Something pitchy this way comes

MANILA, Philippines - Predictions of Idol’s demise grew louder as season nine’s contestants barely improved through the weeks. The season ended, and the careers of winner Lee DeWyze and runner-up Crystal Bowersox started on a disappointing note.

It was the first season without Paula Abdul and many felt her loss. Paula was crazy, but she was fun. The audience loved her quirky antics — like giving Simon coloring books and crayons, critiquing Jason Castro’s second performance before it happened, and saying a jumble of words that don’t make sense. For the contestants, Paula’s presence was like a band-aid needed after being cut by Simon’s harsh words. She cared about them, gave positive feedback, danced when they sang an upbeat song, and cried during heartfelt performances. Her departure ultimately destroyed the panel’s perfect balance where Simon Cowell was the evil judge, Paula Abdul was the nice judge, and Randy Jackson was somewhere in between.

Beloved TV host Ellen DeGeneres joined the judging panel. Many questioned this decision because she didn’t have any music credentials. She was there to serve as entertainment, but great as she was as a comedian, she struggled to be funny in her comments, and looked uncomfortable whenever she had to provide negative feedback. She quit when the season ended.

The moment that started it all: What started out as a pop culture joke gained credibility when Kelly Clarkson fought her way to a legitimate pop career.

People didn’t care much about hit-making songwriter Kara DioGuardi, who had joined the panel a season before. A significant number of people hated her, and so she was fired.

Save the ‘Idol’

The producers feared that once Simon left, he would take viewers with him to The X Factor. But he didn’t. Idol fans say they miss Simon, especially when the new judges refuse to give constructive criticism, but it’s not as if he’s dead. If they really miss him, they can watch The X Factor. Why can’t they make the switch?

There’s something about Idol that makes viewers stick around. Idol plays the ultimate fantasy — a face in the crowd, becomes the face that everyone knows. And Idol knew how to milk their stories real good.

Of course, Jennifer Hudson and her Oscar would like to argue that you don’t have to win Idol to become a success.

Idol lets people live vicariously through these contestants, driving the audience to root for someone, to feel like they are part of the singer’s career, because they have chosen that individual, and have propelled that person to the crown. This cultivates a fierce loyalty that will benefit the singer for years to come.

People watch Idol because it attracts talent. The X Factor and The Voice offer the winner recording contracts and cash prizes. American Idol promises more. Even if you don’t win, you get a cut from the iTunes sales, profit from the compilation cd, and the top ten get to tour around America. Contestants are mentored by famous artists and can even sing a duet with their music idols. With these perks, more people are enticed to audition for Idol, creating a higher chance of finding talented individuals. With a show that can attract great singers, you get a show that’s worth watching.

Bring in the stars

Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler were the right stars to drive interest for the new season. It was tempting to try to replace Simon with another snarky wannabe, but instead, the producers decided to focus on the show’s inspirational aspect. The new judges were kinder to the contestants. Probably, like Paula, they knew what it was like to struggle as an artist, and thus they were less critical of these budding singers. Jimmy Iovine and Randy Jackson provided most of the constructive criticisms that the nice judges couldn’t give. This created a balance of positive and negative feedback that the contestants needed.

The producers were able to resuscitate the talent pool by working hard to find the best singers in America. They widened the age range, allowed people to audition through MySpace, and welcomed singers of diverse genres from pop, rock, country, to jazz.

Idols united: This is their moment inside your heaven.

The Las Vegas rounds showed how amazing backdrops can enhance a performance. Fireworks, a burning piano, gospel singers, a marching band, a wind machine, and other effects carried on until the Idol stage. The horrific group numbers were dropped in favor of duets and trios. This allowed, for example, contestants like Haley Reinhart and Casey Abrams to set the stage on fire with their jazzy duet.

With these changes, the show captivated viewers once more. Loyal tweens, enthusiastic six-year-olds, grandpas, grandmas, mothers, fathers, and music lovers all around tuned in to cheer for their favorites.

Season ten comes to a close, and we have another winner. As Scott Mc Creery’s face lights up with excitement, disbelief, and pure happiness, we remember why we love American Idol. It is because of these moments, where the dreamer meets the dream, and the crowd goes wild screaming his name.