Australia’s Got Talent is having an overhaul this year with judges Red Symons, and Tom Burlinson not having their contracts renewed.

Bad boy Kyle Sandilands has been announced as one of the new people to sit beside Danni Minogue on the panel, and it is expected this week they will announce Brian McFadden to be the other one.

Now I have to mea culpa on Brian as last year as I wrote how I had not wanted him to be a judge on Australian Idol, however his guest judging spot was one of the bright moments in a rather dull Idol year.

David Leckie aim is to capitalise on the demise of Australian Idol and attempt to get in a few more younger viewers to watch the show. And he knows Kyle and Brian attract that demographic.

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Kyle Sandilands has signed on to be a judge on Australia’s Got Talent  this season. The article in the news.com.au.

It is not known which of the judges he will be replacing. Currently Red Symons, Danni Minogue, and Tom Burlinson are the current panel.

Danni is pregnant but filming should be finished by the time she gives birth.

In other not surprising reality TV news Celebrity Masterchef  will not make it to a second series, but the Junior Masterchef will go ahead. (Source news.com.au)

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If the rumour is true that former Australian Idol judge Kyle Sandilands is to become a judge on Australia’s Got Talent, Channel Seven have proved just how canny they are.

With news Australian Idol won’t be on our TV screens this year Australia’s Got Talent is looking to grab some of the younger demographic who previously have not watched the show.

I must confess if Kyle is on it I will definitely watch it, not sure I fit the younger demographic they are looking for! Full story on Daily Telegraph.

They suggest that if Kyle signs on either Red Symons or Tom Burlinson will get the flick.

In other Australia’s Got Talent News, judge Danni Minogue is pregnant with her first child. The Sunday Telegraph has a nice article about her and how she is now famous in her own right.

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The Sunday Telegraph are hinting that all may be forgiven with fallen Australian Idol judge Kyle Sandilands, and they may be trying to tempt him back to the show.

The article states that “confidential” research taken by Fremantle Media showed the viewers did not take to new judge Jay Dee Springbett and they found Marcia Hines “bland”. Yes they paid for that, I would have told them that for free.

It would appear they were unphased by the snarky tones of the pair twittering during the show this year and could welcome him back into the fold.

I wonder if they will also get rid of Marcia, maybe they could replace her with Julie Zemiro. Now that would be a positive thing.

If you are reading this blog post on TV.com please come through and check out my blog www.realityravings.com

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Kyle Sandilands Still Does Not Get It

Kyle Sandiland has said to OK Magazine that the whole 14 year old sex scandal interview is not his fault. I don’t get why he doesn’t get it. It is not ok to inquisition a 14 year old on radio about her sex life, particularly if her mother is listening. The Daily Telegraph also express their disgust.

Carmen Parnos Interviews Lynton Pipkorn For Her Superleaders Website

Carmen Parnos interviewed fellow The Apprentice contestant Lynton Pipkorn for her Super Leader Blog. Lynton was eliminated in the breakfast cereal challenge.

Did Rachel Zoe Fire Taylor?

For those who watch the highly entertaining The Rachel Zoe Project  will know that Taylor this season was getting fed up with her job, and it would appear she has finally left. However Dlisted who picked up the story from People mag is trying to say Taylor got fired.

Hayley Warner Now Idolised, Before She Was Bullied At School

The Daily Telegraph has an article where top three Australian Idol contestant Hayley Warner talks about being bullied at school, as well as being more likely to be found at church then partying.

So You Think You Can Dance Romance Whilst On Tour – What Goes On Tour Does Not Stay On Tour

People says a couple has emerged from last season’s on US SYTYCD top 20. It is gorgeous salsa dancer Janette Manrara, and contemporary dancer Jason Glover.

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You could imagine the meeting between Channel Ten and Fremantle Media last Monday once Sunday night’s ratings of Australian Idol were received. With the top 12 show not even hitting the one million viewer mark, they may have had second thoughts about booting Kyle Sandilands from the judging panel.

However  I bet now they are glad they did as they are not having to involve themselves in this week’s PR disaster, when Kyle said on radio that Magda Szubanski would lose more weight if she was stuck in a concentration camp.

Where does he come up with this shit?  Anyway rumour has it that the head honcho at Austereo may have had enough and may sack him (Source: Daily Telegraph). Does this mean Jackie O would be gone as well?

Kyle is currently suspended for ten days, and my theory regarding Idol ratings is it will improve now Dancing With The Stars  has finished.

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Well we have had a week of Australian Idol without Kyle Sandiland’s and already there are calls for him to be returned to the judging panel.

In an article in the Daily Telegraph they say over 21,000 people on facebook have joined a bring back Kyle site.

The view is even though the new judge Jay Dee Springbett is nice, and knows the record industry he is not that entertaining.

The article said:

Fans say they “miss his wit” and that the show has become “too serious” without Sandilands and Mark Holden, who left the series in 2008.

Holden, who created the “touchdown”, said Idol had been more damaged by the loss of Sandilands than the controversy.

“The brand has been diluted by the constant changes to the format.

“People forget it’s not just Kyle. There’s been many moves. John Foreman’s gone, James Mathison’s gone and I’m gone.

Holden said Springbett was “a lovely chap” but Idol now lacked the humour provided by himself, Sandilands and Mathison.

Former contestant Mark Spano said he was “disappointed” Ten had not stuck by Sandilands.

“It’s been a witch hunt,” he said.

“I love Kyle. He doesn’t sugar-coat anything. He’s the perfect judge.

“Jay Dee’s got a great knowledge of music but Dicko does too.

“There needs to be a balance.

“Dicko knows music, Marcia has the niceness and then there was the evilness of Kyle.

“The show will be lacking something without him.”

Personally I would have gone with a guest judge for the third spot on the panel. This would have meant when the producers hit upon a winning formula they could have stuck with it.

TV Tonight also have an interesting article on how they think Andrew G is the person putting the entertainment back into the show.

Do you think Kyle should come back?

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Now I know why Channel TEN quickly cut the cord with Kyle Sandilands on Monday, as they had to cut him out of this week’s pre-show publicity blitz.

I opened up my Daily Telegraph TV section and there on the front was a huge photo of Dicko and Marcia – Kyle had been deleted.

The article was about Marcia Hines saying that her style of judging ie being nice and encouraging is the way to attract an audience. She used the success of MasterChef Australia as an example. I think she feel vindicated for all the years we have had to sit through her dull judging comments.

I still hope Dicko and whoever the new judge is will not hold back on the constructive criticism, otherwise it could be a bit of a boring show. I also wonder if the new 6.30pm timeslot will affect what the judges say. I hope the producers just remember that the success of American Idol hinges on the comments of the deliciously witty Simon Cowell, and I hope the Australian version does not become like Pollyanna Idol.

Anyway Kyle is clearly not having a good week as he has now brought in  security to guard his St Ives home. Apparently there is a media contingent camped out the front. (Source Daily Telegraph.). Does he really need them? Is it to keep the media out? If so it is unlikely that they will illegally trespass. If it is to keep out people have made personal threats it is a bit over the top, considering if anyone is going to commit an illegal activity are you really going to do it with a media pack to record it?

Maybe it is a sympathy bid – Is Kyle saying I am being threatened now, and I am  also a victim of this whole mess?

Also the Daily Tele says the reason Austereo suspended the show was because companies like Optus were pulling advertising because they were getting pressure from customers.

Is King Kyle’s career dead? I find it hard to believe as the ratings his breakfast show he got were so high. But then there is always someone else willing to fill the void.

Also here is a good article from The Punch which asks where is Jackie O in all of this, she seems to avoided a lot of the flack.

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Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O have been suspended from their breakfast radio program on Today FM, because of a lie detector segment which showed incredibly bad judgement as well as bad taste.

The Daily Telegraph says the pair are suspended, but also it states that Kyle is unable to go on air. What does that mean that he is curled up in the foetal position in the corner of his ski chalet in New Zealand? Or is it away of saving face?

Anyway The Punch have been quick off the mark and have provided some analysis of this story with an article by editor David Penberthy on how people power and the web took Kyle off the air and Paul Colgan saying Kyle will be off air for at least a week.

Australian Idol will now have to decide whether to stick with him. See previous post on this issue here.

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The Age today says that Australian Idol may be considering dumping Kyle Sandilands over his role in questioning a 14 year old about her sex life on radio. If you have been in a coma for the past week you can read a former post about that debacle here.

The article says:

A Channel Ten spokesperson last night told The Age  that, while Sandilands would appear in episodes already filmed, the network was reconsidering his role as a judge of young aspiring musicians.

“˜”˜Kyle will obviously be in the audition episodes, as they were filmed some time ago,” the spokesperson said. “˜”˜But Idol is a family program, we consider this a very serious incident and our executives will continue discussions over the weekend to come to a decision regarding his future on Idol.”

You can imagine every person in town ringing their agent saying get me that gig.

Kyle Sandilands was probably the most entertaining judge on Australian Idol last year. Dicko was lethargic most of the time, and Marcia Hines is more life coach than judge. I am happy to see him sacked as long as the bring in someone entertaining, and don’t revive Mark Holden. Why doesn’t Channel Ten draft Paul McDermott from Good News Week for some guest judging spots and see how he goes. He has both the snark plus the musical background? Does anyone else have any ideas?

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