Cynthia Littleton On The Air

"American Idol" auditions begin July 17 in S.F.

Get out your karaoke machines, spruce up your iPod and start running through those old Creedence Clearwater Revival, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Carpenters songbooks. "American Idol" audition time is here.

Fox confirmed Thursday that auditions for the 2009 edition of the Show the Stomps All Over Everything Else in Primetime will begin July 17 in San Francisco, at the Cow Palace.

As far as I'm concerned the first few segs of "Idol" culled from the road auditions (pictured here are snapshots from last year's trials) are the most entertaining. This is America, in all its out-of-tune, out-of-step, out-of-our-minds glory.

The highlight of last year's auditions had to be the determination of Antoria Gillon, who was nine months pregnant and in labor when she went through her audition in Dallas. She gave birth a few hours after her audition at local hospital to Jamil Labarron Idol McCowan, who will turn 1 on Aug. 7.

All of the official audition info follows after the jump, and more info is available at AmericanIdol.com:

"American Idol": Congrats to David Cook, and to Fox

Congrats to "American Idol" No. 7, David Cook. The biggest "American Idol" fan I know walked out of the Variety newsroom on her way to the finale certain that David Archuleta was going to win, even though David Cook deserved to win. Clearly, there was an upset in the duel of the Davids. Gotta be good for the ratings.

Thursday ayem update: Now we know. The David vs. David drama was indeed good for the ratings. Prelim Nielsen's peg the viewership for the 8-10:06 p.m. finale at an average of 31.7 million viewers and an 11.4 rating in adults 18-49. That's a gain of nearly 1 million viewers from last year's "Idol" closer. Hail hail rock 'n' roll. (Elsewhere on the dial, you gotta give credit to CBS' workhorse "Criminal Minds." Even against the flames of the last hour of "Idol," that show is rock steady, pulling in its usual 13 million viewers and 3.3 rating/8 share in adults 18-49.)

For a treat, read the finale coverage by Variety's resident "Idol" nuts, Kathy Lyford and Erin Maxwell from Variety.com's Season Pass blog. It's a hoot.

(Pictured left to right: Fox's Kevin Reilly, David Cook, Fox's Peter Liguori and the man who needs no introduction, Mike Darnell)

"Moment of Truth": Not half bad for Fox

No lie -- Fox's much-touted "Moment of Truth" had some stickiness in its debut Wednesday behind "American Idol." It passed the toughest test of holding on to the vast majority of "Idol's" coattails.

"Truth" -- which challenges contestants answer a string of increasingly personal questions, things they've already answered while strapped to a polygraph machine prior to going on camera, in the hopes of claiming the $500,000 top prize -- wound up with 23.2 million viewers and 10.2 rating/24 share in the key adults 18-49 demo, per prelim Nielsens. "Idol," by contrast in its final half-hour pulled 28.5 million viewers and 11.4/28 in 18-49.

"Truth" also held up well at the half-hour mark -- if "Idol" viewers were gonna bail, they would've bailed by 9:30. Show lost about 3.7 million viewers and three demo share points between at the half, which isn't half bad by any measure.

With "Idol" back on the sked, everything else pretty much paled, but an honorable mention goes to NBC's "Deal or No Deal" (13.8 million, 3.7/10) which managed to put up its best numbers in 13 months despite going toe to toe at 8 p.m. with "Idol."

"American Idol": Back and (almost) as big as ever

It's tough at the top. "American Idol" stormed back on to the primetime sked on Tuesday, bringing along 33.2 million viewers and a 13.8 rating/32 share in adults 18-49 for its two-hour opener.

Nobody would ever sniff at 33 million-plus viewers or a 32 share in the key demo, but it's gotta be noted that this year's debut is off 11% in viewers from last year (when the two-hour preem drew 37.4 million) and 13% in adults 18-49 (15.8/36).

That said, there isn't a network exec on Earth who wouldn't give up several appendages to have "Idol" on his or her air. Welcome back, Simon. And to all you helpless hopefuls -- a la Ben Haar, 24, of Delaware (pictured right), who found a way to get the camera's attention at the Philadelphia audition -- thanks for giving it your all, and then some.

"American Idol": And so it begins

POSTED BY STUART LEVINE

Yup, it's that time of year again.

Time to find ourselves face to face with those narcissistic posers, self-righteous egomaniacs, and, on rare occasion, someone who actually knows something about what it takes to create a winning song. And those are just the judges.

"American Idol," in all its pumped-up glory, returns Tuesday and Wednesday night and so the seventh season begins. The auditions, the insults, the crying, the tears, the guest performers, "Idol Gives Back," a trip to Hollywood, a final 12 and, when it's all over, another champ standing among the confetti at the Kodak.

Fox arranged a conference call with Simon Cowell Wednesday morning to discuss the new season, his reflections on last year and whether Paula is as crazy as she seemed in her Bravo reality show.

"Yes, she's an emotional girl," Cowell said, "but things were exaggerated in the edit."

Cowell affirms last season was a bad one, in terms on the quality of the competition, but believes this new group of contestants are a cut above from what he's seen at the nationwide auditions.

"This is a much better season. If it was worse, we'd have a problem. We can't guarantee to find a superstar but we're at the mercy of who turns up at the auditions. … I think it's going to be one of the strongest years in a long, long time. The talent is younger, more current and more interesting. I'm going into this season more optimistic than last year. Paula and Randy said last year the bar was risen, but I didn't believe it. I think it's going to be a big year."

Where "Idol" always arrives in January as the 800-lb. gorilla on the TV landscape, this year it's gained a few pounds. There's little, if any, scripted competition and viewers could be salivating for the real-life drama that "Idol" provides.

Cowell discussed this season's heightened ratings expections set against the lack of scripted programming, but the Brit said those raised expectations are nothing new.

"That's happened the last two or three years. We're in the same position as we were last year and the year before. The show has got to look better and be more fun," he admitted. "If it is, people will watch but it absolutely comes down to the content we provide the viewers."

As for his relationship with Paula and Randy, Cowell says that after being together for so long, there's bound to be fights and disagreements. But that's all part of the natural course of things.

"After seven years, you get on each other's nerves. We're not robots and you can become a bit argumentative or emotional."

Emotional isn't a term one might use to describe Cowell, who seems very calculating in his comments to impressionable would-be stars. Especially the ones who can't sing a lick and are deserving of his wrath. But even Cowell admits there have been instances when he's been unnecessarily harsh.

"There are certain times when you watch a show back and you hate yourself for what you said at the time," he explains. "You don't know their backstory before they walked in the room. Maybe their dog just died. You see their backstory and feel horrible."

"And sometimes you get very bored, but at the end of the day every person has seen 'Idol' and they know what they're in store for."

Not just the horrific singers, but audiences too. We know what to expect as well.

Let the hysteria begin.

Ant and Dec: The invasion begins Sunday

Get ready for the invasion of the "cheeky chappies" from British TV. Ant and Dec, the TV hosts who are hotter in the U.K. than Simon Cowell and his sneer are on this side of the Atlantic, are prepping for their Stateside debut in the ABC gameshow "Wanna Bet."

William Morris Agency is looking to get the word of mouth going about these former kidvid producers turned nighttime hosts with an intimate cocktail party for the duo, aka Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, set for Sunday at the Beverly Hills home of WMA's John Ferriter. Ant and Dec are already at the top of the U.K. TV heap as presenters on ITV's "Britain's Got Talent," "Saturday Night Takeaway" and formerly of "Pop Idol" renown.

The two signed up for the pilot of "Wanna Bet" in March (it was picked up in June), and in April inked a mega-bucks two-year exclusive pact with ITV for the U.K. Ant and Dec are merry pranksters, for sure, but also described as basically wholesome in most of their material. There's no word yet on the premiere date of "Wanna Bet," but it's a safe bet that if a strike sidelines production on "Grey's Anatomy," "Desperate Housewives," et al, we'll be seeing Ant and Dec on ABC very soon.

The pair are known for excelling at live TV and for donning elaborate costumes and disguises as part of the "Undercover" segment of their Saturday night variety skein. Here's a clip courtesy YouTube of the two putting one over on their sometime-boss, Cowell, during an open "American Idol" audition.

(Pic above of McPartlin, left, and Donnelly, right, in May at the British Academy Television Awards by Ferdaus Shamin/WireImage.com)

The Mt. Rushmore of reality TV mavens

POSTED BY JOSEF ADALIAN

Yes, that was Mark Itkin walking around the corridors of CAA Thursday night. But no, the William Morris Agency’s dean of unscripted programming isn’t defecting.

Itkin made a trip to what he called “enemy territory” in order to appear on a CAA/BAFTA-sponsored panel dubbed “Another British Invasion.” Powwow brought together six of the biggest names in the reality biz, ostensibly to discuss the past and future of Blighty-produced TV in the States.

Night actually turned into a broader discussion encompassing the history of the biz and the challenges it faces, with “American Idol” showrunner Nigel Lythgoe (pictured left) moderating a lively hourlong-plus conversation.

Panel also included CAA reality chief Michael Camacho, unscripted superlawyer Jeanne Newman, Fox alternative prexy Mike Darnell, CBS reality guru Ghen Maynard and Lifetime supremo Andrea Wong (who until recently headed up unscripted programming for ABC).

Group of Six repped a sort of Mt. Rushmore of the modern reality age, collectively repping some sort of involvement in just about every major unscripted skein since “The Real World” kicked off the alternative boom.

Itkin talked about putting together the deal for “Real World” (MTV wanted a soap but didn’t have the coin to pay for actors), while Newman (pictured right)outlined how she got all the major nets to bid on “Big Brother.”

“We had a true bidding war, not like the ones we make up,” Newman quipped.

Emmys: Seacrest's in

Seacrest in!

Fox has bowed to the inevitable and selected "American Idol" dude Ryan Seacrest as host of its Sept. 16 live Primetime Emmy Awards telecast, as Variety's Michael Schneider reports. He's a perfectly good choice and should do a totally serviceable job. His work on "Idol" may not be "unparalleled  in the industry," as Fox's press release verbiage touts, but he's a pro. Still, it would've been interesting in a parallel universe to see an Emmycast hosted by Hugh Laurie. Star of Fox's drama "House" is known to have turned the gig down. Too bad. Maybe he'll at least be a presenter...

Seacrest's presence will also ensure that this year's Emmys has an "Idol" tinge to it. Initially, "Idol" exec producers Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe were supposed to take the helm of the telecast, but they bowed out a few months back and handed the reins to awards show vet Ken Ehrlich. Meanwhile, the Emmy gig ensures that it's going to be a busy couple of months for Seacrest. In addition to "Idol's" seventh go-round in January, he's also set to host Fox's "entertainment" portion of the Super Bowl telecast in February. Fox sez it'll be the first time pigskin's big shew comes complete with pre-game red carpet blow by blow.

"American Idol's" first born -- Welcome Jamil!

Yes, she named him Idol. A preggers woman who toughed it out Monday at the Dallas open-audition for next year's "American Idol" competish wound up going into labor while waiting her turn in Texas Stadium. Antoria Gillon wasn't about to give up her hard won spot in line, so she braved the long wait (doing the 'hee-hee-hee-ho' breathing exercise the entire time, no doubt) and finally got her turn, in between contractions. (Would love to know what her audition number was. "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"? "Be My Baby"? "Get Ready"? ).

Undoubtedly impressed by her fortitude and determination, the local judges invited her to come back for the next round of auditioning. On the heels of that good news, Gillon got herself to a local hospital, and in the wee hours of Tuesday, the world welcomed Jamil Labarron Idol McCowan, all six pounds and seven ounces of him. (Wonder what Simon would've made of her performance in the delivery room? Paula surely would've gushed.) Just think, in another 18 years, he can audition for the 2025 edition of "Idol."

TCA: 'American Idol' -- cracks in the armor?

POSTED BY STUART LEVINE

Fox is one Sanjaya away from bringing "American Idol" back to its former glory.

That's not to say that "Idol" has fallen off the map and is barely breathing. It remains the 800-lb. gorilla that other networks fear when Fox puts it on the schedule every January. It grabs headlines, magazine covers, gossip columns and gobs of Internet chatter.

But, no matter how you spin it, ratings were down last season from the Taylor Hicks-Katharine McPhee season before that, and the finale in which Jordin Sparks was crowned champ, especially, took a big dip in both numbers and viewer engagement.

Fox entertainment chairman Peter Liguori said at TCA the viewer totals weren't as bad when you account for those who watched the finale on TiVo, and that the right contestant -- a heartthrob, hottie, troublemaker or anyone that can rally the masses in either a love/hate way -- can draw huge attention can spike the ratings in a big way.

"We're one watercooler contestant away from another surge," Liguori said. "There's still a feeling about an upcoming 'Idol' season."

Fox needs "Idol" to continue to dominate. Dating back to January, the network has now won 24 straight weeks in the 18-49 demo and is about to break a 25-week record set by NBC in 1996, but October through December has always been problematic for the network -- shows either being interrupted by the baseball playoffs and/or not connecting at all. "Prison Break" and "Bones" have come out of the game strong but even "House" started slow and needed the post-"Idol" timeslot to give it a kickstart.

"We have to do better in the fourth quarter," Liguori said bluntly. "We have the biggest show on TV and have to take advantage of that."

The beginning of 2008 should be huge for Fox, with "Idol" and "24" starting up, but, as if they needed it, the nework will air the NFC championship game in January and Super Bowl in February, with "House" landing the plum-Super Bowl slot.

Whether the Kelsey Grammer-Patricia Heaton comedy "Back to You" or Anthony Anderson New Orleans-based "K-Ville" catch on remain to be seen, but at some point Fox will have to find other shows to give it year-round consistency, rather than just relying on "Idol" adulation.

-- Stuart Levine