In four weeks, "American Idol" returns to FOX for the eighth season of the search for the next singing sensation. But as is usual for the hit series, the season isn't getting underway without a bit of controversy.
ET: Do you think your numbers will suffer now that SANJAYA MALAKAR was voted out? Do you think people tuned in for the train wreck?
KEN WARWICK: To be honest, touch wood, we are big enough that the ratings don't actually bother us that much at this stage. We know that we are bigger than anybody else. We know we are up over last year. That is not likely to change. If [the ratings] dropped considerably, there would be a reason for us to agonize over them. If we got bogged down in the ratings, then we would be chasing ourselves around a tree, so we don't pay that much attention to it.
There are some incredibly talented singers for the sixth cycle of "American Idol," but all anybody is talking about these days is one of the talent competition's lesser lights, SANJAYA MALAKAR, who each week racks up enough votes to keep him in the contest. This, despite the best efforts of RANDY JACKSON, PAULA ABDUL and SIMON COWELL, who last week told Sanjaya after seeing his faux-hawk, "I don't think it matters what we say actually. I think you are in your own universe."
Shock jock HOWARD STERN and votefortheworst.com are both championing the 17-year-old from Washington, but according to Executive Producer KEN WARWICK, their effect on the voting is minimal.
"American Idol" judge SIMON COWELL and executive producer KEN WARWICK haven't had their fill of talent competitions, so they are launching "America's Got Talent" on Wednesday, June 21 on NBC.
"This is the show I've always wanted to make," Simon says. "We are looking for the best entertainer or entertainers in America."
It's McPheever vs. the Soul Patrol when KATHARINE McPHEE takes on TAYLOR HICKS tonight for the final performance show of the fifth season of "American Idol."
"They are singing three songs each," says executive producer KEN WARWICK. "Two will be their favorites from the series. Taylor is doing 'Levon,' the ELTON JOHN song, STEVIE WONDER's 'Living For the City' and what will be his new single if he makes it: It is a song called 'Do I Make You Proud.' Katharine will sing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow,' which she was just fabulous with last week. It is probably the song that put her in the finals, to be honest. Also, 'Black Horse and Cherry Tree,' and her single is called 'My Destiny,' quite appropriate really."
Despite judge RANDY JACKSON's pronouncement at the beginning of the fifth season of "American Idol" that a boy would win this year's competition, Executive Producer KEN WARWICK believes it is anybody's game at this point in time.
"Randy said it was going to be a boy on day one, so he is sticking with it," Ken says.
The dynamo that is "American Idol" continues to rule the ratings as the search for the next singing superstar keeps raking in viewers in season five. FOX reports that the first six episodes this year are up in the ratings in the all-important Adults 18-49 category, as well as among Adults 18-34 and Total Viewers.
"I think [viewers] honestly are fascinated by the people that walk through that door, and think they can sing and sometimes they're great, and that's great. Sometimes their story is heart rending, or ridiculous or whatever, and viewers get connected with that," says "Idol" Executive Producer KEN WARWICK. "Once we've got them, they stay with us, and the additions just keep adding up, because we're 10% to 12% higher in overall viewers than we've ever been before. I can't think off the top of my head of another major series that is still adding viewers to their figures on their fifth season."
It has been a long, tough competition, but the end is in sight. Tonight is the last time the "American Idol" hopefuls perform for the viewers to vote. Which of the Final 2 will join the ranks of KELLY CLARKSON, RUBEN STUDDARD and FANTASIA BARRINO as the fourth "American Idol"? CARRIE UNDERWOOD or BO BICE? America will decide!
Each of the two finalists will sing three songs: one is the single that the crowned "Idol" will record, the second is the song that has been chosen for the flipside and the third is their choice. Bo selected "Vehicle," and for Carrie, it's "Independence Day."
ET is at the AMA's! The "2009 American Music Awards" are underway and we have all the red-hot red-carpet arrival pics, including Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Rihanna, Adam Lambert and more!
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