Vital 'Idol': Show changes its tune

Posted at 11 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12

New judge Kara DioGuardi is just one of the changes fans will notice on the eighth season of “American Idol,” which begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday on Fox.

Here’s a by-the-numbers look at how the show’s producers are tweaking the reality series.

7 tryout episodes

If your biggest pleasure is mocking the William Hungs and other odd birds—OK, tryouts dressed as birds—then you’ll be disappointed to read that seven episodes—if you count the two-night premiere as two—will be dedicated to auditions, beginning Tuesday and ending Jan. 29.

But you will see quite a few truly delusional tryouts, executive producer Ken Warwick told reporters in December. “If all the bad ones never got seen it would be boring,” he said.

4 Hollywood eps

“Idol” has added one more Hollywood edition in order to spend more time with quality contestants, Warwick said. During the Hollywood editions, 36 singers will be picked instead of the usual 24 singers to move into the semifinal phase, which begins Feb. 17.

Another scary change in the Hollywood rounds? Group performances have been revived.

3 semifinalist shows

In past seasons, two semifinal eps showcased 12 boys and 12 girls. Not so this season. Warwick wants viewers to get to know all 36 semifinalists. He hopes this change “keeps [the show] fresher for longer. ... It changes things up more when you get to the Top 12.” Viewers will vote for three finalists after each of the episodes on Feb. 17, Feb. 24 and March 3. One male, one female and the next top vote-getter move on.

1 wild-card round

The wild-card round—which gave us Clay Aiken and Jennifer Hudson in past seasons—returns. This round gives judges the chance to pick three of the final 12 performers, something that makes Simon Cowell very happy.

“I wasn’t crazy about the process we went through the last couple of years where we were given a small group of contestants who you actually got bored with once you hit ... the live shows,” he told reporters in December. “This way this is a bit more jeopardy and hopefully a bit more fun in the middle stages.”

On March 5, Cowell and the other judges pick the final three contestants who weren’t chosen by viewer-voters.

Click here for the broadcast schedule of "American Idol."