American Idol Season 8

American Idol, the biggest popularity contest on TV starts to search again for new recording artists as it launches its eighth season. In the Philippine local TV network, the first episode of the two-part premiere was aired this day on QTV.

I've been watching this show since the beginning of the third season. The franchise was still on ABC5 that time before QTV took over just last season. Since then, I always watch from the auditions to both the performance and results nights. It was in the third season when a Filipina hopeful got through to the top 12 and kept nailing every performance until she reached up to the top 3. Jasmine Trias became well known in the Philippines as she brought home pride and honor for exuding a genuine talent. Just like Jasmine, Ramielle Malubay, also a Filipina, got through to the top 12 during the seventh season but was voted off earlier in the contest. This season, will there be another Pinoy hopeful that can get through to the top 12?

Aside from supporting every Filipino contestant whenever there is, I also begin to like the whole package of the show. Every time a season of American Idol begins, I always look forward to seeing the auditions. I enjoy watching the performance of the wannabes as they face the judges and hear them react and say the verdict: be it a "Yes, you're going to Hollywood!" or a "No."

Sometimes the judges go mean with their comments like Simon's "It was terrible!" or "The worst performance so far!" and even meaner, but when he does that one just cannot seem to not agree because it's either the performance is hideous plus the outfit is outrageous or the singing is just really shrilly or the person's tone deaf. Then, the wannabe gets disappointed and blurts out his emotions on the after-audition interviews. The whole sort of drama going around the show just makes it more interesting because it contrasts with the latter part of the show where it gets to be more serious in search for real talents.


What's new in this season of American Idol is the addition of a new judge. Aside from Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, and Simon Cowell, the fourth and youngest member of the panel Kara DioGuardi will be part of the show. I dont know, but to me, she kinda resemble Sarah Wayne Callies or Sarah Tancredi of Prisonbreak. I must say she looks strict but beautiful.


Kara is known to be a big icon in the music world. She is a songwriter, record producer and a singer. With such credentials, it must be good to have her among the members of the panel. For seven seasons of the AI, it's only now that two female judges will be heard commenting on the contestants' performances. I wonder how these contestants will take in the comments of the four judges. With all these new add-ins in the show, I guess the eighth season of the American Idol is a must see.