Australian Idol

When Channel 10 hosted the show, each episode had some form of quality. There were several episodes per week, and we had quality time with the contestants and watching their learning curve, as well as the backing musicians.

Channel 7 has reduced it to one episode per week, and a laborious drag of a results show. We only see minimal interaction with the (very good) voice coach.

The backing musicians are awesome, it is unfortunate that we see nothing of them. It is they, who make the contestants shine.

Channel 10 would put the contestants through their paces, introducing styles outside their comfort zone. I always looked forward to the Big Band episode; many of the contestants had no real experience in that genre, yet most of them, when they performed in that style had the best musical experience of their life. Channel 7, the closest contestants had was a Judges Choice episode, where the judges choose 4 songs, for the contestant to select one.

There are only two meaningful judges. Harry Connick Jr, and Amy Shark. Meghan Trainor on occasion has helpful remarks, but her screaming throws her credibility out of the window. It was refreshing to have Marcia Hines return briefly. Kyle Sandilands is an enigma, most of the time he is a fool and brings the show down, yet on occasion, he can have the greatest insight. Harry Connick Jr is a real musician, he is really the most knowledgable. It's a shame though we haven't got an Australian as good.

Channel 7s revisioning is a train wreck. It may have the biggest live audience ever, it does not make it better. It's like they just want to get through to the end as quickly as possible, as cheaply as possible, much like their revisioning of Channel 10s Big Brother. (They wrecked that too). We are not seeing a journey, we can't see the contestants highs and lows along their journey, and most of all they are not pushed far outside their comfort zone. It is an insult to the contestants to rush them through and whittle them down as quickly as they have done in this new inferior format. Channel 7, you are an embarrassment.

Australian Idol is currently in it's second series and growing from strength to strength. With the appeal of a variety of song genres and a showcase of raw Australian talent, it is easy to see why this show is fast becoming a "must-see."

This year we've had genres such as Pop, R & B, Big Band (my personal favourite) and Australian- Made and of course the 60s, 70s and 80s. All of these genres have allowed us to realize the potential of these amazing performers (GO ANTHONY).

Not that this year hasn't had it's controversies. Few expected the departures of Daniel and Ricki-Lee in consecutive weeks earlier on in the season. Dicko also has had his fair share, announcing his planned departure as judge at the end of the series. All of the controversy, however, does not lessen the appeal of "Australian Idol", rather increasing it.

Overall, this year has been excellent, even better than last year.

Here in australia we only just recently got our version of the "idol phenomenon" and it's gotten us all hooked. Sure there's the bad few apples that still think it's karaoke, when u can see the band every episode! This, like the other 'Popstars' and 'starsearch', is just a way of manafacturing pop artists, but it's gotten so much deeper than that with seeing the contestants perform on stage everyweek and have their songs touch us or make us cry, and we get disappointed when our favourites leave, or get in the bottom three. It's become such addictive viewing they need it on everyday of the week to keep our household happy!

The show is much more than a reality tv karaoke, if we wanted that we'd switch over to channel 31 and watch 'Kangaroo Karaoke' ps GO MILLSY AND PAULINI!

I refuse to watch anything with that hideous creature Kyle Sandilands in it. What a hideous excuse of a human being he us. He should be in jail, not on the television. Boycott this show to let the network know you refuse to support someone with such a cruel and awful attitude.

I'd be interested in watching if they got rid of him. I love Marcia Hines, but she has lost a lot of respect from me just by associating with Sandilands. In fact, everyone involved in the production of this series should be ashamed that they involved him. Stuns me that they are giving legitimacy to the human equivalent of a tapeworm.

Hey all, Im a big Australian Idol fan. i was just wondering where in Australia is everyone from, i come from Beenleigh (its between The Gold Coast and Brisbane) I so hope Guy wins and am so glad Cosima has left. i was so annoyed that Matt Chadwick didnt get further (he was 12th i know him and hes so sexy and talented.