"Pop Idol" (2001) TV series 2001-2003

Creator:

Simon Fuller
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | unknown

Genre:

Game-Show | Music | Reality-TV

Plot:

In this follow-up to the hit reality TV show "Popstars", the search is on for a new solo singer. Finalists...

Plot Keywords:

Audition | Singer | Manufactured Pop | Singing | Judge

Awards:

6 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Anthony McPartlin	...	Himself - Presenter / ... (23 episodes, 2001-2003)
Declan Donnelly	...	Himself - Presenter / ... (23 episodes, 2001-2003)
Simon Cowell	...	Himself - Judge / ... (23 episodes, 2001-2003)
Nicki Chapman	...	Herself - Judge / ... (23 episodes, 2001-2003)
Neil Fox	...	Himself - Judge / ... (23 episodes, 2001-2003)
Pete Waterman	...	Himself - Judge (22 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Directed by
Jonathan Bullen		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Simon Fuller		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Dara Tallon	....	segment producer (2 episodes, 2003)
Jo Brock	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Simon Fuller	....	programme executive producer (unknown episodes)
Richard Holloway	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Claire Horton	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Claire Howell	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Nigel Lythgoe	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Jamie Sutcliffe	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Ken Warwick	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Marc Corrance		(unknown episodes)
Sunshine Jackson Underhill		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Claudine Taylor	....	makeup supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Mandy Lee	....	production manager (unknown episodes)
Sarah Tindall	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Andy Armstrong	....	props (unknown episodes)
Bob Warans	....	prop buyer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Dan Chapman	....	dubbing mixer (unknown episodes)
Robert Edwards	....	sound supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Ollie Green	....	camera operator (1 episode, 2003)
Alex Gurdon	....	lighting director (unknown episodes)
Lisle Middleditch	....	camera supervisor (unknown episodes)
Mike Scott	....	Steadicam operator (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Toni Porter	....	stylist (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Tom Deverell	....	editor: video tape (unknown episodes)
Paul Frost	....	editor: video tape (unknown episodes)
Mark Henson	....	editor: video tape (unknown episodes)
Titus Kojder	....	editor: video tape (unknown episodes)
Damian O'Neill	....	editor: video tape (unknown episodes)
Leigh Panton	....	vision mixer (unknown episodes)
Simon Sanders	....	vision mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Mark Tucker	....	score recording engineer (9 episodes, 2003)
Trevor Brown	....	music associate (unknown episodes)
James Collins	....	music scoring mixer (unknown episodes)
Roz Colls	....	music consultant (unknown episodes)
Cathy Dennis	....	composer: theme music (unknown episodes)
Ray Monk	....	musical director (unknown episodes)
Toby Wood	....	music recording engineer (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Joby Harte	....	production team (2 episodes, 2001)
Craig Church	....	technical manager (unknown episodes)
Alan Conley	....	floor manager (unknown episodes)
Marc Heffernan	....	researcher (unknown episodes)
Helen Root	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Eve Tibbles	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Sarah Whiting	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• 19 Television (as 19 Entertainment)
• Thames Television

Distributors

• Fremantle Corporation, The
• Independent Television (ITV)

Other Companies

• 19 Entertainment  management
• A1 Set  set design
• Fountain Studios  studio facilities
• Liquid TV Graphics Ltd.  titles

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

19 Television

Trivia:

Simon Cowell's nieces and nephew, Tanyette, Melissa and Joshua, were shown briefly in the audience in various episodes during the first season.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Screenwipe: Episode #3.1" (2007)

Disgraceful.

I certainly feel the fool for watching Pop Idol from the beginning, because I didn't realise what an absolute abomination of a show it actually was. What began as a rather compelling series turned into a laughable and embarrassing mess that should be forgotten very, very quickly. Being a fan of Popstars, the show where television cameras followed the search for a five-piece pop group, Pop Idol should have been very entertaining indeed. This time around, judges were looking for the perfect popstar, someone who embodied all the qualities of today's pop performer (relatively good-looking, passable voice, the ability to dance in time with music, and so on). Of course, you got your fair share of good and bad eggs, and the judges on the show provided a sizeable amount of exaggerated drama. Who could forget Simon Cowell and his vicious put-downs? Well, I have already.

The real reason that Pop Idol was such an awful and offensive show was because it didn't consider quality for it's final contestants. The worst, and most unacceptable thing in my opinion, was that this was meant to be a television competition, and there was only meant to be one winner. Viewers were encouraged to phone in and vote for the person they thought was most worthy of a record deal, and they did. So why, only a few months after the big finale, do we see the runner-up with a Number One single, other contestants with impending single releases, and countless other contestants in negotiations? This was just damn ridiculous. I know that a show like this is all about the money the people involved can make from it, but I really do not see any of the contestants standing the test of time. Give them all a bunch of cover versions to release and no-one will care. This wasn't about nurturing and developing talent. It was to get teenage girls all hot and bothered over good looking young boys releasing tired love songs. The final ten contestants did have talent, but that doesn't really matter in a show where their destiny includes their face being adorned on Easter Eggs, chocolate bars and sponsorship deals with many popular products.

In short, Pop Idol was terrible. Hopefully now people will have become bored of reality television shows and give real, quality television a chance. Sadly, I'm not that confident.