"If I Can Dream": Simon Fuller Announces Web-TV Hybrid Star Search Show

LOS ANGELES — The creator of Fox's "American Idol" is going beyond TV with a project that will tell the story of five young people trying to make it in Hollywood with online audience feedback.

Starting in early 2010, Simon Fuller's "If I Can Dream" will follow three aspiring actors, a model and a musician whose experiences will be streamed live. Viewers will have a chance to comment on what they see, and influence it, through blogs, MySpace, Twitter and Facebook.

The announcement Wednesday said the project is designed for the social networking set and will be "unfiltered and unvarnished."

"If I Can Dream" will launch across multiple platforms, including mobile handsets and radio. An edited episode will be available weekly on Hulu.com and distributed internationally. Hulu.com is a joint venture between NBC and Fox.

___

Fox and MySpace are owned by News Corp.; NBC is a unit of General Electric Co.

Comments

[farley1]

04:05 PM on 12/17/2009

just what we need, more crap tv

[marred]

03:42 PM on 12/17/2009

thk god cuz we really do need more crappy music!!!

[lynjs]

02:49 PM on 12/17/2009

Oh not again. More dumbing down to come...

[dmsdzinr]

01:50 PM on 12/17/2009

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

[lukebenward]

01:21 PM on 12/17/2009

Suck on it, American Idol fans w/ absolutely nooo lives:

He's quiting AI by May 2010 so he can launch 'The X-Factor' in the US by 2011.

[lukebenward]

01:22 PM on 12/17/2009

Judge Simon Cowell, that is.

[peacebro]

09:05 PM on 12/17/2009

Been downloading Englands X Factor and like ti better than AI. I like the way the 4 judges each mentor 4 contestants and compete against the other judges.

[lvdragonlady]

01:11 PM on 12/17/2009

Does anyone still watch this kind of ((())))???

[tempest624]

01:04 PM on 12/17/2009

NBC is not only a "unit of General Electric Co.", the majority share holder is now Comcast, the cable TV company.

[spinns17]

12:12 PM on 12/17/2009

who cares ,i dont watch anything on faux

[fasty]

12:09 PM on 12/17/2009

I love all the comments from the holier than thou crowd who decry the intelligence level of reality TV:

A. You didn't even read the article, because it's not "another TV show." It's not even on TV.

B. If you hate reality TV, why did you click though to the story? Evidence that American Idol and reality shows drive audience to channels/sites and garner ratings/clicks/page views.

C. This is a very creative approach for a genre that needs a dose of freshness, but you'd know that it was a unique venture if you care to actually read the article before commenting.

The REAL problem with America is that people form opinions based on headlines and their irritable bowels instead of reading and thought and logic.

[falco]

01:09 PM on 12/17/2009

It's the winners and losers thing that gets me. Why do people get off on watching one person get happy (or so they think) at all the others' expense? Wahhh, wahhh, they chose him instead of me. Must give you some kind of tingle. Sad.

[SimJack]

12:07 PM on 12/17/2009

When did HuPo morph into 'Variety'?

[hotseat]

11:45 AM on 12/17/2009

The crazies will be coming out of the woodwork. More so than usual.

[amyhasopinions]

11:29 AM on 12/17/2009

Aaaaaaghhh!!! When will the reality show madness end????

[525600Minutes]

11:38 AM on 12/17/2009

Not until they find a cure for R.D.D. Reality Deficit Disorder.

[TimLB]

11:25 AM on 12/17/2009

I'm so hoping 'make it in Hollywood' means lukewarm karaoke versions of once-beloved, now over-exposed classic television shows. Just like 'American Idol' did to music. Won't it be great?

[on2them]

11:24 AM on 12/17/2009

oh goody! Let's dummy them down even more!

[liberalNmoderation]

11:23 AM on 12/17/2009

Great...just what this country needs...ANOTHER mindless show.