American Idol and NOW! to spawn new TV show

A sign of the End Times? -- DF

NEW YORK (AP) — Executives behind “American Idol” and the “NOW That's What I Call Music!” CD series are teaming up for a new television show they want to get on the air by late summer.

The series will be a hits-driven music show that its creators hope can catch the musical zeitgeist in the manner of past programs such as “American Bandstand” and “Total Request Live.”

“This show will unite the whole music industry and give it one voice,” said Simon Fuller, creator of “American Idol,” who is putting the series together and shopping it to television networks.

“NOW That's What I Call Music” is a compilation CD series of big chart hits, released every four months. It has been around in Britain for 25 years and in the United States for 10 years, where the CDs have sold a total of 73 million copies.

An attempt to use that brand for a TV show with NBC failed before getting off the ground a few years ago, said Bob Mercer, chief executive of the “NOW” series. Fuller's interest guaranteed another try, he said.

The show doesn't have a host yet, and they're still kicking around format ideas. Top musicians performing their hits will be the centerpiece, but Mercer said he wants to highlight new artists, too, perhaps through a contest with the winning act getting a slot on a “NOW” disc.

“We want to make the show a platform for developing new artists,” he said. “That's something the music business really needs help in.”

Both men said it's vital for the show to have an interactive element to keep in touch with the public. Other elements may include revues of veteran artists or fans interviewing stars, Mercer said.

Done right, he said the show could become the central showcase for the industry — the place everyone has to be, like when MTV's “Total Request Live” was the epicenter of the teen pop craze of the late 1990s. With the Internet driving music fans into separate camps, the industry needs a unifying force, he said.

Music performances. Fan voting. Simon Fuller. Does any of this sound familiar? The men insisted the show won't seem like a poor cousin to “American Idol,” a dominant force in TV that has resisted attempts at co-opting the formula.

“It's pretty obvious that that would be a trap that we would be extremely conscious of not walking into,” Mercer said. “We're not competing with American Idol.' We're certainly not going to replicate it.”

Comments

[what up]

yes, this is a sign of end of days,,,,,
,,,,,and what is that smell?....who farted?

[DF]

I'm surprised it took whatup a whole 12 minutes to comment on this.

[lucas]

"This show will unite the whole music industry and give it one voice”

And give us the consumer ONE SONG, ONE RADIO STATION, ONE DJ, ONE STEAMING PILE OF...AAARGHH!

[aquaman]

...um, who gives a CRAP about American Idol? Does someone have a contractual obligation to write about this mind-numbing show on an otherwise relevant music blog?
Wouldn't this kind of crap fit better in that Janae(or whatever her name is)chick's column? She's dedicated to writing about things without weight, substance or relevance - a perfect fit for American Idol (crap, it hurts to even type those letters).

[mankvill]

They need to combine Kidz Bop and Death Metal. I'd watch it every day.

[andrew]

excellent idea mankvill. makes me think of when i was a kid and my older brothers would put 'appetite for destruction' into my teddy ruxpin.

[whatup]

who is DF?

[whatup]

and ... watch out what you wish for ...

[whatup]

David Frese
Deputy Features Editor

Okey dokey,
I wont comment on your ads ( ..ooops, I guess you call them them "stories" ) anymore, no problem.

I didnt even notice the DF at the top, I am sorry. I will look for it (DF) in the future, and avoid commenting on your threads.

If TF feels the same, just let us know.

PS
at least I am not pimping other web sites, like some posters.

[Zod]

We love you, whatup. Fight the power.

[NEW]

"who gives a CRAP about American Idol? Does someone have a contractual obligation to write about this mind-numbing show on an otherwise relevant music blog?"

I agree. I enjoy this blog very much but it seem to devote an inordinate amout of space to schlock like American Idol.

[andrew]

you're all acting shocked, as if you suddenly figured out that the star covers american idol. pay attention. there's an entire separate blog devoted to the show. the link is at the top of the page.

aside from the fact that david frese posted this story, tim is a music critic. this is a music blog. as much as we'd all hate to admit it, american idol is part of the music industry. it's a sad state of affairs.

this story is a report on a potential new development within the music industry. last time i checked, the purpose of this blog is to report news and explore various topics pertaining to the music, which also happens to include infomration on topics so unbearable as american idol and NOW that's what i call music.

this story didn't talk about simon cowell or paula abdul or this week's latest vocal flub. if you want that information, go read the other blog.

but lighten up, already! obviously you felt compelled enough to read the story, but you felt even more compelled to complain about it. if you have such a problem, then don't read the post.

[aquaman]

I believe, dear friends, Andrew's post is what we used to call a hissy fit. Just repeat it with one hand on your hip and the other wagging a finger around at nothing in particular, you'll get what I mean.

AI isn't part of any music industry to which I pay attention. It's a glorified talent show. Period.

teddy ruxpin - you're crackin' me up, man!

[andrew]

yes, it might have been a little fussy. i think we're all guilty of that from time to time.

but i think everyone who's bitching about AI being on the blog is having a hissy fit as well. sure, it's not the music industry "to which you pay attention," but there certainly are a lot of folks who do.

i am not one of them.

but i do recognize that there is an audience for it. you can't deny that it's just part of our world, whether you like it or not. whining doesn't make it go away, nor will it remove content from this blog.

# # #

anyway, enough of that. teddy ruxpin was the greatest. nothing like a fuzzy, cuddly teddy bear singing "YOU'RE IN THE JUNGLE BABY! YOU'RE GONNA DIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

[whatup]

thank you Zod, :)
also
I must admit, the teddy ruxpin comment has hung in my brain today ;). I am not even sure what it means, but I GnR's AFD..and I am guessing a bear,,,and I cant really wrap my head around it, but I like it,,,,but hey it only RnR roll.

it was like song I can not get out of my head, but it was comment,,,My head woulkd go back say ...HUH?....and it would not computer, I would shed the thought,,and then on the radio,,,,and it comes up again...
unusual and new,,

like an escher drawing.

and that is kewl unst itself. :) thank you.

it is a good thing,

have a great weekend Zod:)rock on

[Emily]

It's really not that hard to read a headline and skip blog posts that don't pertain to your taste. I think you all secretly like the AI posts, so you can have a reason to rant.

[whatup]

hi Em,
Lately I have been very good doing what you say, good advice.

But this thingy ad story dealy thingamajig,,, asked a question, and I was only trying to help.

i didnt rant at all, until the other dealythingy....but....
let me juts say this,

Em, you are so smart :)
and very beautiful, and I love your hair like that.

[aquaman]

Crap, I thought whining DID make things go away. My world is changed now. Forever.

Emily - you are spot on. Nothing like a post about something with no redeeming value whatsoever - like AI- to get a good rant going.

and your hair does look good like that.

[lucas]

Costco had Teddy Ruxpin's for sale this xmas. I don't think they had the tape player in them though. Not sure where you would buy cassettes....?

eMily's right, this post did have value. afterall, the waste of valuable computer space that this comment was provided Whatup w/ fodder for another fine piece of wordsmith in these complicated times.

I'll have what he's drinking bartender....

[whatupKITTYpimp]

hehehehe, I will buy Lucas a drink, make that a fine Boulevard unfiltered wheat, beings Bud is a commie beer now,...

AND
OK!!!

THATS IT!!!

I am going to start pimping website too..

http://icanhascheezburger.com/

( not mine ) but this one is a great sourse of news,,or at least, it will make you smile in "these compicated times" ;)

rock on Lucas

http://icanhascheezburger.com/

make is a favorite,
it never fails to brighten my day

http://icanhascheezburger.com/