As Season 8 Gets Closer, 'Idol' Gets David Cook Plugs (and More Cars)

It never really felt like American Idol left us.  Sure, the seventh season ended almost half a year ago, with David Cook triumphing over David Archuleta, but afterwards it’s still been a battle of sorts between the two.  Or at least that’s what most people are playing up on, from chart positions to airplay to just about anything else.  But soon we’ll be diverting out attention to another competition (or whatever they’ll brand it next): American Idol’s eighth season is coming on January 13, and it’s getting closer and closer.

Of course, they’ll have to recruit some help in letting people know.  (As if they have to: just mention the date and it somehow gets stuck in fans’ minds.)  It’s only now, though, that they’ll be getting help from a former Idol winner.  Expect new Idol plugs over Fox this weekend, featuring none other than David Cook, reflecting on his journey from little-known aspirant to internationally-famous singer.  (If you haven’t seen the promo, you can watch it at the end of the article.)

But don’t expect Cook to be the only former Idol appearing in ads for the upcoming season.  “We’re looking at doing some spots with some other past Idol contestants,” said Joe Earley, Fox’s marketing chief.  There’s no word, though, on who those could be.

It’s also been confirmed that Ford will still be a major sponsor of the widely-successful talent search, despite the financial problems that have hit American car makers hard.  Ford cars have been a ubiquitous presence on Idol, from outright sponsorships to those little recorded bits during results shows with the remaining contestants singing inside—where else?—the cars.  It’s good news for everybody involved in the show: the car maker plunked in $78 million to sponsor Idol, from the aforementioned recorded bits to the commercials.

But perhaps the most important thing to wait for is the stuff that we’ll actually be watching come January.  Judge Paula Abdul couldn’t be more straightforward with what we should expect to see.  In an interview on E!’s Daily 10, she quipped: “Simon’s man boobs got bigger.”

As Season 8 Gets Closer, ‘Idol’ Gets David Cook Plugs (and More Cars)