The biggest surprise – and let-down – is that they actually brought Kyle Sandilands back. The man who wasn’t good on the original Australian Idol. Who was sacked from it. And who has already been a judge on two other reality shows.
There is no evidence to suggest Sandilands is popular on TV. He has made negative comments about contestants’ weight and people with disabilities. His last TV foray, the 2019 show Trial By Kyle, did not get renewed.
Loading
In August Sandilands grumped that people were “woke” because they complained when he said monkeypox was “the big gay disease floating around”. Does Seven want a star complaining about “woke” people when the key impact of the original Idol was how it showcased Australia’s diversity and launched the careers of local Indigenous, Asian and Pasifika stars?
The first season of Australian Idol featured five people of colour in its top 12 – Guy Sebastian, Paulini Curuenavuli, Levi Kereama, Rebekah LaVauney and Cle Wootton – and two Italian-Australian women (as well as two white farmers to make sure regional Australia was represented).
At a time when Australian TV was whiter than Katy Perry’s face, Idol created a pipeline to success for diverse talent that actually represented the local community. In following years, Jessica Mauboy, Casey Donovan, Emily Williams, Stan Walker, Chanel Cole, Amali Ward, Lavina Williams, Anne Robertson and others made their names on the show.
There’s none of that diversity in this judging panel. There’s no Marcia Hines this time around. Other Australian singing shows have had judges like Kelly Rowland, Mel B, will.i.am, and Seal. International stars like Boy George, Joel and Benji Madden, Joe Jonas and Ricky Martin have all popped up on The Voice.
Then again, maybe this is a good thing.
Loading
Singing shows now put so much focus on the judges that the contestants are just window-dressing for their personalities and performances. (Try naming four winners of Australia’s Got Talent, The X Factor or The Voice – it’s not easy.)
Australian Idol’s track record of creating actual stars of its contestants is unmatched in recent television history. Maybe this collection of judges is just the thing the show needs to give the talent the space to shine.
Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.
The biggest surprise – and let-down – is that they actually brought Kyle Sandilands back. The man who wasn’t good on the original Australian Idol. Who was sacked from it. And who has already been a judge on two other reality shows.
There is no evidence to suggest Sandilands is popular on TV. He has made negative comments about contestants’ weight and people with disabilities. His last TV foray, the 2019 show Trial By Kyle, did not get renewed.
Loading
In August Sandilands grumped that people were “woke” because they complained when he said monkeypox was “the big gay disease floating around”. Does Seven want a star complaining about “woke” people when the key impact of the original Idol was how it showcased Australia’s diversity and launched the careers of local Indigenous, Asian and Pasifika stars?
The first season of Australian Idol featured five people of colour in its top 12 – Guy Sebastian, Paulini Curuenavuli, Levi Kereama, Rebekah LaVauney and Cle Wootton – and two Italian-Australian women (as well as two white farmers to make sure regional Australia was represented).
At a time when Australian TV was whiter than Katy Perry’s face, Idol created a pipeline to success for diverse talent that actually represented the local community. In following years, Jessica Mauboy, Casey Donovan, Emily Williams, Stan Walker, Chanel Cole, Amali Ward, Lavina Williams, Anne Robertson and others made their names on the show.
There’s none of that diversity in this judging panel. There’s no Marcia Hines this time around. Other Australian singing shows have had judges like Kelly Rowland, Mel B, will.i.am, and Seal. International stars like Boy George, Joel and Benji Madden, Joe Jonas and Ricky Martin have all popped up on The Voice.
Then again, maybe this is a good thing.
Loading
Singing shows now put so much focus on the judges that the contestants are just window-dressing for their personalities and performances. (Try naming four winners of Australia’s Got Talent, The X Factor or The Voice – it’s not easy.)
Australian Idol’s track record of creating actual stars of its contestants is unmatched in recent television history. Maybe this collection of judges is just the thing the show needs to give the talent the space to shine.
Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.