Will AI Season 12 live up to the hype?

MANILA, Philippines - Expectations are high for the new season of American Idol (AI), with significant changes and subplots, whether planned or not, securely in place to make its run refreshingly attractive.

The supposed rivalry between new judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj became talk of the town prior to the airing of the pilot episode. Such is the noise created by the friction that StarWorld, which brings the show onscreen, made a big deal of it during a special screening last Jan. 17.

“I’m hoping this season is going to be the best yet for AI. I’m hopeful the premiere is a good indication of what will happen,” said Jude Turcuato, VP Territory head of Fox International Channels, Philippines.

The Idol premiere gathering held at URBN Bar and Kitchen at The Fort Strip in Bonifacio Global City included entertainment press members, bloggers, Twitter personalities and celebrities led by G Tongi. Upon entering the party, guests were asked to choose between Team Mariah and Team Nicki, presumably to send the impression that AI Season 12 has all the tension, drama and twists that make for good TV.

Right on cue, the opener proved worthy of the hype, with that “war of the divas” evidently present in the atmosphere and the other first-time Idol judge Keith Urban, a country singer with a serious aura and impeccable charm, favorably easing up that strain. Founding judge Randy Jackson is fast-becoming as the new Simon with his developed knack for uttering dagger comments.

“To see one of those people makes it is amazing,” Mariah pointed out, referring to past winners and the blessed one who’d be named the next American Idol.

Nicki, criticized as quite too young to judge, managed to deliver lines that allowed her to appear worthy of her spot. She told one participant who was insisting she be taken in because it’s her only shot, “It’s not your only shot, unless you make yourself believe it is.”

Seventeeen-year-old Sarah Restuccio made her audition moment memorable by doing Nicki’s Super Bass rap while the so-called Turbanator, named as such due to his head gear, turned out to have what it takes to get through. One recipient of a new program called Nominate An Idol (wherein supporters can nominate you and bring you your number) did not earn the judges’ nod because she got off-key while performing, possibly due to stage fright. All in all, 41 hopefuls got the yellow tickets at the New York leg.

Idol Season 11 was a tough act to follow, especially with Filipino audiences glued to the magical run of eventual runner-up Jessica Sanchez. However, Season 12 seems up for the task, with all the interesting angles it offers right from the start.

(Star World airs the new American Idol season every Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.)