As the reality giant is completing its eighth lap around, some people are already looking toward next season. How will the producers keep the show fresh and interesting? What will be different? Let’s take a look at this season.

The show started its eighth season with a little more drama than the producers had anticipated. The decision to bring fourth judge Kara DioGuardi to the table kept the media busy last summer. They had to find out who this songwriter was and why she was chosen to add her two cents to the Idol piggy-bank. After this season’s premiere, media and fans alike recognized that she not only knew what she was talking about, but she had the pipes to back it up.

The introduction of DioGuardi quickly became a sore spot for Idol alum Paula Abdul. Perhaps it was because the addition of Kara to the show caused Abdul’s watered down, non-sensical comments to stand out even further. There were definitely a couple of tense episodes while this was playing out in the media. The set designer might as well have put a wall between them. Eventually, they made up.

That wasn’t the only crisis this season. The producers seemed to be trapped in a different mindset of time. They could not keep the live show to fit in the allotted time. Some blamed the addition of the fourth judge. I say it was poor planning.

So as producers look at next season, I have a few suggestions:

1. I think the show should return with only 3 judges….Simon, Randy, and Kara. Paula should be given the title of “Idol Mom.” Her responsibilities include encouraging the contestants with off-camera peptalks.
2. If this isn’t possible and Paula is to remain a judge, she should be given a script of four pre-written comment options. She would pick the appropriate one and not deviate at any time.
3. In addition to revealing the bottom 3 (0r 2) each week, they should also reveal the top vote-getter for the week.
4. They should eliminate the “themes” for each week. There is a reason no one sings disco anymore.
5. Contestants for the first three weeks should have a consultant help them with song choice. After they make the final ten, they are on their own.
6. For time-management: they should no longer introduce each judge and allow clapping and cheering for each one. That’s a waste of time. In the time it takes to introduce one judge now, they could announce all of them.