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"Idol" Gets Experimental
American Idol is gearing up for the start of another season.
The fifth season of the talent competition will kick off on Fox on Jan. 17, the network announced Monday.
After weeks of going back and forth on whether or not it would move the show from a Tuesday-Wednesday schedule to a Wednesday-Thursday model, Fox eventually decided to stick to Idol's tried-and-true schedule.
However, during the competition's three-week semifinals in late February and early March, the network will air the reality series on three consecutive days each week, with the boys performing on Tuesday and the girls on Wednesday, followed by an hourlong live results show on Thursday.
The 24 semifinalists deemed talented enough by the judges to make it through the grueling audition rounds will be revealed on Feb. 15.
Once the field is narrowed down to 12 singers, the show will return to a Tuesday-Wednesday schedule, beginning March 14.
The Thursday night results show may be a trial run for the network to test how Idol fares against opposing programming on what is traditionally the most competitive night of the television week.
The reality show has proven itself to be a ratings monster in seasons past. During its fourth season, an average audience of 27.3 million tuned into Tuesday's edition each week, while 26.1 million watched Wednesday's edition on average.
Even so, if Fox could lure in even more viewers with a shift to a Thursday schedule, then the network could justify charging even more for the precious advertising space available during the Idol block.
This season, advertisers will pay the record price of between $600,000 and $705,000 for the 30-second privilege of pushing their product in the midst of the talent quest.
The typical 30-second network television ad will cost advertisers $150,000 this season, according to Adweek.
As the show gets ready to launch the career of the next Kelly, Ruben, Fantasia or Carrie, a couple of past competitors are busy trying to establish themselves as more than "that guy from American Idol."
Constantine Maroulis, a top 10 finalist last season, is kicking off a tour with his band, Pray for the Soul of Betty, on Jan. 16 in San Diego.
"Fans can expect an eclectic mix of classic songs, some new stuff and some great ballads," Maroulis told MTV.
The Idol heartthrob has also signed with Kelsey Grammer's production company to create a sitcom for ABC based on his own life.
"I've had a really interesting life," Maroulis told MTV. "I have some crazy characters in my family and in my life, and I think that's what TV needs again."
Meanwhile, last season's runner-up, Bo Bice, has been making the rounds promoting his album, The Real Thing but was forced to cancel an appearance at Monday's Radio Music Awards after he began coughing up blood during rehearsals and was subsequently rushed to a Las Vegas hospital.
The problem was said to be related to complications from emergency intestinal surgery he underwent last summer. The long-haired rocker also canceled a planned appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live and headed home to Nashville to recuperate.
As for last season's champ, Carrie Underwood, she recently released her debut album, Some Hearts, which soared to number one on the country charts and landed at number two on the Billboard 200.
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