‘American Idol’ Returns With Two New Judges, New Time Slot
“American Idol” begins its 10th season on Fox Broadcasting Wednesday (KDFX Fox 11 in the Coachella Valley) with a two-hour episode following the most changes in its history.
Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler will be judges on television’s most-watched prime-time series for each of the past six seasons, the longest streak in the medium’s history.
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“American Idol” will air Wednesdays and Thursdays after being on Tuesdays and Wednesdays since first airing during the official television season in 2003.
Acerbic judge Simon Cowell, considered a key reason for the show’s popularity, announced in January 2010 that last season would be his final one of the series so he could become a judge and executive producer on “The X Factor,” a singing competition which will premiere on Fox Broadcasting this fall.
Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi announced in the summer that they would not be returning as judges.
Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, will join “American Idol” as an in-house mentor, shown in behind-the-scenes segments working with the contestants. Interscope Geffen A&M Records will market, promote and distribute albums from “American Idol” finalists.
Tyler said that as a judge, he wants “to give everybody a little love before I decide who goes home heartbroken.”
“If you don’t like what I say, don’t get mad, get better,” Tyler said. “I’ve been on tour for most of my life in a band with four guys who judge me every day. Sometimes it hurt, but it only made me stronger.”
Mike Darnell, Fox’s president of alternative entertainment, said “America is going to love (Lopez) on this show because she’s impossibly glamorous, yet totally relatable and she understands what these contestants will be going through as they pursue their dreams.”
