Australian Idol (TV Series 2003–2024) Poster

(2003–2024)

User Reviews

Review this title
11 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
3/10
Channel 7 wrecks the format (yet again)
centaur113514 March 2023
When Channel 10 hosted the show, each episode had some form of quality. There were several episodes per week, and we had quality time with the contestants and watching their learning curve, as well as the backing musicians.

Channel 7 has reduced it to one episode per week, and a laborious drag of a results show. We only see minimal interaction with the (very good) voice coach.

The backing musicians are awesome, it is unfortunate that we see nothing of them. It is they, who make the contestants shine.

Channel 10 would put the contestants through their paces, introducing styles outside their comfort zone. I always looked forward to the Big Band episode; many of the contestants had no real experience in that genre, yet most of them, when they performed in that style had the best musical experience of their life. Channel 7, the closest contestants had was a Judges Choice episode, where the judges choose 4 songs, for the contestant to select one.

There are only two meaningful judges. Harry Connick Jr, and Amy Shark. Meghan Trainor on occasion has helpful remarks, but her screaming throws her credibility out of the window. It was refreshing to have Marcia Hines return briefly. Kyle Sandilands is an enigma, most of the time he is a fool and brings the show down, yet on occasion, he can have the greatest insight. Harry Connick Jr is a real musician, he is really the most knowledgable. It's a shame though we haven't got an Australian as good.

Channel 7s revisioning is a train wreck. It may have the biggest live audience ever, it does not make it better. It's like they just want to get through to the end as quickly as possible, as cheaply as possible, much like their revisioning of Channel 10s Big Brother. (They wrecked that too). We are not seeing a journey, we can't see the contestants highs and lows along their journey, and most of all they are not pushed far outside their comfort zone. It is an insult to the contestants to rush them through and whittle them down as quickly as they have done in this new inferior format. Channel 7, you are an embarrassment.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
Obnoxious Kyle Sandilands ruins the format
tdeverell-495997 February 2023
I was looking forward to the reboot in Australia of Australian Idol 2023 and then Kyle Sandilands opened his mouth and any connection with Australia went out the door. Why channel 7 would choose this person to be representative of Australia and know about talent is anyone's guess. It's as if the executives sat around the office and threw names in a hat to try and find the most obnoxious man in Australia purely to create drama where none exists. Why any aspiring singer would place their career in the hands of Sandilands is beyond me which is a shame as there is genuine talent on this show but no self respecting music executive is going to sign them after being associated with this show.. The less we see and hear of Sandilands the better Australia will be, just can't work out why people in TV and Radio haven't cottoned on.
3 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Sick
dtzkdtjs13 February 2023
Seen ads for this show for years, finally decided to watch an episode. Low, sick 'entertainment' that is completely devoid of 'reality'. Basically a show that preys on low-talent dreamers and dangles a carrot in order to humiliate them for viewer entertainment while throwing Chemist Warehouse ads at viewers in the break to make a shameless buck. These contestants have 0 chance of making something of themselves and everyone involved in the production of the show knows it. Maybe the worst culprits are the viewers that support this crap. Shame on the producers, has-been judges and sick viewers. The world would be a better place without this show and all it's vapid clones.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Addictive Viewing!
twiggysayshi15 October 2003
Here in australia we only just recently got our version of the "idol phenomenon" and it's gotten us all hooked. Sure there's the bad few apples that still think it's karaoke, when u can see the band every episode! This, like the other 'Popstars' and 'starsearch', is just a way of manafacturing pop artists, but it's gotten so much deeper than that with seeing the contestants perform on stage everyweek and have their songs touch us or make us cry, and we get disappointed when our favourites leave, or get in the bottom three. It's become such addictive viewing they need it on everyday of the week to keep our household happy!

The show is much more than a reality tv karaoke, if we wanted that we'd switch over to channel 31 and watch 'Kangaroo Karaoke' ps GO MILLSY AND PAULINI!
1 out of 14 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
very corny
nicholasparas31 January 2024
This show is corny. I always preferred American Idol than Australian Idol because American Idol has better entertainment and drama than that corny spin off version Australian Idol . Australian tv has always been so boring for a very long time and I actually think American, Canadian and UK tv are way much better than Australian tv and the truth is with these Australian reality shows is that you are really not allowed to have your own opinion and if you do say your opinion than the whole of Australia will be against you for no reason . So I give the reality tv show Australian idol a 1 out of 10.
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Country boy
polradek23 February 2023
The country boy should be through rather than Harry......seriously - he was great - just needed some help, styling, not too much really. But there seems to be a bit of an agenda with the judges. Most are ok - but the choices are really predictable. And the songs are either karaoke or 'who's dat?' Boring. Maybe I need a new sound system on my TV! Harry's touchdown was great and very musical, but the others could use some training! Meghan loves everyone in her teensy, tiny little girly voice. I don't normally like Kyle but he does say it as it is. Bit disappointing so far - hope it approves - love Idol and the format.
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Australian Idol: The Phenomenon
exoticmonkey17 October 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I love Australian Idol and if fact auditioned for it myself this year. It is a really great program and always gets an emotional response, even if the performances are verging on the banal. Each week you are found cheering for your favorite contestants on Sunday night, crying when they leave on Mondays (which from experience is even worse when viewed in the live audience) and learn more about them as people on Inside Idol on Thursday nights. I thoroughly recommend this fantastic display of human emotion. Enjoy the soaring heights that gain touchdowns and the shattering lows that show people the door. In 2003, Guy Sebastian was crowned the Australian Idol as was Casey Donovan in 2004. This year we have some real contenders with Anne Robertson, Dan England, Daniel Spillane, Emily Williams, Kate DeArauge and Lee Harding still in the competition after the shock departure of James Kannis (and all his lovable "Greekness") from the competition tonight. Enjoy the rest of season 3. In my opinion, this show is a lot better run and much more entertaining than other shows in the same genre like 'Popstars' (which was a huge flop in Australia) and 'Starsearch'.
0 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Australian Idol
seekerish22 October 2003
Whats the big deal about Paulini and Guy, GO COSIMA! It's too easy if Paulini and Guy win, I think if Shannon and Cosima are the final two, the last episode will be interesting, not soo predictable!!
0 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Where is everyone from?
lunchbox_snoogins5 November 2003
Hey all, Im a big Australian Idol fan. i was just wondering where in Australia is everyone from, i come from Beenleigh (its between The Gold Coast and Brisbane) I so hope Guy wins and am so glad Cosima has left. i was so annoyed that Matt Chadwick didnt get further (he was 12th i know him and hes so sexy and talented.
0 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Variety is the spice.
Diverted Praise17 February 2004
Early on in the semi-final stages of the Australian Idol competition the judges, and indeed the serious viewing public were worried that AI was going to be a competition of "boy band" singers. Luckily, and perhaps conveniently, by the time the Final Twelve had been decided there was a variety of different singing styles battling it out to become the winner.

Unfortunately the demographic of people watching this competition favoured looks and character over talent and for this reason contestant Rob Mills progressed further than he probably should have, and over performers who could sing better than him. This was further exampled when Runner Up Shannon Noll made it to the Grand Final with a weak voice, but large amounts of charisma and after the exit of Mills, the teenage girl fanbase.

The final twelve were all fine performers. Some outshone others. Some couldn't handle the schedule (Contestant Rebekah LaVauney fell apart for the majority of her final series, whilst Cosima De Vito had to withdraw all together), whilst others went from strength to strength (Winner Guy Sebastian was, by the end, far beyond the other contestants in performance). But what made AI the success what it was, was the controversy. Contestant Paulini Curuenavuli's dress which sparked a public outcry, Lauren Buckley's emotional breakdown when she was eliminated, a contestant's disqualification and Daniel Wakefield's withdrawal from the final series, giving Levi Kereama a chance to shine, and create controversy himself when he was eliminated. And who can forget everyone's favorite transvestite Courtney Act, who had every guy watching the show lusting after him until she was revealed to be, in fact, a guy. Can AI2 live up to this year? I'd have to say no.
0 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
One of the best shows on telly
kutie-19 November 2004
Australian Idol is currently in it's second series and growing from strength to strength. With the appeal of a variety of song genres and a showcase of raw Australian talent, it is easy to see why this show is fast becoming a "must-see."

This year we've had genres such as Pop, R & B, Big Band (my personal favourite) and Australian- Made and of course the 60s, 70s and 80s. All of these genres have allowed us to realize the potential of these amazing performers (GO ANTHONY).

Not that this year hasn't had it's controversies. Few expected the departures of Daniel and Ricki-Lee in consecutive weeks earlier on in the season. Dicko also has had his fair share, announcing his planned departure as judge at the end of the series. All of the controversy, however, does not lessen the appeal of "Australian Idol", rather increasing it.

Overall, this year has been excellent, even better than last year.
0 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed