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 & 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.

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.

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 & Steven Tyler Announced as New American Idol Judges

It's official!

Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler will be joining Randy Jackson at the judges' table when American Idol kicks off season 10 in January.

"I'm looking for the next Michael Jackson," Lopez said before a screaming crowd at the Los Angeles Forum after Ryan Seacrest introduced her. "We're looking for the best American Idol ever."

The announcement was made during a live press conference Wednesday. Seacrest hosted the event, telling the crowd, "We are looking for the next star in music. We usually ask, who will be the next American Idol? We never asked this question, who will be the next judges on American Idol?"

Seacrest then introduced Randy Jackson, who told the crowd, "We found some unbelievable talent and I am calling season 10 the remix, baby!"

Up next, Tyler was introduced as a "rock legend." The Aerosmith frontman said joining the Idol family feels "fabulous."

"[It] feels like the perfect feathered nest," he said. "It's being a part of something much bigger than yourself. I want to bring some rock to this roller coaster."

Lopez, who dressed in a silver pant suit, was the last to be introduced.

"I love you guys. I am so excited," she told the crowd that included Idol hopefuls, there to try out for the show. "It is about concentrating in the moment, do the best you can. Just live! Just live, it's your moment."

The announcement comes with little surprise. In weeks leading up to the decision, sources said that Jennifer Lopez signed the deal worth $12 million. And Steven Tyler himself said he would "probably" be a judge when the show returned in the winter.

American Idol Season 10 Press Conference to Stream Live Today

American Idol fans will be able to get their own window into the action when today’s long awaited announcement of the show’s latest additions to the judges table is streamed live online.

Starting at 1:00 pm (ET), Idol fans can sign onto American Idol‘s website at http://www.americanidol.com/ to watch as Ryan Seacrest unveils the new lineup, and then stick around for the first press conference ever with Season 10′s squad.

This worst kept secret in the entertainment industry has several sources stating that Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joining Randy Jackson in judging this season's talent.

It's Almost Official:American Idol to Unveil Judges for New Season

Nobody has sung a note yet on TV, and American Idol is already set to announce next season’s big winners –- for seats at the judging table.

After weeks of speculation about who would replace Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi, the show will announce the new judges September 22nd at an event hosted by Ryan Seacrest in Los Angeles.

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler previously said he will “probably” be sitting at the judges’ table, while sources have said that Jennifer Lopez sealed a $12 million deal.

Shania Twain, Harry Connick Jr., Elton John and Chris Isaak have also been rumored to be possibilities.

Kara DioGuardi is Leaving American Idol

After weeks of speculation about whether she will stay or go, Kara DioGuardi is leaving American Idol, Fox announced Friday.

DioGuardi’s move follows the departures of both longtime Idol judge Simon Cowell and new judge Ellen DeGeneres.

“I felt like I won the lottery when I joined American Idol two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave Idol,” said DioGuardi Friday. “I am very proud to have been associated with American Idol — it has truly been an amazing experience.”

The show’s creator and executive producer Simon Fuller said of DioGuardi, who is one of the music world’s most high-profile songwriters, “I will miss having her on the show, but I look forward to working with her in music for many years to come.”

Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are widely rumored to be in the running to be new judges on the show. Other celeb names that have been rumored as possibilities to fill the judges’ table include Shania Twain, Elton John, Chris Isaak and Harry Connick Jr.

Although he was mum about the makeup of the judges panel, producer Nigel Lythgoe, who is back working on American Idol, told People magazine about the next season, “We will be bringing the spotlight back onto the talent and away from the judges. I think that’s really very important, especially when you lose such a superb judge as Simon Cowell. You need to move the spotlight off him very quickly! But in truth, we’ve forgotten that it’s the talent that drives the program at the end of the day.”

American Idol Judges Update: Why No Official Announcement on Steven Tyler?

Dude may look like an American Idol judge, at least according to a number of internet reports that surfaced on Tuesday, so how come there’s been no official announcement that Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler will take a seat at the Idol judges’ table when season 10 callback auditions begin filming in mid-September?

Spokespersons at Fox, Idol, and FremantleMedia all declined comment when contacted by Entertainment Weekly, but a source with inside knowledge of the world’s most high-profile job search insists “there’s nothing to announce yet.” In fact, says the insider, Fox execs are hoping they can get the entire panel locked into place, then “make one, big splashy announcement, but they’re not quite there yet.”

So how much longer is the Idolnation expected to hold its collective breath? “If I was the betting type, I’d say there’ll be something official announced by the end of next week. But that can all change at any second,” adds an Entertainment Weekly source. “Still, what’s the rush? This is, what, the third or fourth time media outlets have ‘confirmed’ the Steven Tyler rumor? All this water-cooler buzz isn’t such a bad thing for a show that a lot of pundits would love to try to paint as finished.” Indeed, to paraphrase a classic bit of Monty Python, Idol‘s not dead yet!

One other factor delaying the final announcement about who — and how many — will fill the chairs that were occupied in season 9 by Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, and the definitively exiting duo of Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell: The fact that producers consider the chemistry among its roster of judges just as — and perhaps even more — important than individual star wattage. “We’ve seen over the last two years some really great people that have not fit together, as far as I’m concerned,” returning executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said in an interview with EW earlier this month. “Don’t forget, [when Idol first started] we introduced two people you’d never heard of — Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson. It doesn’t always need this [element of], ‘They’ve done this, they’ve done that!’”

And so while Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson have been widely rumored as the clear front-runners for a revamped, three-member panel, at the end of the day, they’re scattered pieces of a very high-profile puzzle, and all of us will have to wait and see if the hands behind the show pick ‘em up and lock ‘em into place.

What do you think of a Tyler-J.Lo-Randy panel? Share your comments below. I am interested in finding out what Idol fans think of this rumored judges panel.

Will Randy Jackson Also Leave American Idol?

It’s been a week of ups and downs for the American Idol judges. But are there more changes still in the works?

With Ellen DeGeneres leaving the show, Kara DioGuardi reportedly out, and Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler reportedly joining the judges’ table, all eyes are on the show’s lone original judge, Randy Jackson.

The question is: Will the “dawg” be back for season 10?

“He is still under contract,” a source close to Jackson told People Magazine. “He’s a little fed up and torn with everything going on, but Randy is the kind of person who goes with the flow. He loves the show.”

So despite the shake-ups, Jackson is still on board – at least for now. “He wouldn’t stay somewhere he wasn’t happy,” the source adds.

The Grammy winning producer would love to continue his run on the show, says the source, but “he has a million other projects going on. Idol is a notch on his very accomplished belt.”

Meanwhile, FOX has kept mum about next season. On Monday, at the network’s presentation for the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour, FOX entertainment chairman Peter Rice said cryptically, “No one has signed a deal yet on either side of the camera who wasn’t on the show last year. There are no specific deals with anybody.”

Jackson’s rep could not be reached for comment.

The 'Dawg' Speaks! Randy Jackson on the 'American Idol' Rumors

With each new day, comes new 'American Idol' casting rumors. Ellen DeGeneres quits. Is Jennifer Lopez onboard? Is Steven Tyler? Did Kara DioGuardi really get fired? What is going on with Randy Jackson?

One of the main players involved -- Mr. Randy Jackson – has finally spoken up. E!Online spoke to the big "dawg" earlier today and he confirmed one thing. The host isn't going anywhere.

"The only thing that's for sure is Ryan [Seacrest]," Jackson told E!Online at the 2010 Farmers Classic tennis tournament. "Nothing has been decided," he added.

And while he wouldn't comment on rumors about whether or not he was fired along with DioGuardi, he did say he'd be pumped to welcome J.Lo to the judge's panel. "If Jennifer Lopez is a judge I would be very happy," says Jackson. "I love her."

At the Television Critic's press conference, Fox executives Kevin Reilly and Peter Rice referenced the ongoing casting talks. "The only thing I can tell you with absolute certainty right now is that no one has signed a deal yet on either side of the camera to join American Idol next year that wasn't on it last year. There are no signed deals with anybody."

When pressed about DioGuardi's alleged firing, Rice said, "I'm not going to get into the speculation about it, [because] it's not fair to everyone who is being speculated about."

But when asked about all the J.Lo and Steven Tyler casting rumors, Rice admitted, "Much of the information that has been written is accurate, and some of the information has been wildly inaccurate."

Steven Tyler is Back with Aerosmith & Going on Tour!

Walk this way, Aerosmith fans! Recently rehabbed Steven Tyler is ready to rock again with his bandmates – and not without some effort on his part.

"I just auditioned and I got the gig," Tyler, 61, jokes in a new video announcing his band's upcoming European tour. "We're coming your way and rocking your world. Look out baby – because here we come again."

The rocker caused fans – and his bandmates – to worry about his health in Nov. 2009 after he displayed some erratic behavior which caused Aerosmith to cancel shows. Tyler ultimately entered rehab for painkiller addiction the next month.

The band's newly announced tour begins June 10th in Sweden – and wraps July 3rd in Venice, Italy. No North American shows have been announced yet.

Steven Tyler Enters Rehab for Painkiller Addiction

Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler has entered a rehab facility for pain management and an addiction to prescription painkillers resulting from 10 years of performance injuries.

"With the help of my family and team of medical professionals, I am taking responsibility for the management of my pain and am eager to be back on the stage and in the recording studio with my bandmates Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Tom Hamilton and Brad Whitford," Tyler says in a statement released to the press.

"I love Aerosmith; I love performing as the lead singer in Aerosmith," he adds. "I am grateful for all of the support and love I am receiving and am committed to getting things taken care of."

His daughter, Liv Tyler says, "My family and I are in complete support of my dad's decision to seek treatment. He is a courageous man. We love him and are so proud that he is getting help to balance his pain management, not just for himself but for his family, friends and fans."

A Decade of Injuries

Tyler, 61, has suffered orthopedic injuries over the past decade that have left him with "severe chronic pain" and will require additional surgeries on his knees and feet, says his physician, Dr. Brian McKeon, Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedics at Tufts School of Medicine.

"Managing and controlling his pain has been challenging, and despite our use of alternative therapies and the creation of custom shoes built by a team of engineers from Timberland, Steven's pain has progressed," says McKeon, who also is team doctor for the Boston Celtics. "The balance between managing his pain and avoiding addiction is tenuous and difficult and his bravery in persevering through rigorous touring is admirable. As with many athletes, Steven put his performance first as he struggled with acute pain for years."

Tyler's bandmates candidly expressed concern for his well-being – and the future of Aerosmith – after he fell off a stage during a concert in August, breaking his shoulder.

"I think that he needs help and that attention needs to be put to his health," drummer Kramer stated, adding the singer, who had battled drug addiction in the '70s and 80s, had "isolated himself."

Did Steven Tyler Quit Aerosmith?Joe Perry Thinks So

Aerosmith has been together since 1970, but it looks like they won't make it to the 40-year mark. The guys have canceled a bunch of shows this year, and singer Steven Tyler injured his shoulder after falling off a stage in August, so it's been a rough few months for the rockers. They might even be broken up already. Guitarist Joe Perry allegedly said in an interview with the Las Vegas Sun: "Steven quit as far as I can tell."

He continued: "I don't know any more than you do about it. I got off the plane two nights ago. I saw online that Steven said that he was going to leave the band. I don't know for how long, indefinitely or whatever. Other than that, I don't know."

The guys performed together in Abu Dhabi last weekend, but it sounds like things weren't the greatest. Perry said Tyler doesn't return phone calls, and before the gig, no one in the band had talked in months. "He has had no contact with me or the other band members," Perry said.

It sounds like even if the singer is donezo, Perry and the guys might try to carry on without him. "As far as replacing Steve, it's not just about that, it's also four guys that play extremely well together, and I'm not going to see that go to waste," he said. "I really don't know what path it's going to take at this point, but we'll probably find somebody else that will sing in those spots where we need a singer and then we'll be able to move the Aerosmith up a notch, move the vibe up a notch."

Steven Tyler Airlifted to Hospital After Fall

Steven Tyler was airlifted to a hospital early Thursday after falling from the stage during a concert at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in western South Dakota, according to the Rapid City Journal.

The Aerosmith singer, 61, reportedly suffered minor head and neck injuries and a shoulder injury, though the seriousness of his condition is not yet clear.

It is being said that Tyler fell off the stage as the band was performing "Love In an Elevator" and was then assisted backstage before being rushed to the Rapid City regional Hospital.

Mike Sanborn, spokesman for the Buffalo Chip Campground, which hosted the outdoor concert, tells the Associated Press about the incident: "He was good-natured about it. He was in good spirits when he got in the helicopter. He was talking and joking with the physician."

According to the band's rep, Aerosmith's show on Friday Winnipeg, Canada, has been canceled as Tyler recovers.

Last year, Tyler returned to rehab in order to address a dependency on pain and sleep medication.