China Idol? Not too fast.
It seems China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television is not really interested in “American Idol” — or anything that resembles the show.
The group introduced a new rule this weekend that forbids TV talent shows from being broadcast during primetime. The ruling also says shows cannot allow fans to vote for contestants through text messages, telephone of the Internet, all popular ways to cast votes for shows such as “Idol” and other talent searches in the U.S.
A few other bizarre rules have been placed on judges qualifications and clothing and hair choices for contestants. The group’s leader, Wang Taihua, has said the government is trying to “clean up TV screens.” Yes, because talent searches are the worst thing on the air.
Then, again, I don’t get Chinese TV programming. So, who am I to judge?

September 24th, 2007 at 6:12 am
Boo. Why does China have to go an ruin all the fun for their people? What kind of People’s Republic are they? Not a fun one, that’s for sure.