American Idol was based on the British show Pop Idol created by Simon Fuller, which was in turn inspired by the New Zealand television singing competition Popstars. Television producer Nigel Lythgoe saw it in Australia and helped bring it over to Britain. Fuller was inspired by the idea from Popstars of employing a panel of judges to select singers in audition. He then added other elements, such as telephone voting by the viewing public (which at the time was already in use in shows such as the Eurovision Song Contest), the drama of backstories and real-life soap opera unfolding in real time. The show debuted in 2001 in Britain with Lythgoe as showrunner‍—‌the executive producer and production leader‍—‌and Simon Cowell as one of the judges, and was a big success with the viewing public. COUNT 10
QSN1 What show in New Zealand was the inspiration for the British Series Pop Idol? ANS1 Popstars QSN2 Who was the creator of British Series Pop Idol? ANS2 Simon Fuller QSN3 What year did Pop Idol make its television debut? ANS3 2001 QSN4 Who was a judge on the British series Pop Idol in 2001? ANS4 Simon Cowell QSN5 Wha was the executive producer of Pop Idol in 2001? ANS5 Nigel Lythgoe QSN6 What show was Pop Idols based on? ANS6 Popstars QSN7 Who saw Popstars while in Australia and wanted Britain to have the same thing? ANS7 Nigel Lythgoe QSN8 In addition to back stories and drama, what did Fuller add to the show? ANS8 telephone voting QSN9 When did Pop Idol premiere in Britain? ANS9 2001 QSN10 Who was the executive producer of Pop Idol? ANS10 Lythgoe