April 26, 2006
Exec Producer Reveals 'Idol' Surprises to TVWeek
By Adam Silver
"American Idol" tonight will break from tradition, for the first time naming the two contestants who received the most votes from viewers. Normally, the audience only is told which participants received the fewest votes from viewers.
The show's executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe, announced the change in this week's edition of "Executive Briefing" with TelevisionWeek Publisher Chuck Ross. Mr. Lythgoe said Tuesday's episode this week produced the series' third-highest number of audience votes, trailing the vote total of two finale shows.
"American Idol," currently in its fifth season, has helped propel Fox television network to a first-place tie with ABC among TV viewers age 18 to 49 season to date.
In this week's "Executive Briefing," Mr. Lythgoe revealed who was his favorite contestant of the evening, who had to change songs and what viewers can look forward to next week.
http://www.tvweek.com/executiveBriefing.cms"American Idol" will air on Fox at 9 p.m. (ET) and feature a performance by world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli.