Pinoy Idol

:"For Associated Broadcasting Company's former Idol franchise, see Philippine Idol."infobox Television
show_name = Pinoy Idol


caption = "Pinoy Idol" title card
rating = PG
picture_format = NTSC 480i
format = Interactive reality singing competition
runtime = Varies
creator = Simon Fuller
company = FremantleMedia, 19 Entertainment, CKX, Inc.
distributor = GMA Pinoy TV (USA)
executive_producer = Perry Lansigancite news| first=Bayani Jr| last=San Diego| title=Method in the Madness| date=February 12, 2008| publisher=Inquirer.net| url=http://archive.inquirer.net/view.php?db=1&story_id=118226| accessdate=2008-02-13]
director = Louie Ignacio
presenter = Raymond Gutierrez
judges = Ogie Alcasid
Jolina Magdangal
Wyngard Tracy
location = Top 24: FILMEX Studio, Makati City
Top 12: CenterStage, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay Citycite news| first=Marinel| last=Cruz| title=‘Pinoy Idol’ moves to new home, picks 12 finalists"| date=June 8, 2008| publisher=Inquirer.net| url=http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20080608-141418/Pinoy-Idol-moves-to-new-home-picks-12-finalists]
Finale: SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
country = PHI
network = GMA Network
first_aired = April 5, 2008
last_aired = August 17 2008
num_episodes = 37
num_seasons = 1
preceded_by = Philippine Idol
followed_by =
website = http://www.igma.tv/pinoyidol
imdb_id = 1213004

*"Btm #" with gender color signifies that the semi-finalist was placed in the bottom group among one's own gender.
*There will be no bottom group from the seventh Finals week onwards.

"Pinoy Idol Extra"

"Pinoy Idol Extra", a daily "Pinoy Idol" feature program, was introduced on the May 18, 2008 episode of "SOP Rules". It is hosted by Karylle [ [http://www.pep.ph/news/17584/Karylle-changes-her-image-to-a-sexy-TV-host Karylle changes her image to a sexy TV host] ] and Rhian Ramos [ [http://www.pep.ph/news/17583/Rhian-Ramos-Haters-circulate-e-mails-and-thread-links-petitioning-against-her Rhian Ramos "Haters" circulate e-mails and thread links petitioning against her] ] . The show began airing on May 25, 2008, to be shown weekday nights and Sunday afternoons.

The show will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes footage during live shows and interviews with contestants and judges. Its format is similar to that of "".

Production

Louie Ignacio, who directs GMA's variety program "SOP Rules" and was part of the network's own singing competition "Pinoy Pop Superstar", directs the first season of "Pinoy Idol". Ryan Agoncillo, who hosted "Philippine Idol", would not reprise his hosting stint due to his contract with rival network ABS-CBN. Likewise, "Philippine Idol" judge Ryan Cayabyab would not return to his jury duties not only because of his previous connections with ABS-CBN, but also because he accepted the offer to appear in "Pinoy Dream Academy"'s second season as its new "headmaster". [ [http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2007-10-16&sec=3&aid=35234 ‘Pinoy Idol,’ tinanggihan nina Ryan at Mr. C] , Journal Online, October 16, 2007 languageicon|tl|Tagalog]

Eventually, Pilita Corrales and Francis Magalona, who were judges from "Philippine Idol" with connections to GMA Network, were not selected to reprise their jury duties in "Pinoy Idol" as those roles were given to Alcasid, Magdangal, and Tracy. Hosting chores were given to Raymond Gutierrez. Veteran TV host Paolo Bediones and singer-actress Regine Velasquez were considered for the role as "Pinoy Idol" host, but were rejected due to being over-aged under "Idol" franchise standards.cite news | title = ‘Pinoy Idol’ rejects, raise your hands | pages = p.F2-F3 | newspaper = Philippine Daily Inquirer | date = 2008-01-20 | url = http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20080120-113542/Pinoy-Idol-rejects-raise-your-hands | accessdate =2008-01-20 ] Additionally, FremantleMedia personnel did not want a singer like Velasquez to host the show so as not to take attention away from the eventual finalists. Meanwhile, GMA does not recognize "Philippine Idol" winner Marcelo as the first-season winner although her runners-up Jan Nieto and Gian Magdangal are both part of GMA's roster. [ [http://www.mb.com.ph/archive_pages.php?url=http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2007/09/29/ENTR20070929104294.html GMA 7 vs ABS-CBN] , Manila Bulletin, September 29, 2007 (article accessed October 16, 2007)] As their preparation for "Pinoy Idol", GMA Network shelved all of their other talent search programs such as "", "Pinoy Pop Superstar", and "StarStruck".cite news| title=Talent searches ng Siyete, shelved muna -- Wilma| publisher=Journal Online| date=March 29, 2008| url=http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-03-29&sec=3&aid=54163 languageicon|tl|Tagalog] Meanwhile, FremantleMedia has given GMA Network the right to broadcast "Pinoy Idol" on its U.S. cable channel GMA Pinoy TV.cite news| first=Dinno| last=Erece| title=FIRST READ ON PEP: FremantleMedia grants GMA-7 right to air "Pinoy Idol" in U.S.| publisher=Philippine Entertainment Portal| date=March 27, 2008| url=http://www.pep.ph/news/16870/FIRST-READ-ON-PEP:-FremantleMedia-grants-GMA-7-to-air-Pinoy-Idol-in-U.S.| accessdate=2008-03-30]

In a deviation from many Idol shows, "Philippine Idol" included, "Pinoy Idol" was aired only once a week for seven weeks. Episodes aired during that time covered only the auditions and theater rounds. For the semi-finals, three episodes were aired over the weekend (on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) in very inconsistent times: shows aired on Friday were shown late in GMA's "Telebabad" time block, while the Saturday and Sunday shows were early evening ones. The time slots of the Saturday and Sunday shows are being retained for the finals.

Also, while both Philippine "Idol" franchises have Smart Communications as their main sponsor, "Pinoy Idol" uses two numbers for SMS voting (as opposed to only one in "Philippine Idol"): one for Smart's cellular networks (Smart Gold, Smart Buddy, and Talk 'N' Text) and another for subscribers of Globe Telecom and Sun Cellular. During the semi-finals, voting was limited to two hours after the end of the show and each cellphone number can only send 200 votes per voting period, no matter for which contestant each of the votes is tabulated. This was done to address power voting. [cite news| first=Marinel R.| last=Cruz| title=4 get the boot on ‘Pinoy Idol’| publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer| date=May 28, 2008| url=http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20080527-139191/4-get-the-boot-on-Pinoy-Idol|page=F1] Also, another deviation from many Idol franchises (again, including "Philippine Idol"), there was no landline voting option. For the finals, voting period was expanded, beginning from the start of the show (yet another deviation) to noon of the next day, but voting is still limited to 200 votes per cellphone number.

Also, like "American Idol" and unlike "Philippine Idol", the semi-finals format spanned three nights, the first two nights were the performance nights, with the third being the results episode. But unlike "American Idol", the male semi-finalists didn't always get to perform on the first performance night of the week. They did so on the first performance night of the first and third semi-finals week; the females had their second semi-finals performances at the first performance night of the second week. To keep with this alternating pattern, the third and fourth semi-finals weeks saw only one eliminated semi-finalist per gender group; the Top 12 was therefore named at the end of the fourth semi-finals week instead of the third as perceived and initially reported.

To further the show's reach, the program's audio feed is simulcast over GMA Network's FM radio station 97.1 Barangay LS and its affliate FM radio stations nationwide.

In another parallelism with "Philippine Idol", it was announced on August 3 2008 that instead of two in many "Idol" shows, the finale will feature three contenders. But unlike "Philippine Idol", a double elimination will determine the final three due to the program's scheduling constraints.

Criticisms

Early into the development of "Pinoy Idol", there was a growing petition in online forums requesting for Ignacio's exclusion as its program director primarily because of his frequent use of butterflies (whether live butterflies or having people wear butterfly wings) on every project he has directed. He commented that he would still stick to his "lucky trademark" and even taunted petitioners to direct the show and put beetles or mosquitoes on the set if that is what they want. [http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Showbiz&p=50&type=2&sec=58&aid=2007110871 Part of "Mark na-excite sa halik ni Rhian] Pilipino Star Ngayon, November 9. 2007 languageicon|tl|Tagalog] [ [http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2007-10-22&sec=3&aid=35955 Part of "Mga kumukutya noon kay Marian Rivera, ‘nagdurusa’ ngayon"] Journal Online, October 22, 2007 languageicon|tl|Tagalog]

In an article published before "Pinoy Idol"'s premiere, noted film and television critic Nestor U. Torre hoped that the lapses that occurred in "Philippine Idol" would be remedied in "Pinoy Idol". [cite news| first=Torre| last=Nestor| title=From ‘Philippine Idol’ to ‘Pinoy Idol’ | date=March 31, 2008| publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer| url=http://archive.inquirer.net/view.php?db=1&story_id=127528|accessdate=2008-04-25] However, once the show went underway, those hopes seem to dampen as Torre noted on the first episode alone some mediocre talent and Gutierrez not yet becoming his own as host. Torre did laud the judging styles of Alcasid and Magdangal and Tracy's emerging Simon Cowell-like demeanor. [cite news| first=Nestor| last=Torre| title=‘Pinoy Idol’ gets mixed notices | date=April 11, 2008| publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer| url=http://archive.inquirer.net/view.php?db=1&story_id=127528|accessdate=2008-05-13] One viewer, who wrote to the Philippine Daily Inquirer about the show, was not as impressed when comparing it to "Philippine Idol", complaining about Gutierrez's nasal and unnatural hosting style, Magdangal's immaturity as judge and Tracy seemingly imitating Cowell more as compared to Cayabyab. [cite news| title=‘Pinoy Idol’ a letdown | date=April 22, 2008| publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer| url=http://archive.inquirer.net/view.php?db=1&story_id=127528|accessdate=2008-05-13]

Meanwhile, entertainment writer Jean Oli wrote that "Pinoy Idol" does not have that "Idol feel" despite high expectations towards GMA Network, calling it "an ordinary singing contest." She even stated that the network's previous singing contests such as "Pinoy Pop Superstar" and "Celebrity Duets: Philippine Edition" were more interesting to watch than "Pinoy Idol".cite news| first=Jean| last=Oli| title=Identity Crisis ng "Pinoy Idol"| date=June 25, 2008| publisher=Pinoy Parazzi| url=http://pinoyparazzi.com/88/oli.html| accessdate=2008-06-26languageicon|tl|Tagalog]

In a post-mortem article written six days after the finale, Torre wrote that the entire Finals phase of the competition came out less exciting than "Philippine Idol"'s because of several factors, namely some of the finalists were not even star-material, the entire audition process that put them in the competition in the process, and the early elimination of the better singers from the competition. He even doubts if the winners and others in the competition were really talented and versatile enough to take advantage of the strong support that have during the competition.cite news| first=Nestor U.| last=Torre| title=‘Pinoy Idol’ finals underwhelming | date=August 23, 2008| publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer| page=F4 | url=http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20080822-156283/Pinoy-Idol-finals-underwhelming| accessdate=2008-08-23]

ee also

* List of programs broadcast by GMA Network

References

External links

* [http://www.igma.tv/pinoyidol Pinoy Idol Official Website]