Proposed American Idol Voting System

[Bob]

What do you think of using a system something like this, instead of a straight-forward public unlimited-vote has the final word.

This system is something more like the system used for World Idol, in that a series of voting blocks ranks each contestant, and then those rankings are combined to see who comes out on top.

Keep the public vote, which naturally creates a ranking.

Give a vote to the in-house audience, because things can seem different live than across TV.

Give either a vote to each judge, including the guest judge, or one vote for all the judges combined, where they would decide together how to rank the contestants.

For example:

American public: (as really happened last week)
1. Diana
2. Jasmine
3. Fantasia
4. Latoya

In-house audience:
1. Diana
2. Latoya
3. Fantasia
4. Jasmine

Judges:
1. Latoya
2. Fantasia
3. Diana
4. Jasmine

So if you compile it, you have 5 Diana, 10 Jasmine, 7 Latoya, and 8 Fantasia. It's inverse points, so Fantasia and Jasmine are in the bottom and Jasmine goes home, as she should have.

I think this system, or something based on it, would work much better. I think everyone could stomach the results better. You could also have each individual judge give a ranking, or one vote from the regular judges and one from the guest judge, either way works. Or have the votes from the American public done by region, which would also help nullify the advantage of smaller time zones.

[George Tropicana]

No, the show is called AMERICAN Idol, not Judges' Idol or In-House Audience Idol. If the general public does not get the full say on who wins, I'll say the winner's album sales will be much lower -- on the level of Eden's Crush.

Furthermore, the In-House Audience is just a small sample of viewers. Their votes should not carry that much weight. It'll also bring up the question of who can attend the audience and help skew votes. The contestants' family members can have a whole campaign there!

The excitement of "American Idol" is that the audience can feel like they have the power to make someone a star! If that is taken away, why should they bother watching?

Go Ivette Sosa!

[Bob]

Mineyble1004 said:

No, the show is called AMERICAN Idol, not Judges' Idol or In-House Audience Idol. If the general public does not get the full say on who wins, I'll say the winner's album sales will be much lower -- on the level of Eden's Crush.

Furthermore, the In-House Audience is just a small sample of viewers. Their votes should not carry that much weight. It'll also bring up the question of who can attend the audience and help skew votes. The contestants' family members can have a whole campaign there!

The excitement of "American Idol" is that the audience can feel like they have the power to make someone a star! If that is taken away, why should they bother watching?

Go Ivette Sosa!

you said you don't even watch the show, shut up!

[Deleted]

I agree with the current voting system even if I don't always like the results.

[JCMF3]

I love this. Had Jasmine gone home last week, there would never (or most likely not) have been a discussion of the AI voting system and no one would have complained. Because a popular, talented singer was voted off, suddently a change has to be made.

[Bob]

JCMF3 said:

I love this.  Had Jasmine gone home last week, there would never (or most likely not) have been a discussion of the AI voting system and no one would have complained.  Because a popular, talented singer was voted off, suddently a change has to be made.

Urrrr, often it takes an event to make clear the fact that change is needed, so your little comment is silly. "Suddenly the Crown passes a huge tax, and we need to separate from England, psh"

[No Brake$]

Bob, I always enjoy your comments, however, i must disagree and say this voting system brings a lot more fun to the whole competition. All of these artists are in here mainly by being lucky, besides the final one. We'll see what happens, but I think they should keep it the same.

[Bob]

rkwo said:

Bob, I always enjoy your comments, however, i must disagree and say this voting system brings a lot more fun to the whole competition. All of these artists are in here mainly by being lucky, besides the final one. We'll see what happens, but I think they should keep it the same.

i don't want to keep it the same b/c it's so unfair... look at the Hawaii vote totals, it's so clear

[jimmy74747]

As long as ratings are up, Fox won't change anything. Expect AT LEAST one more season with the current system.

[George Tropicana]

Bob said:

look at the Hawaii vote totals, it's so clear

Where are they posted? The official ones, I mean.

[mst3k]

Bob said:

i don't want to keep it the same b/c it's so unfair...

Unfortunately, life isn't fair. ;)

[JCMF3]

Bob said:

Urrrr, often it takes an event to make clear the fact that change is needed, so your little comment is silly.

No, your comment is silly. Just because people felt Latoya should win, that makes the system unfair? That is what prompted all of this. AI is a popularity contest more than it is a singing competition. Can great singers gain the popular vote? Absolutely. But look at last year when Josh Gracin made it as far as he did. That was not on singing but on pure look factor. Yet, no one last year was screaming REFORM in the voting polls.

Just because a decision is made that is not deemed appropriate by some does not make it "unfair".

[mst3k]

JCMF3 said:

But look at last year when Josh Gracin made it as far as he did.  That was not on singing but on pure look factor. 

See also Season One: Tamyra vs. Nikki.

[strong4PMB!]

Josh Gracin made it far because Country fans loved him. Plus, he was a Marine. So basically, people voted for him as a way of showing support for the U.S. Military! And rightfully so.

[George Tropicana]

Nikki McKibbin made it far because Hot Topic-pink-hair-rebel-poser fans loved her. Plus, she was a single mum. So basically, people voted for her as a way of showing their support for a strong woman! And rightfully so.