It's back.
The judges (now four of them), the contestants (even the bad ones), and the screaming tweens are all accounted for. Ladies and gentleman, this is "American Idol."
Season eight of the pop culture phenomenon has reinvented itself with a whole slew of new twists and turns. So to get you prepared for tonight's 8 p.m. premiere on Fox, we'll run down the ins and outs of the hit show. Here's what you can count on this season:
I WANT A NEW JUDGE
Welcome to "Idol," Kara DioGuardi. The 38-year-old singer/songwriter is the yin to Paula Abdul's sometimes whiny yang. "I hope people find I bring something to the show that's different, and I can help these contestants learn something, whether they win or not," DioGuardi recently told the Associated Press. That's great for contestants but how will the addition affect the judges panel? DioGuardi says not to look for any dramatic clashes between herself and her former roommate and songwriting partner, Abdul. But don't hold her to that because I would bet that sooner rather than later we will see a ...
BATTLE OF THE JUDGES
OK, guys we have four judges. Gone is the one-vote-breaks-the-tie rule. Ties now exist on "American Idol." (Remember that, Donovan McNabb.) So what happens in the event of said tie? It goes to the man in charge, Simon Cowell. That's right, the eye-rolling Brit has the power to lift up a contestant or knock them back down in the event that voting ends all knotted up. So how will this sit with the judges who voted on the opposite side of Cowell's final answer? My guess is we'll find out pretty early.
CHARITY, SCHMARITY
"Idol Gives Back," the yearly telethon for worldwide hunger, is gone this year. Apparently, everyone has been fed.
'IDOL' GOES BIG
For the last seven years, "Idol" has featured 24 semifinalists in the Hollywood round before settling on 12 finalists. Well, they are sticking with 12 finalists, but this year "Idol" shoots up to 36 semifinalists and an extra round as well.A KINDER, GENTLER 'IDOL'
After November's tragedy where Paula Goodspeed, an obsessed Abdul fan and former audition-reject star, killed herself outside the home of the "Idol" judge, look for the beloved reject shows to tone it down a bit. Gone will be the fat jokes, the heart wrenching insults and calling people "bush babies." There will still be rejects to be sure but look for more actually good singers to get air time this year.
'AMERICAN IDOL': THE AT-HOME GAME
OK, this is not endorsed by the show, but if you want to add a little fun this season, create your own play at home version. How? Well, I think that either "Idol" bingo or an "Idol" drinking game (depending on your demographic) is a perfect fit. Here's how to get started. Take a square piece of cardboard and draw some bingo boxes on it. Fill those boxes in with phrases like "Dawg," "Bloody Awful" and "Pitchy." Then mix it up bit. One box can say "Paula claps while keeping her hands flat" or "Simon rolls his eyes." What about that free spot in the middle? In that box, put "Randy wears a weird outfit." That's a no-brainer.
haha i can just predict how this will go down. at first, kara will recieve All good publicity. she will be "the new star". if idols ratings go up- and they probably will- it will be "all thanks to her, their savior". (yeah right) the media will hype her up. and then... when she is "up"- thats when they will start to tear her down