionable reality on ‘X Factor’: Simon Cowell insults local mom on video

Well, you gotta hand it to Fox – they’ve spared no promotional expense trying to convince the world that the American version of Simon Cowell’s “The X Factor” was the second coming of entertainment, that it’s a superior product to every other talent-stravaganza because of its focus on the entire star-making package.

And so far, it seems that the package is sorta phony baloney, over-hyped, melodramatic to an extent that would embarrass a telenovela, and, at least in one case, meanly misleading in its editing. I am refering to Dreamgirlz, a mother-daughter duo from Broward County who was seen singing Heart’s “Barracuda” in a choppy segment that showed about three seconds of the song from their Miami audition. All we saw was the judges saying that they didn’t think the act would sell, the dignified reaction of the ladies, and the undignified freakout of one of their family members, who got the usual bleeped-out tirade treatment as he stormed off.

The thing is, I kinda feel him that the whole deal was rigged, because if the Dreamgirlz sounded anything like they have when I’ve personally heard them, they weren’t rejected because of their singing. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it – they were rejected because they’re both overweight and not cookie-cutter.

BECAUSE THEY’RE AWESOME.
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A commenter on this very Web site had a funny response to the wire story we posted about Kara DioGuardi’s departure from the “American Idol” judges panel – “This show went the way of the buffalo the minute it went from talent to drama.”

What’s interesting is that this is the only comment, because there was a time where just typing the words “American Idol” on a blog netted you at leaat 10 immediate comments – five “I love what happened!” three “I hate what happened,” one “Who cares about this show?” and one yelling at the guy who says he didn’t care about caring enough to comment in the first place.

But now, in the middle of media-hyped speculation about who will replace former judges Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres, the news that yet another judge has shuffled off this “Idol” coil rates one very “meh” response about why, essentially, everyone’s “meh” about this show.

And that’s OK – what show can maintain anywhere near the hype that “Idol” has for eight years? Very, very few. The commenter is right that the show’s taken a downward turn because in trying to shake things up, it’s focused on drama and head games (“Which of these kids is safe? We’ll find out…AFTER THE BREAK!”), dubious auditions and even more dubious casting choices rather than say “Can this person sing?”

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Auditions for the 10th season of “American Idol” are kicking off in Nashville as wannabe contestants prepare for a show without judge Simon Cowell.

People began lining up for wristbands outside early Thursday morning. By 9 a.m., supervising producer Patrick Lynn estimated there were upward of 10,000 people waiting in the nearly 90-degree heat.

Contestants are mixed on Cowell’s departure. Some are relieved they won’t have to face him; others wish they could get his critique.

Wristbands will be handed out Thursday and Friday, with auditions beginning Saturday.

There’s another difference this year — the minimum age for contestants has been lowered from to 15 from 16. Lynn says the success of tween sensation Justin Bieber is part of the reason.

Simon Cowell’s going-away party and the crowning of Lee DeWyze as the new “American Idol” brought more than 24 million viewers to Fox last week.

That was down nearly 5 million viewers from the audience for last year’s finale, the Nielsen Co. said Wednesday.

Cowell is leaving the show on which he was the defining character for a decade, although he will participate in a new game show with Fox in 2011.

The “Idol” conclusion and the increasingly popular “Glee” led Fox to win the week’s ratings race. The network averaged 9.7 million viewers in prime time (5.6, 10). CBS dropped to second with an 8 million average (5.1. 9), ABC had 6.4 million, NBC had 4.7 million (2.9, 5), and the CW and ION Television both had 1 million viewers (0.7, 1).

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A group of investors led by British media mogul Simon Fuller is offering to buy CKX, the owner of the “American Idol” reality TV show.

Fuller created the “Idol” franchise but sold his company to CKX Inc. in 2005.

CKX says it is evaluating the proposal and other strategic alternatives, but did say how much Fuller’s group is offering to pay. The company also owns the rights to the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali.

Fuller’s bid comes after a seven-year run for “American Idol,” which said goodbye to its famously caustic judge Simon Cowell on Wednesday.

While “Idol” remains the nation’s favorite show, it has seen audience erosion this season.

As Simon Cowell leaves the reality-show judge’s chair, his old foil, Paula Abdul, is coming back.

CBS said Monday that Abdul will be a judge on “Got to Dance,” a competition expected to make it on the air sometime next season. She’ll also be an executive producer for the series, which is based on a successful competition that airs in Britain.

Cowell is leaving “American Idol” after this season, concentrating on another show he’ll import from England. He had a love-hate relationship with Abdul, who left Fox’s top-rated game before the current season when she couldn’t reach a deal on a new contract. She’s been fielding other offers since then.

There’s no immediate word on when “Got to Dance,” which will feature various forms of dancing, will go on the air.

Casey James wants to appeal to more than the opposite sex in his post-”American Idol” music career, despite what judge Kara DioGuardi has to say.

During a teleconference Friday, the tall, sweet-smiling Texan said he likes to think his appeal goes beyond what DioGuardi has described as his core demographic of women and girls.

James says he doesn’t regret taking his shirt off at DioGuardi’s request during his first tryout with the judges. He says it may have put him in the contest and he was then able to prove his talent.

The 27-year-old musician from Fort Worth made it to the top three before he was eliminated by the voting audience this week.

And given the general low-energy, low-stakes, “Yeah, whatever” attitude of this season, I guess it’s the right two.

I guess.

Is this over yet?

The fact that the pleasantly uninspiring Casey James made it within shouting distance of winning “American Idol” tells me that this thing needs an overhaul. The top three performances, which are usually exciting, were so “Meh.” They were like the high school rehearsal for the “American Idol” Top Three. When we’re this far along and we get impressed by people singing most of their notes correctly, there’s something wrong.

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SPOILER. SPOILER. SPOILER. SPOILER.

This is the first week in quite a while, America, where I think your elimination voting actually reflected how the eliminated would=be Idols sang the night before, and not, presumably, how cute or popular they are and how much they remind someone of their grandkids or whatever.

Because, honestly, there are few people cuter and granddaughterly (?) than bootee Katie Stevens, a seemingly sweet youngster with a gorgeous, deep, rich voice and an ailing grandma that she dedicated her Idol pursuits to. The problem is that Katie, as talented as she is, was just never consistent from week to week. She never seemed to find who she was as a singer – I blame this partially on her youth (last year’s rock pixie Allison Iraheta was one of the few solid teen singers on this show, since she’d been singing at a department store since she was a zygote). I also blame the judges, who kept confusing her with their opinions about who they thought she was – “You’re a country singer! You’re a young, fresh pop singer! You’re a German torch singer in the style of the 1930s who focuses on folk tunes about cabbage!” Geezy biscuits, y’all. My favorite girl, Siobhan, earnestly told the judges on Tuesday that if she didn’t feel the need to pinpoint exactly what kind of singer she was, why did they?

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