Idol judges: Frankie Stevens, Fiona McDonald and Paul Ellis

09 January 2004 - 2 Comments

The big question, of course, for the just-announced New Zealand Idol judges is, who is going to be the nasty one?

American Idol had the cutting Simon Cowell.

The Australians had Ian "Dicko" Dickson.

So which of the judges for the New Zealand version, Paul Ellis, Fiona McDonald and Frankie Stevens, will take on the mantle of being eye-wateringly direct?

"All I can say is that I don't suffer fools gladly," said Ellis yesterday.

"I like to be honest with people. Constructive and fair. But honest."

Sounds like he's the one.

The Idol format has been hugely successful around the world, culminating in a World Idol contest, won (unlikely as it seemed) by a Norwegian, Kurt Nilsen, singing U2 songs.

It is based on the old idea of TV talent contests: the watchability of good-looking young people with sex appeal and great voices, given spice with the odd cringingly embarrassing bomb.

Viewers get to vote for their favourites, nudged on by a panel of three judges who usually range from the sugary (Marcia Hines, Paula Abdul) to the deliberately sour (Cowell, Dickson).

New Zealand had a culture of TV talent shows, said Ellis, the former general manager for artists and repertoire and music publishing for Sony Music New Zealand.

Think New Faces, with the late Phil Warren as one of the judges being as acerbic 25 years ago as Cowell or Dickson.

"Why is it so successful? I think it's because everyone has an opinion on music."

New Zealand Idol will begin on TV2 in February.

Calling the shots

* Paul Ellis: Long-time figure in the music industry with Sony. Recently returned to New Zealand to set up his own music publishing company.

* Fiona McDonald: Former lead singer of the the Headless Chickens and Strawpeople. Presenter on television's The Big Art Trip.

* Frankie Stevens: Long-time entertainer who had a No 1 hit with My Elusive Dreams and had a bit part in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever.

Thanks to www.nzherald.co.nz for this story.

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