American Idol is pretty much the same on ABC, but a little sappier and more Disney-fied

USA Today

Just about everything on Sunday's premiere is like the Fox version, right down to the host, the emotional contestant backstories, the music and the judges, who -- like the old ones -- "are also mostly OK," says Kelly Lawler. She notes that ABC seems to put a greater emphasis on the "American" in American Idol. "The tone is heartwarming; failed contestants are let down as easily as possible and the contestants who make it to Hollywood are all as sweet and diverse and quirky as can be," she adds. "The problem with making Idol a warm and fuzzy show that takes literal trips to Disney World is this: The vitriol is what helped catapult the series to its onetime status as a phenomenon. Idol was, for much of its long run, a show about telling people the truth, even if it hurt."

ALSO:

• Burning questions: Will sexual harassment scandal affect Seacrest? Will The Walking Dead and O.J. Simpson hurt the premiere?
• ABC defends the high costs of its Idol reboot: It's about the same price of an hourlong drama, $3.5 million to $4.5 million
• For Lionel Richie, American Idol is a chance to share his six decades of experience in the music industry
• Kelly Clarkson defined what a reality show winner should be: Nobody has done it better than her
• Kelly Ripa "auditions" for Idol