Adam Levine & Cee Lo Green to Join NBC's 'Idol' Rival, The Voice

Mark Burnett and NBC pulled it off: Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine have signed to join the singing competition series The Voice.

The pop star duo will give NBC a chance to steal some thunder from Fox’s American Idol when the new series debuts this April. “I am so happy that Adam Levine and Cee Lo Green have joined the coach panel for The Voice,” executive producer Mark Burnett tells Entertainment Weekly. “Aside from being incredible voices, they bring years of experience in the music industry and a really cool vibe that has never been seen before on a music competition series.”

“We want The Voice to be a search by relevant artists for relevant artists,” added NBC’s Executive VP of Alternative Programming Paul Telegdy. “Every person who sits on our panel can do what it is that they’re judging.”

NBC has also set a premiere date for the show: Tuesday, April 26th at 9:00 pm (ET), in a two-hour debut. The show will shift to its regular time period on May 10th at 8:00 pm (ET).

Entertainment Weekly first reported that the singers were in negotiations for the gig last week. There’s still two seats left to fill, and that judge/coach may be the most intriguing of all: Christina Aguilera remains in talks to join the show.

Telegdy says he was impressed with Levine after seeing the Maroon 5 singer visit Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. “His voice and versatility was incredible, and he had a great sense of humor and interplay with Jimmy,” Telegdy says.

“I was absolutely thrilled to be invited by Mark Burnett to join The Voice as a coach,” said Adam Levine in a statement. “I look forward to working with these singers and helping them push forward throughout the competition to make their musical dreams become a reality.”

Cee Lo has been an impressive media presence in recent months, with Telegdy citing the artist’s “willingness and braveness to do so many things, and his DNA at moment includes all sorts of people who are relevant to the music industry.”

“It’s an honor for me to be able to help mold a malleable and new talent in such a fashion as The Voice,” said Cee Lo Green in a statement. “Being a coach on The Voice is a substantial responsibility, and I take it with sincerity and distinction.”

NBC’s overall goal with The Voice is to sign big-name performers who are also popular music fans and a bit more youthful than, say, Steven Tyler. “Not to diminish other people on other shows, but it’s a different job to break through the clutter now than it was 10, 15, 20 years ago,” Telegdy says.

While taking a break from his work on Gnarls Barkley, Cee Lo has been on a star-making run with his hit single “F**k You” and his Grammy performance with Gwyneth Paltrow (during which he was dressed, appropriately enough for a man judging a show on NBC, as a peacock). Meanwhile, the L.A.-based band Maroon 5 released their most recent album last fall and played Fox’s Super Bowl pre-game earlier this month.

The Voice is based on a Dutch hit in which contestants audition while judges face the other direction, unable to see the contestants. The judges make their verdicts based on the singer’s vocal talent alone rather than being influenced by the contestant’s physical appearance. After the audition rounds, the judges will coach the contestants. The Voice will debut sometime this spring.

American Idol Top 24 Announced

"Will Jennifer find the strength to go on?" Ryan Seacrest asked at the start of Thursday's two-hour American Idol.

Wednesday night, you'll recall, ended with a sobbing Jennifer Lopez listing to the side, like a leaking ship sinking into a sea of tears, giving bad news to Chris Medina.

Within two minutes, Ryan answered as we expected he would: "Jennifer knows the show must go on."
Not only that, she looked fabulous. The hair! The luster!

And off we went as the judges rounded out the top 24 roster, 12 guys and 12 girls, teasing (or more likely torturing) each singer with feints and sighs before finally delivering a verdict.

"You're mean," said Laina Alaina, who looked as if she were about to drop dead before getting good news.

Here are some of the dramatic highlights of the episode:

Goodbye to Jacee: The one big twist came at the end of the night, when poor little Jacee Badeaux – I guess there's really no need to describe him that way – was sent home, along with Colton Dixon. The last male spot went to the very nice, very talented Brett Loewenstern. He also happened to be the most deserving, but ruling against Jacee somehow feels like ruling against a puppy, or baseball cards in the spokes of a shiny new bike, or the American flag.

Country showdown: Scotty McCreery, who sang a great, old-fashioned cover of "Long Black Train" for the judges, made it through. They loved his classic country voice, of course, but also his decency – he's still apologizing for not sticking up for Jacee in the group round. But John Wayne Schulz and his big black hat hit the trail. Not too surprising, considering how he's barely been on camera since his audition. You had to keep an eye out for him from week to week.

Worst birthday ever: The last female spot came down to Thia Megia, who so far seems pretty much perfect, and Jessica Cunningham, who's auditioned seven times before. And Jessica was rejected once again – on her 25th birthday, unfortunately. She (jokingly?) made a rude gesture to the cameras. But she could have meant it and you wouldn't have blamed her.

Mr. Sunshine: Given good news, Jacob Lusk, the nightingale with the lungs of steel, stood up and let whoop with a high note, then hopped, danced, ran and whooped some more. He must have been especially stoked that Randy Jackson called his Hollywood-week version of "God Bless the Child," the "single best performance ever on Idol." If he actually wins, he'll spontaneously combust.

In general, the night's other winners were the obvious ones, and included Stefano Langone, James Durbin ("I don't think you'll ever be selling pizza," Steven Tyler told him.), Jordan Dorsey, Julie Zorrilla, Lauren Turner, and Casey Abrams ("I don't think we've ever seen a musician as talented as yourself," Randy said. "It's like three people in one"), who was so excited he accidentally knocked his chair off the stage. Also vying for your votes: Tim Halperin, Tatynisa Wilson, Robbie Rosen, Rachel Zevita, Pia Toscano, Paul McDonald, Naima Adedapo, Kendra Chantelle, Karen Rodriguez, Jovany Barreto, Haley Reinhart, Clint Jun Gamboa and Ashthon Jones.

American Idol Adding Online Voting Via Facebook

Will you accept American Idol‘s friend request?

The Fox hit will soon announce that it’s adding online voting for the first time.

Here are the details: Users will be able to use their Facebook accounts to reach a dedicated Idol voting page that will include all the current contestants. Each fan will be able to vote 50 times during a telecast’s voting period. Viewers will still be able to vote via text messaging and toll-free phone calls as well.

The Idol plans have been in the works for awhile, though Fox hasn’t commented. Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe leaked plans to introduce a form of online voting earlier this week, followed by somebody leaking plans to introduce Facebook voting for next fall’s The X Factor.
Idol creator Simon Fuller has been pushing for the show to embrace online voting as part of its widespread overhaul of season 10. With Idol still dominating in the ratings and viewers embracing Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez as judges, the industry consensus seems to be that the show has managed to pull off something that many thought impossible — soldiering on successfully in the wake of Cowell’s departure.

This latest change, online voting, is expected to go into effect during the performance show on Tuesday, March 1th.

Jennifer Lopez's forthcoming album 'Love?': Producer RedOne spills on the sound

American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez’s long-gestating album Love? is currently slated for a March 29th release, and one single, the Pitbull-infused, “Lambada”-riffing “On the Floor” has already hit radio (although not the Billboard charts in the U.S….yet).

So we’ve gotten a taste of what’s possibly to come, but what’s up with the rest of the forthcoming album? Lopez is reportedly using music that she recorded for the album back when it was in the works at Sony and songs that she’s newly recorded with producers Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, and RedOne.

Which is interesting considering RedOne came down the red carpet at Sunday evening’s 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, where he spilled some details about what to expect when Love? drops next month. “I did about half of the album and I am one of the executive producers with LA Reid,” Red One told Entertainment Weekly. “The first song, ‘On The Floor,’ is already blowing up and the rest is even better. Lots of dance songs.”

The sound, as you might guess, nods to Lopez’s roots — but it’s more than that. “A little bit of the Latin flavor is infused in it,” RedOne explains, “but I would describe it more as a global sound. It is all about love and covers all emotional sides of Jennifer. She is in a good place.”

How does Lopez’s role as a new judge on American Idol fit into her new musical iteration? “Most of the album was done before she started Idol so I don’t think that will influence her sound, but I think it has probably been a great experience for her to be reminded what it is like to just be starting out and to be excited when everything is new,” RedOne offered. “She is an icon because she had a dream and a passion and then she worked really hard to attain it. But I think she was the perfect choice for a new judge. She knows what it takes to make it.”

David Cook: New Album, New Confidence

His gritty rock voice is what helped David Cook, 28, win season seven of American Idol.

But when working on his latest, as yet untitled studio album, he learned to use that voice in a whole new way.

As usual, Cook collaborated with an array of music industry veterans, from Kelly Clarkson songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk to OneRebublic vocalist Ryan Tedder. But in contrast to the "anxiety" he felt making his platinum-selling, self-titled, post-Idol album, the Missouri-bred singer told AOL's Popeater: "Sitting in the room with these people, I still managed to find my voice … really speaking up for myself and making sure that what was happening was going to come across as me and not, 'Here's David Cook singing somebody else's songs.' "

In a behind-the-scenes video shot at Emblem studios in Calabasas, California, Cook comes across as self-assured, but not cocky: "I'm very confident in my own ability to write music, but I think anytime you can bounce ideas off of other people – you know, two heads are better than one."

Jennifer Lopez & Steven Tyler a Hit on Idol

Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler's debut as American Idol judges has proved a hit with the critics.

Season 10 of the TV talent show got underway on Wednesday night with Tyler and Lopez replacing Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell on the hit show - and the two superstars wowed contestants and TV critics with their enthusiastic response to wannabes at auditions in New Jersey, which were taped last year.

The Los Angeles Times' Mary McNamara writes, "Moments into Wednesday night’s season premiere, it was gratifyingly clear that for the first time in a long time the fumblings and flailings of contestants fighting to find their feet on stage will not be mirrored by the judges' table.

"Not only are they great to look at, Lopez and Tyler are long-time stars who have nothing to gain, or lose, by being part of American Idol."

She adds, "Their natural confidence in front of the camera was such a blessed relief that it was hard to miss even the bracing ballistics of Simon Cowell."

New York Post critic Linda Stasi agreed, calling the duo's "instant chemistry" with existing judge Randy Jackson "so right, they couldn’t have created it in a lab".

She continues, "Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are not and will never be Paula (Abdul, another former judge) and Simon. They didn’t do the brother/sister love/hate thing - and didn’t try to. And that was great. They did something completely different. They were themselves - two superstars fully engaged and absorbed. And not with themselves, but with the contestants. Perfect."

However, the show lost a few viewers - the premiere opened to the lowest ratings since season one.

New Judge Jennifer Lopez Feels 'Anxious' Before American Idol Eliminations

Jennifer Lopez is finding out just how hard it is to be an American Idol judge.

"I get very involved and attached to the kids, in the sense of their trajectory and watching them," Lopez, 41, said after Idol's Tuesday's Television Critics Association's press panel, in anticipation of having to eliminate 50 percent of the contestants during a taping later in the day.

"I feel really anxious about cutting half the kids today, I really do," the pop star added. "I'm really not looking forward to it. You want to pick the right ones and you want to see who's really going to make a great show, and at the same time, be great artists. But I feel like we have so many good ones that we're going to lose some good ones today. And that's what bothers me."

And like a lot people starting a new job, Lopez says she has work on her mind even when she's not at the "office." "I realize that when we went away before we did Hollywood Week, I was thinking about the kids so much before we went back for the [Las Vegas round]," Lopez said. "I was just like, 'Oh, my God, I hope that so-and-so does good, and I wish this one would just let go a little more ... ' You just get involved ... You hope that they do great."

But Lopez says her soft-heartedness doesn't mean she's already filling the shoes of former judges Paula Abdul and Ellen DeGeneres, who were both known for being encouraging and sympathetic to the show's singers.

"I can't really say I would be like any one judge," Lopez said. "I think that I have a combination of qualities that make me who I am and gives me a specific style of how I deal with the kids and how I dish out the truth – and also dish out the comfort. That's just part of who I am."

American Idol's 10th season premieres next Wednesday at 8:00 pm (ET) on FOX.

Ryan Seacrest and Jennifer Lopez: American Idol Will Be an 'All New Show'

For American Idol veterans Ryan Seacrest and Randy Jackson, season 10 isn't the same without former judge Simon Cowell.

"There are less clouds of smoke," Seacrest tells Entertainment Weekly in a new cover story about the show. "We start earlier. There's less – what is that English dish he always ordered for lunch? Shepherd's pie? He loves shepherd's pie."

"No, it's the blood pudding," Jackson jokes, then adds, "we definitely miss [Cowell], but it's a different kind of vibe. It's a different energy now."

"It's going to be an all new show," Seacrest says.

Jennifer Lopez explains: "We're more of a collaborative judging group. We're always leaning over to each other and saying, 'Oh my God, I think she's good.' 'Or, I don't get it.' 'You don't like it?' " she tells the magazine. "We just have a totally different style than any of the past judging tables."

In addition to Cowell, new judges Lopez and Steven Tyler are filling the shoes of Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres, who both bowed out of the Fox show over the summer, signaling a nearly complete makeover of the panel.

"It's not about replacing [Cowell] or any of the others," Jackson says. "People have been saying to us, 'Who's mean?' We've traded off on that because I think you have to always give people the truth, no matter what."

When Idol's season 10 premieres January 19th, it's not just the judges' fans who will be watching. Tyler wants everyone to know the contestants this year are "just astounding."

"We throw the drift net out and look what comes up?" Tyler says. "Gold."

Big Changes Await American Idol in Season 10

From the new judges to the new set, the new bandleader to the music itself, American Idol is getting some serious work done for its tenth season. “We’re going ahead with a whole fresh change,” Idol executive producer Ken Warwick said to Entertainment Weekly exclusively, “simply because we never thought in our wildest dreams that any show would last ten years on American television.”

Contrary to recent web reports, however, the show will definitely not be introducing a new music video challenge. The idea had been floated as a possibility at one point, but exec producer Cécile Frot-Coutaz tells Entertainment Weekly that while contestants are already experiencing new challenges this season, “We’re certainly not going to do the music videos.” And exec. producer Nigel Lythgoe laughs off the idea that a country singer won’t be asked to do an R&B song. “If you do Motown, then I’m not sure [how] you’re going to sing an R&B song and give it your country flavor,” he said. “You can’t suddenly go [in a painful country twang] ‘Staaaaap! In the naaeeemeee of loooaahve’ — so it’s not going to be like that. They’ve got to be clever with it.”

A source close to the show also said to Entertainment Weekly that contestants will be limited to cover songs when singing for votes, and it is unlikely that voting will move online this season. And the source is quite firm that there was never a plan to bring Idol all stars back on the show in anything other than a performance capacity.

So what big changes are afoot this season on Idol?

One sudden death Top 20 round. Instead of a three-week top 24 round in which America votes, 60 contestants were flown to Las Vegas to sing Beatles songs on the same stage at the Las Vegas Mirage that Cirque du Soleil performs LOVE. “I think a few [contestants] knew ‘Hello Goodbye’ because it was used on a Target commercial,” chuckles Lythgoe, “which is frightening.” But that round only knocked the talent pool down to 40 wannabes. Yet another round in Hollywood will narrow the contestants down to 20 singers, and only then will America vote in a single sudden death round that will select the Idol finalists from among two groups of ten.

A Top 12…or a top 10. While some reports speculate the final group could be as high as 15 contestants, the Idol producers told Entertainment Weekly the finalists will either be a top 12 or a top 10. “It’s one of those situations where we’ll see what the talent’s like,” says Warwick. “We’ll see what cross-section of kids we end up with in that final elimination round. It will be up to the talent that’s there as to whether we go with 10 or 12.”

No gender parity. Say goodbye to Idol‘s often rigid practice of maintaining the same number of female and male contestants in their final group. Explains Warwick: “If I’ve got six fantastic boys and four average girls, I’m certainly not going to throw out a fantastic boy to put in another average girl, or vice versa.”

American Idol returns to FOX two weeks from tonight on January 19th.

For more on all the changes in Idol Land — and Entertainment Weekly’s exclusive roundtable interview with host Ryan Seacrest and judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Steven Tyler — check out this week’s issue of Entertainment Weekly, on stands this Thursday and Friday.

American Idol May Allow Contestants to Tweet

We always know what the judges think, but next season on American Idol the contestants may also be allowed to speak out during the competition for the first time.

Among the changes being considered for season 10 is a lift on the social-networking ban that has silenced competitors once they leave the stage.

"Contestants may be allowed to Tweet throughout the show," a source has stated. "But there are still logistics to be worked out."

Another change: Unlike last season, the top 12 contestants will be living together in a house in Hollywood. The move is a fresh idea for the next batch of hopefuls, although Idol has done it sporadically in previous years.

What's uncertain, the source says, "is whether they'll film any of it."

The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the changes, and claims they're being made as part of a new "transparency" production theme – the idea being to give fans a peek behind the scenes.

FOX declined to comment on the reports, as did a rep for executive producer Nigel Lythgoe.

Midseason TV Premieres: When to Look for Paula Abdul, Matthew Perry, & the New Idol Judges

Now that we don’t have Outlaw, My Generation, or The Whole Truth to pick on anymore, there is a whole new batch of shows that are about to battle for your attention on the broadcast networks.

Will ABC’s new comedy starring Matthew Perry attract more viewers than Courteney Cox was luring with Cougar Town? Will David E. Kelley bring his A-game to Harry’s Law on NBC? Will the new judges — and new timeslot — boost ratings for American Idol?

Here are the start dates for new and returning shows on the Big Four. (The CW has yet to announce any changes to its midseason lineup.)

Jan. 3
The Bachelor (season premiere, ABC)

Jan. 4
V (season premiere, ABC)
Live to Dance (series premiere, CBS)
The Biggest Loser: Couples (season premiere, NBC)

Jan. 6
Wipeout (season premiere, ABC)

Jan. 9
The Cape (series premiere, NBC)
Bob’s Burgers (series premiere, Fox)

Jan. 12
Off the Map (series premiere, ABC)

Jan. 17
Harry’s Law (series premiere, NBC)

Jan. 19
American Idol (season premiere, Fox)

Jan. 20
Parks and Recreation (season premiere, NBC)
Perfect Couples (series premiere, NBC)

Feb. 7
The Chicago Code (series premiere, Fox)

Feb. 8
Mixed Signals (series premiere, Fox)

Feb. 9
Mr. Sunshine (series premiere, ABC)

Feb. 16
Survivor (season premiere, CBS)

Feb. 28
The Event (show returns from hiatus, NBC)

March 6
Celebrity Apprentice (season premiere, NBC)

March 16
The Marriage Ref (season premiere, NBC)
America’s Next Great Restaurant (series premiere, NBC)

March 29
Body of Proof (series premiere, ABC)

April 6
Breaking In (series premiere, Fox)

April 12
Happy Endings (series premiere, ABC)

Descriptions for new shows:

The Chicago Code (formerly Ride-Along) is a new police drama from creator Shawn Ryan that stars Jason Clark (Brotherhood) and Jennifer Beals (Lie to Me).

Bob’s Burgers is a new animated comedy about a man, his family, and a burger joint.

Mixed Signals is a relationship comedy that stars David Denman (The Office), Nelson Franklin (I Love You, Man), and Kris Marshall (Human Target).

Breaking In (working title) is a workplace comedy based at a high-tech security firm.

Mr. Sunshine stars Matthew Perry as a self-absorbed manager of a San Diego sports arena.

Happy Endings features Elisha Cuthbert (24) as a gal who breaks up with her fiancée (Zach Knighton of FlashForward) on their wedding day.

Body of Proof stars Dana Delany as a neurosurgeon who’s forced to make a career change after a car accident prevents her from running to the emergency room.

Harry’s Law is a new legal drama starring Kathy Bates.

America’s Next Great Restaurant is an elimination competition in which the winner will earn his or her own restaurant chain.

The Cape is about a wrongly accused cop who dons a cape and mask to fight corruption.

Perfect Couples has been described as depicting “the misadventures of three engaging couples as they struggle to find out what makes the ideal relationship — and how to maintain it through humorous trial-and-error.”

Live to Dance is Paula Abdul’s new competition show that awards $500,000 to the top hoofer.

American Idol: Catching Up With All 9 Winners

A new season of "American Idol" begins in January, but FOX is giving fans a a chance to check in with the nine people whose lives they changed forever when they voted them the winner of the hit show.

The videos feature the family and loved ones of each winner in their hometowns. Here is the full list of winners: Season 1 - Kelly Clarkson, Season 2 - Ruben Studdard, Season 3 - Fantasia Barrino, Season 4 - Carrie Underwood, Season 5 - Taylor Hicks, Season 6 - Jordin Sparks, Season 7 - David Cook, Season 8 - Kris Allen and Season 9 - Lee DeWyze.

Some of the highlights from the "Welcome Home" videos? Carrie Underwood's town (Checotah, OK) pulled a "Mean Girls" and wore shirts with her name on it every Tuesday. In Jordin Sparks' we get to go behind-the-scenes of her Broadway play "In The Heights" and we learn that David Cook's sister and one of her friend swere the only people who used to go to his shows in Blue Springs, MO.

Below is the video of Kelly Clarkson's hometown (Burleson, TX) return, where the town's slogan for her was "Small Town, Big Star." To see the rest of the winners' videos visit this website.

American Idol Shifts to Wednesday & Thursday Schedule for Season 10

The changes just keep coming for "American Idol."

FOX's top-rated series, which has aired on Tuesday and Wednesday nights for most of its life, will switch to Wednesdays and Thursdays this season. The move also means a number of other shakeups in the network's midseason schedule.

The "Idol" move will give "Human Target" and "Bones" new timeslots on Wednesday and Thursday nights, push "Fringe" into the dead zone of Fridays and, FOX hopes, serve as a launching pad for its new comedy "Breaking In" later in the spring. It's also an acknowledgment that "Glee" is doing well enough on its own on Tuesday nights that it no longer needs "Idol's" help in the ratings.

"Fringe" is probably the biggest loser in the shakeup. The show finishes fourth in its current Thursday timeslot, averaging around 5 million viewers per week. It gets one of the biggest bumps, percentage-wise, of any show on TV when DVR viewing is factored in, but it's likely to lose some audience at least in the overnight ratings with the move to Fridays. It will be paired with "Kitchen Nightmares."

"Bones," meanwhile, is likely to get a bit of a bump when it moves to 9:00 pm Thursdays behind "Idol." "Human Target" may as well, but it won't have much time to show itself. The network is running back-to-back episodes on January 5th and 12th, and after "Idol's" two-hour January premiere on January 19th, "Human Target" will have only three weeks with an "Idol" lead-in before going off the schedule again.

The new shows in FOX's midseason lineup are a pair of live-action comedies, "Mixed Signals" (which premieres at 9:30 pm Tuesday, February 8th) and "Breaking In" (9:30 pm Wednesday, April 6th), animated comedy "Bob's Burgers" (8:30 pm Sunday, January 9th) and crime drama "The Chicago Code" (9:00 pm Monday, Febuary 7th).

The schedule shift for "Idol" is the latest in a series of big changes for Season 10. The show has two new judges (Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler) and is tweaking its format by, among other things, skipping the Top 24 stage and going straight to a Top 12.

Here's how FOX's midseason schedule will shake out (no changes to Saturday nights):

Mondays
8:00 pm "House"
9:00 pm "Lie to Me" (through January 31st) / "The Chicago Code" (premieres February 7th)

Tuesdays
8:00 pm "Glee"
9:00 pm "Million Dollar Money Drop" (January 4th - February 1st) / "Raising Hope," "Mixed Signals" (starting February 8th)

Wednesdays
January 5th and 12th
8:00 pm "Human Target" (back-to-back episodes)

January 19th
8:00 pm "American Idol" (two-hour season premiere)

January 26th - February 9th
8:00 pm "American Idol"
9:00 pm "Human Target" (new timeslot)

February 16th - March 30th
8:00 pm "American Idol" (two-hour episodes)

Starting April 6
8:00 pm "American Idol"
9:30 pm "Breaking In"

Thursdays
8:00 pm "Million Dollar Money Drop" (January 6th and 13th) / "American Idol" (starting on January 20th)
9:00 pm "Bones" (new timeslot starting January 6th)

Fridays
8:00 pm "Kitchen Nightmares" (premieres January 21st)
9:00 pm "Fringe" (new timeslot starting January 28th)

Sundays
7:00 pm "The Simpsons"
7:30 pm "American Dad"
8:00 pm "The Simpsons"
8:30 pm "Bob's Burgers" (premieres January 9th)
9:00 pm "Family Guy"
9:30 pm "The Cleveland Show" (new timeslot)

American Idol Changes: No More Top 24 Contestants

Winning American Idol just got tougher.

According to the show's executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, the competition will be whittled down to the top 12 contestants – and skip having the top 24.

"I didn't think [the top 24] were very good," Lythgoe tells TV Guide of previous seasons. "I was bored with them by the time they got there."

He's also creating more difficult challenges for the contestants, including having them make music videos, promote themselves, and work on awards show-style performances.

The upcoming season with all of its new requirements will coincide with the level of seriousness that comes along with the new judges.

"They both listen intently and don't make glib remarks," Lythgoe says of Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. "They give honest critiques."

As for the last original member of the A.I. pack, Randy Jackson has apparently taken on a strong Simon Cowell-esque sense of command.

"Randy is pulling his weight," Lythgoe says. "He really has stepped up. He's essentially come out of himself. He's enjoying being in that position."

Adam Lambert to Release EP 'Acoustic Live'

Adam Lambert announced Tuesday that he will release the five-track Acoustic Live! EP this December 6; shoes, shirt, and glove finger-parts optional. (The disc will be digital, with limited-edition physical copies available at www.adamofficial.com.)

Fans who preorder the album will receive an unplugged versions of “Whataya Want From Me” immediately, as well as a lithograph poster of the cover art.

The album itself will feature acoustic versions of songs from his For Your Entertainment, including “Whataya Want From Me” and “Music Again,” (recorded in Germany) and “Aftermath” and “Soaked” (from the Glam Nation tour), as well as the Gary-Jules-via-Tears-for-Fears cover “Mad World,” from his early Idol days.

What's in Store for New American Idol Contestants?

As American Idol prepares to reinvent itself with new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler – as well as its youngest crop of aspiring pop stars to date – returning executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is feeling a little bit country.

"It's about the talent, it's about the kids," Lythgoe said at the BAFTA/LA's Brittania Awards. "We're seeing quite a lot of country singers, a lot of young talent because we've opened it up to 15-year-olds now."

He added that Lopez, Tyler and returning judge Randy Jackson have already quickly found their own voices when evaluating the aspiring Idols.

"Randy has become very, very positive," said Lythgoe. "Jennifer actually critiques what's in front of her. She doesn't just throw out glib remarks. She listens, she weighs it up and then she says how she feels. Then I think with Steven, who doesn't have a bad bone in his body, finds it very difficult to say 'you suck' to anybody."

Luckily the new judging team found a harmonious balance right out of the gate during auditions. "There isn't a learning curve per say, because Jennifer has watched the show since its inception, so she knows it backwards. With Steven, he's just giving his opinion. So they're not playing roles here, they're not playing parts. They're being themselves and giving their opinions. So it's really very simple to do, as long as you remain honest."

And he hopes the contestants remain instrument free . . . mostly. "People sort of lost a little bit behind instruments. I see no reason why we won't use guitars and pianos at least once or twice across the season, but I don't just want them everyday behind the bloody guitar," he said.

Lythgoe also suggested that celebrity guest judges and large-scale tribute shows may be a thing of the past. "I'm not sure I'm going to use any guest judges, to be frank," he said. "We've got an entire record company behind it now with Interscope. We've got Jimmy Iovine and all of his producers . . . You've got real professionals here. I don't know why I need anyone else. They'll just get in the way."

The revamped American Idol returns to FOX in January 2011.

Kara DioGuardi to Judge New Song-Writing Show

Less than two months after exiting American Idol, Kara DioGuardi is heading back to television as the head judge on Going Platinum, a new song-writing competition on Bravo, the network confirms.

"Hit songs are the backbone of the music industry, and as a publisher, nothing excites me more than finding new songwriting talent," DioGuardi says. "I am happy to be a part of a show that helps up and coming songwriters pursue their dreams, while giving the public a look into the creative process."

Jewel will host the show and help judge the competition, along with a music executive and celebrity guests. Going Platinum starts taping this month and will premiere in 2011.

The show will follow 12 musicians as they write music and lyrics for different genres, from hip-hop to love songs to dance tracks. The winner will receive a $100,000 prize, as well as music-publishing and recording deals.

A source familiar with the show says it's a good fit for DioGuardi because "at heart, she's a songwriter. Idol was performance-driven. This isn't just about finding the next big singer – it's about finding a hit maker, and she loves to nurture talent."

Lee DeWyze Reveals Album & Single Details

American Idol winner Lee DeWyze has begun announcing the details of his next move in music.

The season 9 champ, 24, will release a debut album titled "Live It Up" on November 16th through 19/RCA. The album will be preceded by a single of the same name, which Ryan Seacrest will premiere on his radio show next Wednesday, October 13th.

A press release from DeWyze’s label says he’s working with songwriters and producers like Toby Gad (Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy,” Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry”), John Shanks (Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway”), and Espionage (Chris Brown’s “With You,” Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister”).

A new season of the revamped American Idol will premiere on January 2011.

Jennifer Lopez Putting American Idol Hopefuls 'Through the Wringer'

For American Idol newcomer Jennifer Lopez, the perfect pick-me-up during her first full day of judging was a fresh batch of eager contestants.

"It was a long day, but it wasn't tiring," Lopez, 41, said of her first day on the job in Jersey City, New Jersey. "I was energized by all of [the contestants'] spirits when they came in here – so hopeful about what could happen and how it could be. And it's exciting."

As the first round of auditions kicked off on Tuesday, the singer-dancer-actress is embracing her new role, describing her style as a mix between "tough, easy and fair."

And she's not letting anyone off the hook.

"I really want to put them through the wringer in the sense that I don't want to let anybody who's really great go ... because they're nervous or whatever and not get to see what they could've been," she said. "We worked with them a little more than maybe you’ve seen in the past. We give them more of a chance.”

Steven Tyler, the other panel newcomer, had advice for future Idol hopefuls: "Don't get mad at what we say – get better."

Veteran judge Randy Jackson also had some words of wisdom about rocking an interesting look: "Whatever you do, make it hot."

And with the show returning to Fox in January, host Ryan Seacrest was psyched about the three different styles the judges bring to the table.

"The chemistry is fantastic between these three," he said. "You know, they're having a good time."

Jennifer Lopez Keeps Her Ex, Ojani Noa, from Auditioning for American Idol

Jennifer Lopez's first husband Ojani Noa had planned to wait in line and serenade his former wife with one of her own songs when American Idol auditions opened in California last week.

However, J.Lo -- who was unveiled as a new member of the judging panel along with Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler -- told the show’s producers that the whole ordeal would make her uncomfortable. And ultimately, bosses told him he'd be arrested if he went through with his plans.

A friend of Ojani told RadarOnline.com: “Jennifer got Fox to make sure the screeners would not let Ojani anywhere near the auditions. Fox made it clear that he was not welcome and that he could be arrested if he showed up, so he backed-out at the last minute. It was a shame because all he wanted to do was to showcase his voice and show people that he can really sing too.”

Ojani Noa, 36, married Jennifer in 1997 after meeting her while working as a waiter. Their marriage lasted less than a year and they initially parted on good terms, but the pair have fallen out in recent years, after Jennifer hired and subsequently fired Ojani as head chef of her now closed Latin restaurant Madre's in 2002.

He has since been banned from publishing a tell-all book he wrote about the 41-year-old star by one court, and last year a judge ruled he was also not allowed to commercially release footage from the couple's honeymoon.

The source added: “Whenever Ojani tries to do something Jennifer just tries to block it any way that she can -- nobody really knows what she’s so paranoid about.”

Since divorcing Ojani, Jennifer dated rapper P. Diddy, married and divorced dancer Cris Judd, got engaged to actor Ben Affleck and finally settled down and married singer Marc Anthony, with whom she has two-year-old twins Max and Emme.