Big changes, must-see differences, new tweaks and many exciting surprises are coming to the new 7th season of Idols that kicks off tomorrow (Sunday) at 17:30 on M-Net.
TV with Thinus spoke to Gavin Wratten from Nevermachine, the executive producer and director of Idols, who gives the scoop and reveals 7 big changes shaking up Idols this season.
1. Unathi is absolutely awesome
The radiant Unathi Msengana joins Idols as the new judge for the 7th season. Her presence is incredible, her impact immediate; her style funny and sincere and heartfelt. Unathi Msengana is brilliant and the perfect addition to the Idols' judges table. So I asked Gavin Wratten about what he thinks of her.
''Everybody who has watched has some of the new Idols stuff said she's like a breath of fresh air and fits right in,'' he says. ''Unathi Msengana is funny and compassionate and an absolute blast and simply amazing. And she doesn't take any rubbish from Randall Abrahams and Gareth Cliff and viewers will see it from the very first episode.''
2. Brand-new graphics and upgrades to the Idols set
The look of Idols will again be brand-new and updated. Viewers will immediately be able to spot the differences compared to anything they've seen on Idols before. ''We have brand new graphics in line with the latest look of American Idol,'' says Gavin Wratten. ''And we will have some upgrades to the Idols set as well.''
3. New cities, a new crop of contestants
Idols is visiting brand-new places across South Africa for the first time ever with Polokwane and Soweto infusing the reality show with a new crop of contestants. ''I think its been great to give opportunities to different parts of the country,'' says Gavin Wratten. ''It doesn't matter where you go, you will find great talent and people who lack talent. Dobsonville and Polokwane delivered both of those which is great and which will make Idols even more fascinating to watch.'' Speaking of watching, for the first time viewers will be able to see Idols on two channels at the same time. Idols will be on M-Net at 17:30 on Sundays as well as on Mzansi Magic (DStv 107) at the same time.
4. Big, BIG surprises looming at the upcoming theatre round
Gavin Wratten is simply not talking. Maybe if you give him a nice Abercrombie & Fitch T-shirt he'll whisper something in your ear but he's definitely not telling me. But this I know: Big, BIG changes and a major shake-up is coming to this year's theatre round at Sun City which follows after the 4 nationwide audition episodes in Cape Town, Durban, Polokwane and Johannesburg (two audition places - Dobsonville and Montecasino combined into one episode).
From 3 July viewers will see the dreaded theatre round with the cattle, uhm contestants, rounded up and taken to Sun City. The Idols theatre round is going to have major differences to the previous six seasons. How do I know that?
Well, there will be three episodes devoted to it - the most ever - on 3 July, 10 July and 17 July.
''We've introduced new things at theatre,'' says Gavin Wratten. ''We're bringing in the band a lot sooner. About the other stuff I really can't talk. I can't tell you. Then there's something that happened while we were there. Something happened that we didn't plan or anticipated. And while we were there - at the end of theatre week, there's a big twist in the tale and it's the first time we've ever done something like that in Idols,'' he says. Someone quick. Get the man an friggin Abercrombie & Fitch T-shirt!
5. A mystery location!
Similar to the 6th season the top Idols contestants will once again share a mansion. Similar to the previous seasons the Idols Spectaculars will once again take place at the Mosaiek theatre in Fourways. Not similar is one very mysterious location.
''One episode just prior to the Top 10 Idols contestants will be taking place at a different location,'' Gavin Wratten tells me. He flat out refuses to divulge anything more. ''All I can tell you is that this year in Idols we will really push the fact that the top contestants will really deserve to be in the group. For them to make it to the top group ... they will have earned it. For those who make it, the show will underscore that it will be a great achievement.''
6. A tech upgrade
Take a look at the judges table. Do you see paper? Gavin Wratten now communicates with the Idols judges through their Samsung Galaxy tablets. It betters the whole production process. It's no longer necessary to stop the show to run to the table with paper production notes. The judges between themselves and with the production crew can communicate through the tablet devices on which they can see the upcoming contestant order and the audition schedule, as well as sidenotes on the contestants. And they make their own notes on the contestants on the tablet as well.
''The voting options for viewers will remain unchanged who will be able to vote by SMS and MXit for their favourite contestants,'' says Gavin Wratten.
7. The widest range of talent ... yet
There's whale boy in the first episode of Idols and yes, hilariously bad and atrocious ''performances''. But the great singers are of the widest range of talent yet that the show has seen. ''Talent wise this whole season is different,'' says Gavin Wratten. ''The diversity of talent is remarkable. There's a diversity ranging from rockers and rappers to folk type singers and great musicians. There's people who can sing like the Steve Tylers and Adam Lamberts. And you will see them all over, from every region. It's going to make for a very interesting Idols season.''
Idols VII, Sundays, M-Net, 17:30
