Is AMPAS still relevant?

Visual effects pioneer Jonathan Erland spoke within the Acads Sci-Tech Honours on Feb. 11. While using movie biz buffeted by challenges on many fronts -- from piracy to competition off their media forms for the rapid pace of technological change -- experts sometimes question the relevance in the Academy of motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Jonathan Erland, an obvious effects pioneer using one of the film industry's respected technologists, handled the question mind-on within the acceptance speech in the Academy's Bonner Medal within the Feb. 11 Sci-Tech Honours ceremony.Round the eve in the 84th Oscars, his findings -- excerpted here -- spotlight the Academy's purpose and activism. As Erland puts it, "The show can be obtained to assist the Honours, as well as the Honours exist to assist the Academy's mission for promote the mission for excellence inside our talent."For some time now, we've been hearing, both from the inside and from without, the Academy must be basically transformed to stay strongly related current trends. Throughout my own view, this is actually the same erroneous "tail wag your dogInch notion store the Tv program we're so famous for is why there's an Academy. Nonsense. If the Academy was founded, we not only didn't have a very Tv program, we was without honours, as well as the record suggests that it absolutely was by no means certain we'd have honours.But Mary Pickford and her fellow founders certainly did have a very very apparent vision together with an excellent mission a mission shared lower time through the type of John Bonner a mission much like relevant today since the day it absolutely was minted: the mission for excellence of movies. Plus it was especially promote that mission for excellence, incidentally, that individuals did make the Academy awards -- as well as the demonstrate that takes note of them. But, the show can be obtained to assist the Honours, as well as the Honours exist to assist the Academy's mission for promote the mission for excellence inside our talent. And you ought to be ever conscious of this hierarchy.If our Academy still means excellence in movies -- plus it must -- your real task before us is always to manage the trends to ensure that movies stay strongly related the Academy's mission as well as the ideals we espouse rather than one other way about. When all movies are perfect, you have to may possibly discuss a completely new vision with this particular Academy.We hear that youthful people don't like the films our Academy honors with honours the Academy is ideal for old people -- or possibly is the fact that basically code for grownups? As now made to become what lots of people think youthful people want us being today, then what is will there be left to enable them to develop for? We, and that which you do, are why they develop, cheap they're doing develop, and develop to require excellent films, is why we're here. After a while and experience, come maturity, understanding, perspective, discernment and, most significantly, understanding. Outfitted with one of these, we could resist becoming unnecessarily perplexed with the turbulence of future shock.All this underscores what lots of you realize me already: that we use history to light our approach to the long run. I've frequently mentioned our Academy is, simultaneously, "the protector within our past as well as the guarantor within our future." Our heritage, its upkeep and restoration looms large for individuals. Restore films, we ought to create a museum, we ought to but, to make sure our future, we have and also to restore and reassert the conviction, consistency as well as the concentrate our core mission.It's that mission, the top standard of excellence, symbolized with this particular Bonner Medal, the Sawyer, and many types of our honours, that drives the option process for entry into our Academy. A very rigorous method that selects for seasoned professionals, with demonstrably excellent qualifications, who've an important creative role using the movies they've created in the existence in the Academy they join.For ultimately, it's these individuals, rather than the edifice on Wilshire nor the Honours, nor the Show, however, these people as well as the staff and volunteers who share our devotion with this cause, define this family which Academy.And therefore, to get into a manifestation from the u . s . states leader, "Request not what your Academy are capable of doing to suit your needs request your skill for that Academy." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

VIDEO: President Obama Sings With B.B. King and Mick Jagger

Tyra Banks Ready to sign up for Smizing 101? The CW has ordered a 19th season of America's Next Top Model, which will be a college edition, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Fall 2012 TV Scorecard: Which shows are returning? Which aren't? Casting is expected to begin soon, and the season will debut in the fall. The 18th season, themed the "British Invasion," premieres Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 9/8c on The CW and features British models competing against American contestants.

Fashion Slam: Julia Roberts Style File

First Released: The month of january 24, 2012 12:44 PM EST Credit: Getty Images La, Calif. -- Caption Julia Roberts steps out in the Producers Guild Honours on The month of january 21, 2012Angelina Jolie is juggling a great deal right nowBrad Pitt, six kids and six red-colored carpets in 16 days. As well as that they looks pretty dang good Each time she is out. Here are the hits on her behalf whirlwind style tour.to date. Cant wait to determine what she wears towards the SAG Honours and also the Academy awards! PRODUCERS GUILD Honours WHERE: La WHEN: Saturday, The month of january 21 WHO: Michael Kors THE DEETS: Hot, hot, hot! Angelina rocked her signature black inside a sleek Kors gown with lace sections and leg-high slit. Super sexy. THE GOLDEN GLOBES WHERE: La WHEN: Sunday, The month of january 15 WHO: Versace Atelier THE DEETS: Angelina stole the show making many best outfitted lists together with her creamy, covered satin one-of-a-kind custom gown with crimson detailing around the neck-line and matching bold, crimson lips. GOLDEN GLOBES Language FILM NOMINEES EVENT WHERE: La WHEN: Saturday, The month of january 14 THE DEETS: Angelina was the epitome of conservative chic inside a black dress combined with black jacket and heels together with her hair drawn back in an event praising her film Within the Land of Bloodstream and Honey. NY FILM Experts Honours WHERE: NY WHEN: Monday, The month of january 9 WHO: Ferragamo THE DEETS: Angie went for any sexy naughty secretary look having a prim cream blouse and black leather Ferragamo pencil skirt. She keeps the appearance simple with black heels and bag and jade jewellery. PALM SPRINGS Worldwide FILM FESTIVAL WHERE: Palm Springs WHEN: Saturday, The month of january 7 WHO: Elie Saab THE DEETS: Angie exchanged in black for any greige halter neck Elie Saab pleated jumpsuit, which she combined with Jimmy Choo heels and natural-searching hair and makeup. Beautiful! Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

2013 SAG Awards to be held on Jan. 27

The Screen Actors Guild Awards has selected Jan. 27 for its 2013 ceremonies. The event will be held at its usual venue, the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center on a Sunday. Screen Actors Guild Awards Committee Chair JoBeth Williams made the announcement Thursday. This year's 18th annual Awards was held on Jan. 29 -- also a Sunday. Next year's show will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS. This year's simulcast was up 3% this year, with a total audience of more than 5.2 million viewers. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Adele's '21' wins album of the year at Grammys

AdeleThe Foo FightersChris BrownRihannaThe Beach Boys and Maroon 5's Adam LevineTaylor SwiftTony Bennett and Carrie UnderwoodJennifer HudsonAlicia Keys and Bonnie RaittThe Vegas oddsmakers were right: Adele was a sure thing at this year's Grammy Awards.Further cementing her nascent superstardom, the English singer swept all six of the categories she was nominated in at Sunday's Grammy Awards ceremonies, collecting album of the year honors for "21" and record and song of the year trophies for "Rolling in the Deep."With wins in three of the four top categories, Adele matches a feat registered in 2003 by Norah Jones, who also took best new artist that year. Adele was named best new artist in 2009 behind her debut album "19."The singer, nee Adele Adkins, broke into tears as she accepted the album of the year award."This is ridiculous," she said, and made a point of thanking "every radio programmer and broadcaster" who helped put "Rolling in the Deep" and other tunes from "21" over the top. This year's surprising best new artist winner was Bon Iver. The folk-skewed Wisconsin-bred singer-songwriter, ne Justin Vernon, triumphed in a field that included the ultra-hot rap talent Nicki Minaj. Vernon had publicly declined to perform at the Grammy ceremony.Adele's "21" also won as best pop vocal album, "Someone Like You" captured best pop solo performance and the clip for "Rolling in the Deep" took best short-form video.Adele's six trophies equaled Beyonce's record one-night tally for a female performer, set in 2010.Paul Epworth, who co-wrote "Rolling in the Deep" and produced that hit, was named non-classical producer of the year, and shared song and album of the year honors.Few Grammy triumphs have felt quite as inevitable as Adele's.The 22-year-old singer served as the music industry's savior last year with her sophomore album "21." The top-selling collection has sold 6.38 million copies domestically to date, and remains No. 1 on the U.S. album chart after nearly a year in release. With one more week atop the chart, "21" will tie Whitney Houston's 20-week SoundScan-era record for longevity at the pinnacle, set in 1992-93 with the soundtrack for "The Bodyguard."With stylistic nods to Brit singers past, most notably Dusty Springfield and Amy Winehouse, "21" was lofted by three smash singles, "Rolling in the Deep," "Someone Like You" and "Set Fire to the Rain." The rich-voiced singer's seemingly universal appeal tagged her as an awards season shoo-in.The vocalist was the headline attraction for this year's Grammycast, emerging from months off the stage after throat surgery for a hemorrhaged vocal cord forced cancellation of a sold-out U.S. tour.Asked backstage how she handled the jolt of having to undergo surgery, Adele was sanguine about the experience. ""It's actually been really peaceful. Being silent in such a noisy world, it was sort of a blessing in disguise," she said. "I've actually never been happier."By an accident of fate, Adele's ascension on Sunday seemed a passing of the torch after the death Saturday of Houston, who rose to fame in the '80s with a similar brand of soulful, highly accessible pop.Houston's memory loomed both on and off the Grammy stage on Sunday. Jennifer Hudson paid tribute with a televised performance of "I Will Always Love You," Houston's No. 1 hit from the 1992 soundtrack of "The Bodyguard." Hudson ended the performance by ad libbing, "Whitney, we loved you."Stevie Wonder said from the stage, "I just want to say to Whitney up in Heaven, we all love you, Whitney Houston."Winners and performers offered their thoughts about the singer backstage. Vocalist-songwriter Melanie Fiona, who shared two R&B awards with Cee Lo Green for "Fool For You," said, "Whitney is the first voice and memory I have of music I would not be up here as an artist, a nominee and a winner without her influence on my life I feel so proud to be able say that she was such a huge influence on me."Bonnie Raitt told reporters, "I'm sure you're still in shock, tooIt's stunning, her vocal range and power."Houston's impact extended beyond the pop discipline: Joyce DiDonato, winner for best classical vocal solo, said, "She was larger than life, and the summation of good singing for me. I have a lot of opera friends, and we were all heartbroken to hear the news."The night's other big winners, perennial Recording Academy favorites Foo Fighters (six previous wins), dominated the rock categories with five victories: best rock album (for "Wasting Light") best hard rock/metal performance (for "White Limo"), best rock performance and best rock song (for "Walk") and best long form video (for "Foo Fighters: Back and Forth," directed and co-produced by James Moll). The band performed twice on the Grammycast."We made this record in my garage with some microphones and a tape machine," said Foo Fighters leader Dave Grohl. "It shows that the human element of making music is most important." As he left the stage Grohl shouted "Long live rock 'n' roll!"Kanye West -- this year's top nominee with seven nods -- once again had to satisfy himself with rap wins. West captured four awards to add to his 14 previous wins, for best rap/sung collaboration and best rap song (for "All of the Lights"), best rap performance (for "Otis," shared with Jay-Z) and best rap album ("My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy").The diminutive, angularly coiffed electronic/dance artist Skrillex broke through with three wins, taking best dance/electronica album (for "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprights"), best dance recording (for the album's title track) and best remixed recording (for Benny Benassi's "Cinema").Taylor Swift added two Grammy awards to her career total of four, winning best country solo performance and best country song for "Mean."Americana duo the Civil Wars' "Barton Hollow" won as both best folk album, while its title track won best country duo/group performance.As ever, some sentimental favorites prevailed.Paul McCartney, who was honored as MusiCares' person of the year on Friday and performed during the telecast, collected his 15th Grammy a best historical album honor, for last year's reissue of his 1973 album "Band On the Run." A mere 49 years after receiving his first Grammy -- record of the year, for "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" -- Tony Bennett won Nos. 15 and 16, for best traditional pop album (for "Duets II," his all-star No. 1 album) and. best pop performance by a duo or group, for "Body and Soul," his track with Amy Winehouse. The late singer's parents joined him onstage at the afternoon ceremony. "We shouldn't be here -- our darling daughter should be here," said Mitch Winehouse. "These are the cards we're dealt."Alison Krauss, the most rewarded female performer in Grammy history, received her 27th trophy: "Paper Airplane," her latest release with her group Union Station, was named best bluegrass album.In the music for visual media categories, "Boardwalk Empire Volume 1," the soundtrack for the HBO series collected best compilation soundtrack for Stewart Lerman, Randall Poster and Kevin Weaver. Alexander Desplat won best score soundtrack for Oscar winner "The King's Speech." Alan Menken and Glenn Slater received the prize for best song written for visual media, for "I See the Light" from Disney's "Tangled."Tony winner "The Book of Mormon," written by Robert Lopez, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, was named best musical theater album.Apart from Adele's return to perform "Rolling in the Deep" -- which drew one of the longest ovations in recent Grammy history --the kudocast's chief draws were distinctly old-school.McCartney performed "My Valentine," a track from his new standards collection, with Diana Krall and Joe Walsh, and a show-closing "Abbey Road" medley; the reunited Beach Boys played their 1966 hit "Good Vibrations" with Foster the People and Maroon 5; and Glen Campbell, who is retiring from performing after the onset of Alzheimer's disease, sang "Rhinestone Cowboy" to climax a tribute segment.Alicia Keys and Raitt paid tribute to the R&B diva Etta James, who died in January at 73, with a duet on "A Sunday Kind of Love."Complete list of winners:1. Record of the YearRolling in the Deep, Adele 2. Album of the Year21, Adele 3. Song of the YearRolling in the Deep, Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth (Adele)4. Best New ArtistBon Iver 5. Best Pop Solo PerformanceSomeone Like You, Adele6. Best Pop Duo/Group PerformanceBody And Soul, Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse7. Best Pop Instrumental AlbumThe Road From Memphis, Booker T. Jones8. Best Pop Vocal Album21, Adele 9. Best Dance RecordingScary Monsters And Nice Sprites, Skrillex 10. Best Dance/Electronica AlbumScary Monsters And Nice Sprites, Skrillex11. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Duets II, Tony Bennett & Various Artists12. Best Rock PerformanceWalk, Foo Fighters13. Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance White Limo, Foo Fighters 14. Best Rock SongWalk, Foo Fighters, songwriters (Foo Fighters)*** 15. Best Rock AlbumWasting Light, Foo Fighters16. Best Alternative Music Album Bon Iver, Bon Iver 17. Best Traditional R&B PerformanceFool For You, Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona18. Best R&B PerformanceIs This Love, Corinne Bailey Rae19. Best R&B SongFool For You, Cee Lo Green, Melanie Hallim, Jack Splash, songwriters (Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona)20. Best R&B AlbumF.A.M.E., Chris Brown21. Best Rap PerformanceOtis, Jay-Z and Kanye West22. Best Rap/Sung CollaborationAll Of The Lights, Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie23. Best Rap SongAll Of The Lights, Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)24. Best Rap AlbumMy Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West25. Best Country Solo PerformanceMean, Taylor Swift26. Best Country Duo/Group PerformanceBarton Hollow, The Civil Wars27. Best Country SongMean, Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)28. Best Country AlbumOwn the Night, Lady Antebellum29. Best New Age AlbumWhat's It All About, Pat Metheny30. Best Improvised Jazz Solo500 Miles High, Chick Corea, soloist31. Best Jazz Vocal AlbumThe Mosaic Project, Terri Lyne Carrington & Various Artists32. Best Jazz Instrumental AlbumForever, Corea, Clarke & White33. Best Large Jazz Ensemble AlbumThe Good Feeling, Christian McBride Big Band34. Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music PerformanceJesus, Le'Andria Johnson35. Best Gospel SongHello Fear, Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin)36. Best Contemporary Christian Music SongBlessings, Laura Story, songwriter (Laura Story)37. Best Gospel AlbumHello Fear, Kirk Franklin38. Best Contemporary Christian Music AlbumAnd If Our God Is For Us..., Chris Tomlin39. Best Latin Pop, Rock, Or Urban AlbumDrama Y Luz, Man40. Best Regional Mexican Or Tejano AlbumBicentenario, Pepe Aguilar41. Best Banda Or Norteo AlbumLos Tigres Del Norte And Friends, Los Tigres Del Norte42. Best Tropical Latin AlbumThe Last Mambo, Cachao43. Best Americana AlbumRamble At The Ryman, Levon Helm44. Best Bluegrass AlbumPaper Airplane, Alison Krauss & Union Station45. Best Blues AlbumRevelator, Tedeschi Trucks Band46. Best Folk AlbumBarton Hollow, The Civil Wars47. Best Regional Roots Music AlbumRebirth Of New Orleans, Rebirth Brass Band48. Best Reggae AlbumRevelation Pt 1: The Root Of Life, Stephen Marley49. Best World Music AlbumTassili, Tinariwen50. Best Children's AlbumAll About Bullies... Big And Small(Various Artists), Jim Cravero, Gloria Domina, Kevin Mackie, Steve Pullara & Patrick Robinson, producers51. Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't), Betty White52. Best Comedy AlbumHilarious, Louis C.K.53. Best Musical Theater AlbumThe Book Of Mormon54. Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual MediaBoardwalk Empire: Volume 1, (Various Artists) Stewart Lerman, Randall Poster & Kevin Weaver, producers55. Best Score Soundtrack For Visual MediaThe King's Speech, Alexandre Desplat56. Best Song Written For Visual MediaI See The Light (From Tangled), Alan Menken & Glenn Slater, songwriters (Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi)57. Best Instrumental CompositionLife In Eleven, Bla Fleck & Howard Levy, composers (Bla Fleck & The Flecktones)58. Best Instrumental ArrangementRhapsody In Blue, Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band)59. Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me), Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Tony Bennett & Queen Latifah)60. Best Recording PackageScenes From The Suburbs, Caroline Robert, art director (Arcade Fire)61. Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition PackageThe Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story62. Best Album NotesHear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond As Recorded By The San Francisco Bay By Chris Strachwitz In The 1960s63. Best Historical AlbumBand On The Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection - Deluxe Edition)64. Best Engineered Album, Non-ClassicalPaper Airplane, Neal Cappellino & Mike Shipley, engineers; Brad Blackwood, mastering engineer (Alison Krauss & Union Station)65. Producer Of The Year, Non-ClassicalPaul Epworth66. Best Remixed Recording, Non-ClassicalCinema (Skrillex Remix), Sonny Moore, remixer (Benny Benassi)67. Best Surround Sound AlbumLayla And Other Assorted Love Songs (Super Deluxe Edition)68. Best Engineered Album, ClassicalAldridge: Elmer Gantry69. Producer Of The Year, ClassicalJudith Sherman70. Best Orchestral PerformanceBrahms: Symphony No. 4Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)71. Best Opera RecordingAdams: Doctor AtomicAlan Gilbert, conductor; Meredith Arwady, Sasha Cooke, Richard Paul Fink, Gerald Finley, Thomas Glenn & Eric Owens; Jay David Saks, producer (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Metropolitan Opera Chorus)72. Best Choral PerformanceLight & GoldEric Whitacre, conductor (Christopher Glynn & Hila Plitmann; The King's Singers, Laudibus, Pavo Quartet & The Eric Whitacre Singers)73. Best Small Ensemble PerformanceMackey: Lonely Motel - Music From SlideRinde Eckert & Steven Mackey; Eighth Blackbird74. Best Classical Instrumental SoloSchwantner: Concerto For Percussion & OrchestraGiancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Christopher Lamb (Nashville Symphony)75. Best Classical Vocal SoloDiva DivoJoyce DiDonato (Kazushi Ono; Orchestre De L'Opra National De Lyon; Choeur De L'Opra National De Lyon)76. Best Contemporary Classical CompositionAldridge, Robert: Elmer GantryRobert Aldridge & Herschel Garfein77. Best Short Form Music VideoRolling In The DeepAdeleSam Brown, video director; Hannah Chandler, video producer78. Best Long Form Music VideoFoo Fighters: Back And ForthFoo FightersJames Moll, video director; James Moll & Nigel Sinclair, video producersWinners by number:Adele - 6Foo Fighters - 5Kanye West - 4Paul Epworth - 3Skrillex - 3Tony Bennett - 2The Civil Wars - 2Chick Corea - 2Kirk Franklin - 2Cee Lo Green - 2Taylor Swift - 2Related: Grammy notes Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Why The X Factor Bloodbath Is Good News And Hopefully Just a Starting Point

The X Factor Some time in recent days and weeks, Simon Cowell realized that The X Factor wasn't shaping up to be the singing competition to end all singing competitions. The money was there, as was the support from Fox, but with little more than 12 million viewers tuning in to see who would win a $5 million windfall, it became clear something hadn't clicked with America. Shake-up at The X Factor: Steve Jones and Nicole Scherzinger out And so on Monday, we learned that he had cleaned house: Gone are stiff host Steve Jones and simpering, whimpering judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul. Reports that Cowell was looking for more star power next season quickly followed. Mariah Carey's name has already been bandied about as the kind of A-list celebrity he wants, and she did serve as Simon's right hand during the at-home coaching sessions. But is she enough? Is she even the right Hail Mary play? The truth is The X Factor has strong elements going for it, boasting auditions in front of a live crowd, Simon's bitter tongue and the most diverse lineup of contestants of any of the broadcast talent shows. Paula Abdul confirms X Factor exit Now if only it could rid itself of any remaining similarity to American Idol. Some ideas: Hire a woman with attitude. It's sad to see Paula get the boot (not so much the breathy, grating, multi-accented Nicole). After so many years, she remains a kooky, fun-to-watch TV wonder. But she's a jumbo-sized reminder of what Idol was (and still is, what with J.Lo attempting to prop up every contestant as the next Celine Dion). The Voice's Christina Aguilera was a refreshing break from endless cheerleading and tears. How about a female judge who isn't there to be the nurturing one? How about, dare we suggest, someone with attitude. Maybe not Chelsea Handler exactly, but someone with equal bite. End the fake feuds! For whatever terrible reason, Simon and Ryan's forced back and forth of fake put-downs became a hallmark of Idol. Who would crack the "better" homophobic joke this week? The point being, why continue an awful tradition? Do Simon and L.A. Reid need to be pretend-warring? Sure, on The X Factor the judges are in competition with one another, but unless Simon starts hiring hit men to take out LA's acts, let's not overblow the dueling critiques. American Idol slams its music show competition Rethink theme weeks. Again, so the show bears as little resemblance to Idol as possible, why not do something entirely different? Somehow, The Voice avoids it altogether between the battle rounds and the final weeks where the coaches hand-pick whatever song they feel is best. Since the judges on X Factor already get to choose the songs, why confine them to a musical genre or artist at all? Should an aspiring rocker really have to sing a Michael Jackson song, i.e. did being forced to sing "Dirty Diana" do Josh any favors? Exactly. We think it's enough to have the judges choose songs that let the contestants do their thing, and give the audience a sample of what future singles would sound like. Let Idol be the show to force country singers to do Broadway. Nix that long-ass judges introduction. No more Carmina Burana. No more shots of them with the private jet, the Hummer, the limousine... It's fine to be the most blinged-out music show in the country, with the splashy set pieces and background dancers, but maybe less self-congratulatory back-patting from the judges for now. (That can come back when the show beats Idol in the ratings). Or, go nuts with a less-is-more approach! Whether or not it does so successfully, Idol attempts to "put on a show" every week with "surprise" gospel choirs and firey screensaver-like backdrops. An alternate strategy might be to not suit up the contestants as if they were already stars on a world tour. Let the acts instead perform as they think is best (it's doubtful that Astro ever thought he needed dancers to do the MC thing.) The judges can be there to guide them, not to dream up elaborate music video-style productions. Get a host with the most. For us, Survivor's Jeff Probst is the ultimate model host. He knows how to navigate the tough questions and appropriately console the eliminated. There's also So You Think You Can Dance's Cat Deeley and Top Chef's Padma Lakmshi, women who can have a conversation with anyone about anything and not have it be awkward (ahem, Seacrest's assault on Didi Benami). Replace Jones with someone warm and affable. Simple. What do you think? Should X Factor changes its ways? Are there other things you hope are different next season?