It was definitely different, I liked the idea of having their own staff members who know their programs run the show rather than people like Country Yossi and Lipa who are just paid entertainers. Although, they are professional entertainers for a reason – they are more entertaining
Without country Yossi and lipa I found it boring and eventually turned it off. I don’t plan on buying tickets next year so I don’t have to listen at all next year. A lot of people I know felt the same way i am not sure why they played with a winning formula.
I didn’t listen this year because my kids who used to listen grew out of it. I thought last year was already a different format and was disappointing. Maybe Lipa didn’t do it this year because he got tired of waking people up to tell them they won big prizes and having them not really care less. I was always amazed by the lack of enthusiasm he would receive.