After more than a decade on air, what changes should viewers expect for 'American Idol' season 14 next year?
Auditions have already been going on for a couple of months now, with New York City hopefuls getting a pleasant surprise with Adam Lambert's special appearance on the judge's chair. 'Idol' had tapped him to stand as a guest judge for Keith Urban who had to be with his family due to a family emergency.
According to the 'American Idol' alum himself, the show will be raising its standards for this season.
According to Lambert, "it's more than just having a nice-sounding voice. It's about the complete package: It's the look, it's the vibe, it's the personality."
"We're not putting people through based on, 'Maybe in a few weeks they'll really get into it.' There's no time for that." Harry Connick, Jr added, according to TVLine.
Raising the bar doesn't mean that they'll be disregarding diamond in the rough contestants for 'American Idol' season 14 either.
"But I don't know if it's about coming in more polished, as opposed to coming in with a greater wealth of talent," he explained further. "We've seen people who are really raw, but you can tell when the bright lights go on them, they're going to be able to bring it."
Jennifer Lopez also added that she doesn't want the contenders to be rushed into performing for a bigger audience like what happened last season.
"I want to have the middle rounds, I want them to have their time to adjust to this craziness," JLo said.
Aside from the raised expectations from the judges, 'Idol' will also have lesser air time than its previous seasons.
Fox entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly did admit before that the survival show will have to be "streamlined" in 2015.
"I think it will be a two-night format initially during the audition phase, and will quite likely end up as a two-hour show on one night for most of its run," he previously told the press.
Do you think cutting the show's air time will help its ratings? What are you most looking forward to for 'American Idol' season 14?
