Last year, the EBU confirmed that after one decade in the role, Jon Ola Sand would step down as the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest. His replacement will be the Swedish television producer Martin Österdahl. And while Sand won’t have the chance to oversee his final contest, wiwibloggs can exclusively reveal that Österdahl already has a list of changes that he will bring to the song contest when it returns in 2021.
The changes were internally approved by the EBU today, 1 April 2020, but are not set to be made public until later in the year. However, wiwibloggs has come into possession of a leaked copy of the new show format and can exclusively reveal the changes.
Up to eight performers will be allowed on stage
Following the cue of Melodifestivalen, Eurovision performances will now be permitted to include two extra non-singing performers on stage, making a total of eight performers. The two extra performers could be dancers, musicians or any other kind of non-vocal performer.
Sweden will become a member of the Big 6
The Big 5 will become The Big 6 with the addition of Sweden. As broadcaster SVT is unable to afford the Big 5’s higher Eurovision participation fee, they will trade shipments of Swedish meatballs in exchange for membership. The group of automatic qualifiers will also be renamed with the Swedish word for six, to be known as The Big Sex.
The semi-final qualification sequence will tell us who HASN’T qualified
Rather than announcing the names of the ten lucky qualifiers, instead the hosts will name the unlucky acts who will be going home. When their names are announced, a special “Disappointment Cam” will show a close-up reaction shot of the artist’s emotional state and will capture the exact moment their dream is crushed.
A conversation corner will be set up for ex-HoDs and songwriters
The Eurovision Song Contest is all about bringing people together. With that in mind, next to the green room there will be a “conversation corner”. This will be for ex-Heads of Delegation, songwriters and anyone else with an axe to grind. They will be encouraged to air their differences and come to a mutual understanding. The corner will include unlimited wine.
The grand final will introduce a Super Final
After the results have come in, the two top-scoring songs will perform again and the televote lines will be open again for a superfinal vote. An EBU source says, “I mean, people might have changed their minds or something? Plus there will be extra televote revenue €€€. Totes sad 4 anyone who loses the second vote.” Estonia’s Kerli will be on hand to comfort the losing artist.
The jury will include asphalt constructors
Many fondly recall Finland’s UMK 2016, where the juries included different vocational groups. Among these, was asphalt constructors, who gave their 12 points to Mikael Saari’s “On It Goes”. From Eurovision 2021, each broadcaster will be required to include at least one member of a road constructing crew, be it supervisors, steamroller drivers, or the guys who hold the stop-go sign.
Adult Eurovision: After Dark
Viewers in eastern countries have long complained that Eurovision serves wholesome family entertainment but in a late-night timeslot. To appease this, a special edition of the song contest will be produced, titled Adult Eurovision: After Dark. It will include all the bits considered too rude for general audiences, including Hatari’s unexpected latex slippage, the lewd gesture from San Marino’s robot, and the time when Jon Ola Sand once said, “Yo, take it a-m*ther-f*cking-way, biznitchez.” Adult Eurovision is considered a counterpart of Junior Eurovision.
UPDATE: 12:00 CET
Guys, we are so embarrassed. We got mixed up. These are actually the plans for the Eurovision Thong Contest from its new Executive Supervisor, Avril Fühl. We regret the error. 😉 (Happy April Fool’s Day, y’all!)
What do you think of the new plans for Eurovision? Will this revitalise things and boldly take the contest into the new decade? Or has the new executive producer got it wrong? Tell us your thoughts below!
When I saw the first point I was like “Hmm, pretty legit. They should’ve thought about it already”, but then from the second point I knew it’s for April fool.
Btw is it true that Jon Ola Sand would not be able to supervise one more contest before stepping down?
Sweden becoming part of the big 5 is quite realistic.
I got the joke but not straight away, so well done. Eurovision after dark would be good though.
Anna Bergendahl deserved to be in the final. It was such a shame that the order was based purely on rankings, not points, and her semi-final had almost 10 points of difference between the 3rd and 11th. Ireland’s Kavanagh had 8 jury points more and qualified despite the difference of 21 points in televoting. It must have had an impact on her career, given she is the only Swedish performer failed to qualify in a semi-final.
Hope you come up with something amazing like Kingdom Come and show Europe how it is actually done, Doctor Bergendahl! Love from Turkey.
The sad part is not even the fact that some of these changes won’t become a reality, but rather the fact that in 10 years we aren’t moving much – from Norway to Sweden. I’m so sick of Scandinavian mainstream and its overdose of glamour that if Österdahl is just a copy-paste of Ola Sand, I’ll stop watching this “shine bright like a diamond” idiocracy.
If Eurovision will be like Miss Universe, the junior contest will be held together with the adult one, thus increasing the number of semi-finals to 3. Also, 8 contestants from each semi-final round will qualify for the final, bringing the number of finalists to 30 (24 qualifiers, Big 5 + host country). #EurovisionOpinion
[Pageant Fan here] Miss Universe does not have its teen contest (they do have a Miss Teen USA but that’s for US only)… and the last time Miss Universe being held together with any of its sister pageant (Miss USA) was in 1964…
I knew this is April fools and this is actully the best april fool ever, I laughed soo hard!! This is a masterpiece :D!!!
I knew that this was an April Fools joke as soon as I read that Sweden would be paying in Swedish meatballs to become part of the Big 6.
Although adding two extra performers to the stage doesn’t seem like a bad idea…
I will hope that this is a joke. This are horrible Runles. Bit the 8 Perso rules would be very nice
I’m so glad it was an April Fools joke.
Happy 1st April no?
I actually believed it until the end! Forgetting for a moment that it was April Fool’s Day! ?
This was hilarious, thank you for this
I was excited when I read the first one, but it came clear that the big 6 with Sweden that its not real. HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY
« The semi-final qualification sequence will tell us who HASN’T qualified » ahahahahah that would be so mean omg I want it to happen now
That’s cruel but funny af??
Or maybe like some reality shows, calling one country/several countries at a time and then announce their fate (Advanced/Eliminated)? LOL
You should go on and write a strongly worded letter to EBU.
At first I thought it was real… until I read about the meatballs and the Big Sex. I was going mad about Sweden making the B5 and not even paying the fee.
I would be opened for the extra two people on stage making a total of 8, though.
Haha great job! I completely fell for the 8 performers on stage and got very excited. The Sweden big 6 gave it away. Also, it would be very cruel, but the Disappointment Cam would make great TV.
The Disappoinment Cam hosted by John Lundvik that would have been awesome. Remember his face when he came in 6/5 and lost to Duncan Lawrence?? Priceless!
Haha April Fools!
Well. As a Dane i would never watch Eurovision again if Sweden became a part of a Big Six. The Big Five itself is a disgrace, one of those always end up last in the contest. Abolish it. Maybe that could make Turkey return.
Forget about it. Turkey won’t return just because they abolish the Big 5, the main reason why they’re away is simply because Erdogan and his entourage hates the contest and all it stands for. Don’t except them to return as long as he’s in power.
Eurovision would not happen if it were not for the Big 5’s financing. So what do you want to do with this info?
The other big 5 pay a lot of money. Granted, it first mean much and does not take them far in the final!
I hope this is an Aprla fools joke, if not the big sex and the Swedish meatballs is will be my favourite thing about Eurovision
I hope the point with 8 performers isn‘t an april fool
Good job! Nice april fool!
Nice april’s fool joke Robyn…though the thought of sweden being a big 6 id terrifying.
I literally fell for this lol. It was only when I went to the comments section that I realised it was April fools.
Damn, you got me. I was getting excited for Sweden making the big 6. Good one. ?
Will Sweden automatically qualify for the Grand FInal Super Final? 😉
You got me until Sweden becoming a part of The Big Sex xD
i knew robyn would be in charge of this article! the adult eurovision logo made that with one app the twitter gays use made me SCREAM
Helleo where is this show coming from and can you get tickets for it for the show thankyou
I’m here for a Superfinal
You got me at first. But when I read that Sweden will become a member of the Big 6 I realized this is a joke. Good one 😀
These changes are….well…..BIG to say the least. Though the change of Semi-final sequence and announcing who hasn’t made the final is a bit harsh and unfair and I’m not sure if I like the idea of a superfinal in Eurovision.
And the obligation to perform in a national language. I won’t happen because it is again a Swede who is the big boss!
Happy April 1st y’all.
Awwww some of these are actually very good ideas, wouldn’t mind it had the article been real 🙂 happy Aprils fools!
”The semi-final qualification sequence will tell us who HASN’T qualified”
I know it’s a lie but that would be fun!
Also instead of Sweden being added to the big five, I would love if Ireland were. Maybe we’d try herder then if we knew we were already qualified. It could be whoever has the most wins, so when Sweden win next they could also automatically qualify.
Yum
Love that they mentioned my dear kerli koiv
Happy 1st April?
Happy April Fools! One rule change I am completely in favour of however is increasing the number of performers allowed on stage to 8, I hope Martin Österdahl also considers jury reformation(doubling number of members) and sets a time limit for not overrunning the grand final by at least 3h30min long, the interval period is becoming too damn long recently.
Happy April Fools people!!! Hahahaha
The eight people-rule sounded believable, but the meatballs and sex thing got me laughing out loud xD
The 8 people got me! Then when I read Sweden would be added, I knew it was a joke… Well done!
Congratulation Robyn on the article and for making us smile during these difficult times!! Love from Spain
I know this is all a joke, but still, who on NRK (the clip is on their channel) thought it was a good idea to film Anna Bergendahl like that, put it on YouTube and leave it there for 10 years?
“…they will trade shipments of Swedish meatballs in exchange for membership.”
This was the point when I remembered today’s date….
When I read the Big 6 and Sweden I laughed and I understand that is April Fools Day
The annual Wiwibloggs April Fools article. Love it. I’m all for Adult Eurovision BTW
If you had stopped at the big 6 I would have bought it. When you mentioned meat balls then it all fell apart. Still a very funny piece.
It started so well and actually good with the 8 persons thing . Then it went bananas. No way Sweden would ever be big 6:)
But nice try!