Pop go the world ‘Idols’

On Christmas night, Fox’s “World Idol” was broadcast not exactly live not exactly around the globe.

The official Idols of 11 nations, including “our own” multi-platinum sweetheart Kelly Clarkson, had gathered a couple of weeks earlier in London -- where the franchise began, as “Pop Idol” -- to sing before an international panel of judges; that footage was subsequently customized by each country for its particular audience. When the broadcasts were done, viewers were invited to vote for their favorite, or technically -- owing to a scoring system that lets no one vote for his own country’s entry -- their second-favorite. The winner will be announced in a second special Thursday right after “American Idol: Life on the Road.” On Jan. 19, a third season of “American Idol” begins.

The franchise reflects a model of the music business in which raw talent is molded into hit-making personalities by canny career professionals. Professionals such as Simon Cowell, who is not only a judge on both the American and British editions, where he is famous for either his rudeness or his honesty -- is he cruel to be kind, or just cruel? -- but is “Pop Idol’s” co-creator as well, along with former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller, and an executive of the label for which the winners all record.

It is, if nothing else, a brilliant marketing scheme, a season-long commercial for the albums that emerge at its end, and a commercial for which the network pays, at that. But it is also something of an authentic phenomenon -- karaoke elevated to a national obsession. Real brilliance is in short supply even among the best of its contestants, but whatever you think about the music, it’s difficult to watch a show like this without rooting for someone.

The “World Idol” contestants, who ran eight male to three female and ranged in age from the mid-teens to the mid-20s, were more similar than not, at least in aspiration. Apart from some flag-waving in the enthusiastic crowd, there was a sad lack of regionalism. English is the unstated official language of World Idolatry, and the American and English pop songbook the well from which they draw: Only Jordan’s Diana Karazon -- representing “Pan-Arabia” -- sang in her native tongue, though by doing so she was, as was pointed out to her, apt to scuttle whatever chance she had to win. (Cowell, appearing as the American judge, was nicely forthcoming about his inability to judge her music.)

The rest sang inevitably if not critically inferior versions of familiar pop hits from decades long past. Relief was offered by anomalous Belgian metal dude Peter Evrard, with his long hair and what the “World Idol” website describes as a “satanic goatee,” who offered a creditable rendition of Nirvana’s “Lithium,” and was told afterward that he was barking up the wrong contest; in response he attempted a brief critique of the music business. And gap-toothed Norwegian plumber Kurt Nilsen sang U2’s “Beautiful Day,” hitting a few notes even Bono didn’t quite manage. More than one judge reckoned him a dark-horse contender, despite what they considered his inferior physiognomy.

Clarkson, who has already achieved authentic international stardom, channeled her inner Aretha on a cover of “(You Make Feel Like a) Natural Woman,” and was praised by all but the Canadian judge, who for his demurral felt the wrath of Simon -- Cowell proving as dismissive of his fellow jurists as he was of most of the singers who appeared before him. None of the judges had anything very enlightening to say, anyway, though Poland’s Kuba Wojewodzki, who told Clarkson he’d like to find her under his Christmas tree, was at least aggressively strange. Clarkson also got to comment on her competition, from backstage, and was nice to everyone.

British actors/comics/pop singers Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who host “Pop Idol,” and were oddly reminiscent of Merry and Pippin, hosted here as well, explaining to the American audience that while they were not allowed to vote for Clarkson, they should take the time to vote -- “They may be foreign, but they’ve got feelings, too.” There are, of course, many people for whom the title “American Idol” is already synonymous with “World Idol,” but the conclusion should not be foregone, especially in these parlous times. Not everyone idolizes Americans.

*

‘World Idol’

Where: Fox

When: Results show airs 9-10 p.m. Thursday

Rating: The network has rated the show TV-G (suitable for all viewers)

Hosts: Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly

Creator, Simon Fuller. Executive producers, Fuller, Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Nigel Lythgoe, Ken Warwick and Richard Holloway.