Could adding a fourth judge help American Idol’s sinking ratings?
Execs at the show hope so, after adding Grammy-winning songwriter Kara DioGuardi to the roster.
While all the usual faces will also be back, some other changes will be made to the format. Deadline Hollywood Daily reports that AI will include less footage of the embarrassing auditions, as it gets to be “too repetitive.”
Nigel Lythgoe has also stepped down from his executive producer role, which is thought to allow a fresher sound on the show. “At one point, we had Neil Diamond on, and Andrew Lloyd Webber and Dolly Parton. Nigel wanted to be old school,” said a source at Fox. “But the show needs younger music.”
The eight season of Idol will begin in January.
Will it be called The Bourne Redundancy?
Variety reports that Universal Studios has a fourth “Bourne” movie in the works. It is unclear whether star Matt Damon would reprise the role. In May of last year, Damon told Variety that, “We have ridden that horse as far as we can.” However, in October, he told the Agence France Presse that “If Paul Greengrass, maybe years down the road, was interested in doing another one, then I would do it, too. I don’t think either of us completely put the character to bed yet.”
Universal is currently working on reviving franchises like “The Incredible Hulk” and “The Fast and the Furious.” And with production of films being delayed due to concerns about an impending Screen Actor’s Guild strike, “Bourne” fans will have to wait a while for any more information.
However, Damon devotees can check out “Margaret” later this year, which will co-star Anna Paquin, Mark Ruffalo, Matthew Broderick and Jean Reno.