When American Idol returns for Season 23 on the 2025 TV schedule, Carrie Underwood will make her debut as a judge 20 years after she won the fourth season of the show. The contestants who stand in front of her, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, however, will likely have a different experience than Underwood did back in 2005. The judges back then were not afraid to give constructive criticism — with a strong emphasis on criticism. Clay Aiken, the Season 2 runner-up, is actually grateful he experienced the show in that era and explained why he’s glad the judges were tougher back then.

When Clay Aiken competed on American Idol, he faced the infamous trio of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, and he told US Weekly that he feels that their honest feedback helped him to become so successful. Aiken said:

It wasn’t just him, either, but Clay Aiken says if you look back at several of the most famous American Idol contestants, you can see the artists being shaped over the course of the season, starting with the very first winner Kelly Clarkson. Aiken continued:

Clay Aiken, who finished Season 2 in second place behind Ruben Studdard, said he doesn’t see that kind of improvement in the current contestants, and Idol could save a lot of time if they skipped over the “45 to 50 seconds where they’re all going to say, ‘You did a lovely job and you’re a great star.'” Aiken thinks the singers would benefit from being challenged a little.

Simon Cowell was largely considered the meanest of the original American Idol judges, but there’s a chance that rudeness was faked for TV. Randy Jackson, meanwhile, agrees with Clay Aiken and has spoken out about singing competition judges being too nice. Even Katy Perry — who was definitely not always nice to the contestants — had said she hoped whoever followed her wouldn’t be afraid to speak their mind and actually have a point of view.

It sounds like when Carrie Underwood officially replaces Katy Perry, she hopes to bring a good blend of the old and the new. The “Before He Cheats” artist said her judging philosophy is to be “honest and constructive but still kind.” We still have a couple of months before we see what that looks like. American Idol Season 23 will premiere at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 9, on ABC.

Carrie Underwood is experiencing a full-circle moment in her career right now, as she is set to return to where it all started — American Idol. This time, however, she won’t be on stage trying to win over Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and the perpetually rude Simon Cowell; she’ll be sitting in one of their spots as the new judge for the upcoming 23rd season. Underwood couldn’t help but reflect on the moment that changed her life two decades ago, posting a throwback photo to honor the 20th anniversary of her American Idol audition, and former judge Jackson had a sweet response.

It was back in Season 4 of American Idol when Carrie Underwood beat out Bo Bice and the rest of the field to launch a music career that has so far seen nine studio albums, 22 No. 1 singles and eight Grammys. Now she seems ready to pay it forward, as she shared on Instagram those 20-year-old pics from her St. Louis, Missouri, audition:

I love this blast from the past so much, and something tells me that sweet, young girl had no idea just how big of a star she was about to become!

The judges, though, seemed to know right away that the country singer with a powerful voice had the potential to win the whole thing after they heard her sing "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt. Randy Jackson confirmed as much when he hit the comment section of the above throwback post to say:

What a sweet thing to say! Randy Jackson was apparently pretty impressed with Carrie Underwood back in 2004, but at the time, he played it cool with his feedback (because of course he did, dawg). While he and Simon Cowell both told Underwood she had a great voice and had given a good audition, Jackson wanted her to work on her stage presence, as she did seem a little soft-spoken.

Carrie Underwood seemed to have no problem taking that note, because the years that followed have seen her blowing fans away in sold-out tours around the world. I’m excited to see how her entire journey on and since American Idol will inform the way she critiques the contestants, but I'd guess there are few people as qualified as Underwood to do so.

The “Before He Cheats” singer joins the judging panel as a replacement for Katy Perry, who stepped away at the end of Season 22. Carrie Underwood was not one of the names circulating as a potential new judge — Jelly Roll seemed to be Perry’s pick, while Meghan Trainor, Miley Cyrus and P!nk also came up — but in the end it was the Season 4 champ who was named the newest member of the so-called “ham sandwich squad” alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.

She may not have been the only former Idol winner to be considered, though. Kelly Clarkson was mentioned at some point, as she served as a coach on The Voice for years after winning the first season of American Idol, but she shot down that rumor, citing her recent move to the East Coast. Season 6 champion Jordin Sparks had also asked to be considered for the gig.

I can’t wait to see Carrie Underwood return to American Idol, but unfortunately we won’t see Season 23 on the 2024 TV schedule. Idol, instead, will return to ABC in spring 2025.

Big things are happening for Kelly Clarkson at this moment in her life. The fourth season of her daytime talk show premiered in the coveted time slot previously held by Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres, and the multihyphenate just received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. To celebrate her achievement, she reunited with some important figures from her past — Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, the three judges from American Idol who helped skyrocket her to fame. The reunion, however, was close to being incomplete.

Paula Abdul apparently had to change her flight plans late in the game in order to be at the ceremony — and People reports that she arrived during Simon Cowell’s speech. Two decades after Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol, the “Straight Up” singer said there was no way she was missing a moment like this. Abdul told the honoree: 

It’s so fitting that Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul were all there to mark the OG champ's huge milestone, and thank goodness the latter superstar was able to make it happen. Just as the trio provided Kelly Clarkson the nationally televised platform to show what she had to offer the world of entertainment, the singer changed the course of the judges’ lives as well. Check them out together once more!

Even the famously crotchety Cowell echoed Abdul’s sentiments, pointing out that Clarkson was also to thank for American Idol’s longevity. He recalled the moment she was announced as the winner, saying (via EW): 

He said it wasn’t just her voice, but her bubbly personality that attracted the judges (and America) to her — no doubt how she’s gone on to dominate daytime TV with the five-time Emmy-winning The Kelly Clarkson Show. Simon Cowell said: 

Do you think that’s why Kelly Clarkson says, “You’re welcome” so often? Hmmm, maybe Simon Cowell had even more of an impact than any of us realized!  

There’s no denying that the talk show host has made her mark in the industry. As well as her multiple Emmy Awards, she’s won three Grammys from her nine studio albums, had 11 top-10 singles on the Hot 100 chart, has been in movies, found success as a coach on The Voice and co-hosted American Song Contest. All of that is on top of raising two kids as a single mom, and somehow she’s still relatable enough to shop at Target like the rest of us. 

The newest Walk of Fame honoree took to Instagram to mark the occassion and pointed out the amazing placement of her star — “between Harry Potter and Deadpool ….I dare anyone to top that!” — and not only do we agree that location is hard to beat, she just continues to show how adorable she is and why her fans love her so much.

You can continue to catch the OG Idol champ on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings to see when and where it airs in your area. Also be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what fall premieres are coming soon! 

Singing competitions wouldn’t be the phenomenon they are today without the three judges who sat behind the table for the original run of American Idol back in 2002. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell introduced the world to a 20-year-old singer from Texas named Kelly Clarkson, and the lyrics she belted A Moment Like This might as well have been about the show itself. Twenty years (and seasons) later, Idol is still going strong, but the ABC show has changed, Jackson said, and not necessarily for the better. NBC’s The Voice suffers from the same problem of being “too nice,” the famed music producer said, and he had strong opinions about how it happened and why it’s a problem.

Back in its early seasons, nobody ever accused the American Idol judges panel of being too nice. Paula Abdul was gracious with her praise, but she served to balance out Simon Cowell’s unfiltered critiques and Randy Jackson’s occasional bluntness. Jackson spoke with Yahoo! and explained why he thinks all of the sugarcoating that happens on Idol and its NBC competitor these days is actually counterproductive to the artists’ journeys:

Randy Jackson was a judge on American Idol for 12 seasons, and he knows that lying to a singer about their talent is only a waste of his time and theirs. He also pointed out that rejection can be a motivator. Nobody learns anything if they’re not given honest feedback. That’s where he says he has an issue with today’s singing competitions:

So how did we get here? Randy Jackson said he thinks the shift happened when the reality competition series started replacing industry insiders with singers on the judges panel. Jackson and Simon Cowell, for instance, worked a lot behind the scenes, finding and developing talent. Their job was to be honest, not to remain likable and empathize with the contestants. The Voice took it a step further when it premiered in 2011, and didn’t appoint judges at all. They instead filled their superstar panel with “coaches.” 

The former America's Best Dance Crew producer said he and Simon Cowell were never afraid to dish out harsh criticism, because they didn’t care about being liked. Yet he believes the judges/coaches today want and need to be accepted by contestants and the audience:

Even more with The Voice, which pits the coaches like Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson against each other, the mentors need to remain likable in order to win votes from the audience. In the earlier seasons coaches like Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera often gave harsher feedback, but its panel — most recently consisting of Shelton, Clarkson, John Legend and Ariana Grande — these days rarely gives anything other than very positive constructive criticism. 

The current judges on American Idol — Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie — may not be going head-to-head, but they still need their audience to buy their music and attend their concerts, so could that possibly play into what they tell (or refrain from telling) the contestants? 

Regardless of how the shows have changed, the singing competition shows remain popular with their audiences. You can catch Season 20 of American Idol currently airing on ABC on Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. EST. The Voice is set to return for Season 22 this fall on NBC. Be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what other premieres are coming soon.

As busy as Simon Cowell is, many have to wonder when he ever takes the time to relax, but the music producer and America's Got Talent judge was forced to take it easy last year after he broke his back. The incident occurred when he fell off his then-new electric motorcycle at his home. Cowell is up and about again, but it seems he’s still slightly on the mend and trying to find ways to keep himself fit. Well, he’s found one big way, and it really shows his dedication to the recovery process.

Seeing that he’s a music mogul, businessman and TV star, it sometimes feels like Simon Cowell can do just about anything. Well, you can add another impressive feat as well. According to DailyMail, Cowell reportedly walks over 40 miles per week to assist in his recovery. The trade mentions that Cowell reportedly makes it a goal to walk several hours a day and even holds early morning business meetings so that he doesn’t feel like a “vampire.” It definitely sounds like he’s enjoying his new regimen, which he even views as a silver lining to the situation.

When you consider what Simon Cowell has been doing to assist with his recovery, it’s no wonder he’s been able to get back to his day-to-day activities. But things were honestly looking a bit scary for a while.

Simon Cowell was immediately taken to the hospital after his fall last August, and it quickly was determined that he would need surgery. The eventual procedure would ultimately last five hours, with Cowell’s rep noting at the time that everything went well. Even in the midst of the turbulence though, Cowell managed to keep a good sense of humor about the situation by poking fun at himself for falling off the bike.

Many of Simon Cowell’s colleagues still showed a significant amount of concern for him, though. X-Factor colleague Sinitta noted that it was a “very, very scary” situation for both the star and the people who care for him.

But months later, Simon Cowell seems to be doing more than well. He’s not only walking every day but, by the end of last year, he was already riding a jet ski like a pro. And around the same time, he was even looking into new work ventures as well.

Simon Cowell’s recent injury also came with a bit of advice from colleague Randy Jackson, who served as a judge alongside Cowell on American Idol. Jackson, who’s had surgery on his spine, expressed his joy regarding Cowell’s improvement and noted that he likes to kid his friend by telling him to “respect your body, yo!”

It’s great to see Simon Cowell getting back to his old self and getting into an exercise routine that works for him. He’s showing true determination, and it could indeed serve as a bit of a motivator for anyone else looking to jump into a regular exercise schedule.

Simon Cowell is one of the hardest-working people in show business. Not only is the music mogul still a record executive, but he also holds down multiple gigs as a judge on reality competition shows like America’s Got Talent. However, the actor’s busy routine had to be put on the back burner for a while after he broke his back last year. Cowell has since recovered but, moving forward, he may be considering how he’s keeping his body. Now, Randy Jackson, Cowell’s former American Idol colleague, has chimed in with a bit of advice for his friend.

Simon Cowell originally broke his back after falling off his newly acquired electric motorcycle at his home. Shortly after, he underwent a five-hour surgery, which was ultimately successful. Randy Jackson is no stranger to back surgery, as he’s previously had work done on his spine. The always jovial Jackson can find plenty of humor in the fact that both he and Cowell now have back problems at this stage in their lives:

Based on his recent comments to ET, it appears Randy Jackson has been in contact with Simon Cowell since the incident, as he emphasized just how well the TV judge is doing. And he’s not wrong, as Cowell was already jet-skiing like a pro before the latter part of 2020.

An incident like Cowell’s is sure to make one seriously consider whether they’re taking proper care of their body. Randy Jackson knows this firsthand, having gone through a 114-pound weight loss transformation over the past few years. With this, he’s offered Cowell a few words of wisdom:

Randy Jackson couldn’t be more correct. Our bodies definitely change as the years go by, so proper rest, exercise and care become incredibly important. Jackson’s fitness journey is just one example of the benefits of treating your body well, and his story is definitely an inspiration for any looking to improve their routine.

Simon Cowell’s back injury appeared to be quite serious, with his friends and colleagues showing concern for him. Thankfully, the recovery has gone smoothly for him. He’s currently throwing himself into new activities and has even lined up a new gig as a judge on The X Factor Israel.

Despite his still active schedule, one would assume that Simon Cowell will heed Randy Jackson’s advice and not overdue things. Because let’s be honest, even world-renowned celebrities need their rest now and then.

Though fans might have expected American Idol to be taking a longer hiatus in the midst of Hollywood's shutdown, given the reality series' reliance on live in-studio performances to win over the viewers and judges, the show must go on! American Idol will be testing out remote episodes with its next installment, but don't go thinking stars like Ryan Seacrest will be slumming it while at home. The longtime host actually found a way to bring in a stellar callback to Idol's original run on Fox.

Taking to Twitter as everything is getting set up and ready to go for the weekend broadcast, Ryan Seacrest scored some big Wow Factor points by revealing he'll be sitting at the original American Idol judge's table, which he'd taken home after Fox pulled the plug. Check out the video below!

For those who aren't able to watch the video, or couldn't check it out with audio, here's what Ryan Seacrest had to say:

As hyperbolic as it might sound, the original American Idol judge's table should probably be in some kind of TV museum at this point. It's one of the most popular unscripted series of all time, even if its current numbers are deep in the shadows of the peaks of the original Fox run. Even if it was only used in the early years solely by Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, it would be a cherished piece of TV history, but let's not forget all the other judges who sat there during Idol's original run.

In any case, the American Idol desk will once again show up in the spotlight for the upcoming live episode. It's no coincidence, either, that the fanciful furniture will be utilized by the one O.G. Idol star to have transitioned from the Fox iteration to the current ABC version. Good on Ryan Seacrest for knowing when to hold on to keepsakes, even when the only place they can properly fit is the garage.

Now, who else thinks the set-up at Katy Perry's house is going to be one of the most watchable elements of the entire American Idol episode? In any case, I can't wait to see how well everything plays out, and am hopeful that all of the homebound hopefuls get a fair shot at sounding good enough for audiences. The show revealed that the current Top 20 will get cut down to the Top 10 for the May 3 episode, so a lot of talented people will be saying goodbye.

American Idol will more forward with Season 18 by airing "Top 20 Sing for America" on ABC on Sunday, April 26, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Though Idol isn't wrapping up just yet, there are several other shows ending soon that can be found in our TV finale rundown, and take note of all the big premieres on the way with our Summer 2020 TV schedule.

For nearly 20 years, American Idol has served as one of the most famous, popular, well-viewed and influential reality TV shows/competition programs in TV history. Television in the early 21st century has undeniably been shaped by the success and influence of American Idol, but the famous TV show hasn't always stayed the same. As American Idol has molded and adapted itself through new eras of television, the show's panel of judges have been changing in the process. Once, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul sat around the table and determined who might be the next musical superstar. Nowadays, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry serve as the three judges on the panel, determining who'll make it into the finals of American Idol.

Particularly during the show's less stable years, the judges chairs were left in a constant rotation, featuring a variety of famous faces only serving a limited amount of time in the judge's chair. Some people have stayed on the show much longer than others, and there are certainly some judges who didn't have a great time during their tenure on the popular series. Therefore, let's take a look at the history of American Idol judges and why they left.

DJ Stryker (No Seasons)

There's a good chance you're not familiar with the name DJ Stryker, though if you listen to the radio station KROQ, or played the video game Burnout 3, you might recognize the voice. In the early days of American Idol, there were plans to have four judges at the table instead of the custom three that audiences are used to seeing on the show. In the fourth chair was DJ Stryker, if things had originally gone to plan, but the radio personality decided not to take part in the TV program due to what he deemed "image concerns." It is hard to know what that means; maybe we will never know for sure.

Granted, this one might be a bit of a cheat, since DJ Stryker didn't ultimately accept the position as one of the judges on American Idol. Still, it's fascinating to know that this radio personality had an opportunity to become part of the one of the biggest shows of the early 21st century and turned down the chance. Do you think Stryker regrets it? Maybe. Maybe not. Ultimately, just like DJ Stryker, you're only left to wonder, "what if?"

Angie Martinez (Season 2)

In season two of American Idol, there was a second attempt to add a fourth judge to the American Idol panel, but it didn't work out this time either. In the audition segments of the reality television program, musician/radio personality Angie Martinez was on-hand to judge, critique, and evaluate the contestants and hopeful musicians who came into the audition room. But the process of turning down so many singing hopefuls weighed heavily on her. After only a few days of auditions, the radio personality left the program, claiming that the grueling process of destroying so many people's musical dreams and aspirations weighed heavily on her. In the time since she left the music reality TV series, Martinez has continued her radio career.

Paula Abdul (Season 1 - Season 8)

Among the core trio of the original American Idol judges, Paula Abdul was a world-famous musician before she became an American Idol judge. But the reality TV series provided a second career for the celebrity, allowing her experience as a singer to provide key insight and criticisms of the singers on the show. Allow with her bitter-and-sweet chemistry with Simon Cowell, Abdul served as a key component in making American Idol the immensely popular show we know it to be today. 

While she was there from the beginning, Abdul opted to leave the popular series after the conclusion of Season 8, marking the beginning of the end for American Idol as many viewers knew it. The singer left the series after she was unable to come up with an agreement with the producers of the series. Since her American Idol tenure, following a 26 year-pause from singing, Abdul began performing in 2016.

Simon Cowell (Season 1 - Season 9)

Quite likely the most famous and contentious judge in American Idol history, Simon Cowell was not afraid to speak his mind — even if what he had to say wasn't the least bit kind. While the music manager made more than his fair share of contestants shed tears, the British judge wasn't in the game to play it nice. Rather, Cowell spoke his honest truth — as he saw it (and heard it), at least. It cemented the show's pop culture legacy in the process.

But Simon Cowell wasn't mean simply for the sport of it. The music executive could usher out just as many compliments too, if the singer had the chops. Simon Cowell just spoke his mind. That forthright style resulted in many of American Idol's most memorable moments. He served as one of the core trio of judges from American Idol's inception, alongside Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, but Cowell left the popular reality TV show in 2011 to usher in an American version of The X Factor in 2011, which was cancelled in 2013. In 2016, Cowell took a chair as one of the judges on America's Got Talent, where the television personality has remained ever since.

Kara DioGuardi (Season 8 - Season 9)

As it has been mentioned in this article before, American Idol has tried to incorporate a fourth judge onto the panel with little-to-no success. The past two attempts to include a fourth person at the table went south for separate reasons, and the show kept its central three judges for the majority of the show's run. But in Season 8, the producers were ready for a switch. In Season 8, singer-songwriter Kara DioGuardi joined American Idol as the fourth judge. Evidently, the third time was the charm for the popular TV series, as DioGuardi stayed on American Idol. Well, for a little while, at least...

Kara DioGuardi remained on the reality TV show for two seasons before leaving after the ninth season's conclusion. In a statement, DioGuardi said she felt like she "won the lottery" when she was picked to be a judge on American Idol, but the musician felt like it was "the best time" to leave the hit series. There were rumors that the producers ultimately preferred the three judge format, but it's hard to know for certain if this is the reason. For the next couple seasons, American Idol did return to its three judge format before briefly returning to the four judge panel in Season 12. Nevertheless, since Kara DioGuardi stepped away from American Idol, DioGuardi continues to perform and produce, and she starred in Chicago on Broadway.

Ellen DeGeneres (Season 9)

When Paula Abdul stepped down as a judge on American Idol following a dispute in her contract, Ellen DeGeneres stepped in to fill the now-vacant fourth judge chair. But the talk show's host tenure on the reality TV series was ultimately short-lived, as Ellen had only one season on American Idol. At the time, Ellen admitted that American Idol "didn't feel like the right fit," both due to her intense talk show schedule and the pressures that resulted from this position, which involved judging people and hurting their feelings publicly. There were several folks who were critical of Ellen's time on Idol, as the comedian doesn't have a lot of experience in the music industry, and there were a few claims that Ellen had a tough working relationship with Simon Cowell. Later on, DeGeneres called the American Idol "one of her worst decisions." These days, Ellen continues her show and doing comedy.

Steven Tyler (Season 10 - Season 11)

With Simon Cowell stepping down from his tenure as one of the founding judges on American Idol, the Fox reality TV series was in a serious changing point. With the double digit seasons came a few new faces in the chairs, especially with Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres stepping away from the show as well. In comes Steven Tyler. The veteran rock performer certainly knows how to pack a stadium, but he didn't have an especially long stay on American Idol. The musician came on-board in Season 10, but then he left following the eleventh season. As Tyler explained in a statement, he left the show in order to continue working with Aerosmith. Tyler is still rocking with his band these days. It doesn't seem like the absence of American Idol from Steven Tyler's professional career has become any sort of monumental loss.

Mariah Carey (Season 12)

After Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez (temporarily) left American Idol, there were a couple judges chairs that needed to be filled. In the show's 12th season, Mariah Carey joined Nicki Minaj as newcomer judges on the popular program. But their time on American Idol would equally be short-lived. After only one season, the record-breaking singer stepped away from the reality television series, and Mariah Carey said she outright hated her time on American Idol. As a replacement for Lopez, Carey claimed working on American Idol was like "going to work every day in hell with Satan," which may have been in reference to her fiery working relationship with Minaj. While the feuds between judges like Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul were playful, Carey and Minaj apparently really got on each other's bad sides, resulting in both of them exiting Idol. Mariah Carey stays busy as a musician and actress.

Nicki Minaj (Season 12)

Similar to Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj joined American Idol's twelfth season after Steven Tyler and (temporarily) Jennifer Lopez left the program. Alas, the hip hop artist wouldn't stay on the reality television show for long. As it was mentioned earlier, Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey didn't get along. At least, by Carey's admission. Minaj hasn't talked as much about her departure from the series. Based on her short tenure on the show, however, it's possible that she either didn't care for the show or her feud with Mariah Carey wasn't what the producers wanted. In any case, Minaj continues to perform as a musician.

Randy Jackson (Season 1 - Season 12)

With the notable exception of host Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson was one of the longest-running celebrities in American Idol's history. The bassist became a household name thanks to his involvement as a judge, and through his signature line-up of catchphrases and warm personality, Jackson became an endearing presence throughout the majority of American Idol's hit run. Alas, while Jackson stayed involved with American Idol for a long time, nothing can last forever. Following Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell's departures before him, Randy Jackson became the third and final judge in the show's original line-up to call it quits and move on following Season 12. Ultimately, the judge stayed as long as he could, but it was time to leave.

Jennifer Lopez (Season 10 - Season 15, Skipping Season 12)

American Idol's tenth season served as a major shake-up for the reality TV series. With Simon Cowell leaving the hit show following Season 9, and Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi following his footsteps, American Idol shaped up to be a different series than before as it hit the double digits. In addition to Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez came on-board to serve as one of Idol's new judges. While Tyler only lasted two seasons on American Idol, Jennifer Lopez served as a judge for five seasons in the long run. Although, admittedly, it happened in a rather unorthodox fashion on the hit show.

Similar to Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez came and went from American Idol from Season 10 through Season 11, though the musician/actress came back during American Idol's 13th season and she remained involved through Season 15, when American Idol got cancelled by Fox. While Lopez claimed that American Idol's commitments were tough on the musician when she quit before Season 12, they convinced her to return in Season 13 and Lopez remained a fixture on the popular series until its cancellation. Recently, Lopez received a great deal of acclaim for her supporting turn in last year's Hustlers. She received a Golden Globe nomination and a Screen Actor's Guild nomination, but she was ultimately snubbed for the Oscars.

Keith Urban (Season 12 - Season 15)

Following Steven Tyler's leave from American Idol, musician Keith Urban stepped in alongside Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey to be an American Idol judge. But unlike Minaj and Carey, Urban stayed on the reality TV show for the following few seasons. Specifically, the singer-songwriter remained a mainstay on American Idol for four more seasons before leaving after Season 15, when the TV series came to a temporary end as Fox cancelled the once-popular show. When American Idol was given second life at ABC, much like Harry Connick Jr. and Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban was replaced by new judges. Specifically, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry. They ushered in the renewed reality TV show's surprise rebirth on a new network.

Harry Connick Jr. (Season 13 - Season 15)

Once American Idol's longest-standing judge Randy Jackson left the reality TV show's panel after Season 12, there was another chair that needed to be filled. That's when Harry Connick Jr. came to American Idol. The actor/singer-songwriter was the final celebrity judge to stay on the program as the show winded down towards its final years on Fox, and he joined Keith Urban (the only judge to return from Season 12) and Jennifer Lopez, who made her return following her absence in Season 12, as the three American Idol judges during the show's decline. Unfortunately for Connick Jr., Idol was on the outs. American Idol was cancelled following its 15th season. When it made its return on ABC, Connick Jr., Lopez and Urban were replaced by Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan. The three musicians remain the program's three judges as American Idol continues with its second run.

With that, American Idol has continued with three additional seasons on ABC. While the show is renewed for a 19th season, which will likely air later this year, it's unclear whether or not Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie will all be returning as judges. Therefore, if any or all of them decide to leave the show, it will continue a tradition of judges entering and exiting the popular music reality television show. Which judges were your favorites? Do you still swear by the original trio of Paula, Randy, and Simon, or do you prefer any of the folks who joined or replaced them? Let us know below.

Having left American Idol in 2013, Randy Jackson has had two years to look back and reflect on his time behind the judge’s table. To be expected, he’s got a lot to say about all the good things and the bad things, dawg, and it turns out he’s still not quite over Jennifer Hudson getting eliminated back in Season 3.

In between sharing thoughts on Jordin Sparks and auditions where Alicia Keys songs were slaughtered, Randy Jackson talked about how Hudson’s elimination gets to him the most.

Boy, has she. Hudson followed up her American Idol loss with a career that has arguably eclipsed that of any of the reality series’ actual winners over its 14 seasons. Just two years later, without even releasing a proper album, she landed the role of Effie White in Bill Condon’s Dreamgirls and won both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for her stellar supporting performance. She then went on to continue her acting career, starring in films such as Winnie Mandela, Black Nativity and the recent Spike Lee joint Chi-Raq, and also appeared on TV series like Smash and Empire.

And that’s not even mentioning her three albums and a plethora of performances on everything from the Super Bowl to The Oprah Winfrey Show. Plus, she might soon be playing Aretha Franklin for what will certainly be a high-profile biopic. It’s impossible to know where she would be now had she actually beaten Fantasia for the top spot, but it’s hard to imagine Hudson having a bigger presence across pop culture. What are Kris Allen and Lee DeWyze doing nowadays? (I know they’re still putting out music.)

Fans of Randy Jackson were no doubt pumped to hear that the producer will be heading back to American Idol for Season 15, which will be the show’s last outing. It’s unclear just what he’ll be doing in the show – although we hope it has something to do with William Hung – but here’s what he told EW would be involved.

That was a given. Tune into American Idol’s shortened swan song for its two-night premiere on Wednesday, January 6, and Thursday, January 7. Head here to see when the rest of your favorite shows are coming back in the next few months.

Sticking around on the same series for 13 years is a pretty incredible feat, regardless of what the show is. Reality TV is an even more fickle landscape for mainstays, and the surprisingly long-lasting American Idol is losing one of the few people who’d been around since it started. Ladies and gentleman, Grammy winner Randy Jackson has left the building.

Jackson is officially bowing out of American Idol two months before it’s set to begin Season 14, according to THR. To be expected, the press release from Fox rained praise down upon him and left the door open for Jackson to return to the series in the future “from time to time,” if he so chooses. No reason was given for his departure, but I don’t think anyone will be treating this like a big gossipy mystery. Sometimes you just have to move on.

The Baton Rouge native first started on the show with Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, outlasting them both by three and four years, respectively. He sat alongside shortlived judges like Ellen DeGeneres and Jennifer Lopez, giving up the judges’ seat after Season 12. He originally wasn’t going to return to the show at all, but decided to come back for Season 13 as a mentor. So it’s entirely possible he’ll later announce that he’s returning to the show in an even smaller capacity.

It isn’t likely that Jackson will ever look back on his time with American Idol in disdain, at least not in the way that Mariah Carey did. But a potential tell-all book from him would be something to behold, and would no doubt feature stories of Simon Cowell feasting on demon heads and other assorted tales. Oddly enough, someone has access to the audio book, which you can listen to below.

American Idol will return to Fox for Season 14 starting January 14, 2015, with returning judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. Will you guys be watching, or is there anyone out there who tuned in solely to see Randy Jackson work his magic?

After plenty of rumors, speculation and reports, Fox has gone and made their American Idol Season 13 "Dream Team" panel official, announcing the three judges who will be critiquing this season's crop of singing talent, as well as the mentor and host. At the judges table, we have Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. Meanwhile, former judge Randy Jackson will be taking over for Jimmy Iovine as mentor, and Ryan Seacrest will continue what he does best in hosting the singing competition series.

None of this is exactly news, as there have been regular updates on the status of Idol for months now, but it looks like Fox is ready to lock it all in, as they've issued an official statement announcing what they call the "American Idol XIII Dream Team." At this point, Idol's sounding more like a sporting event, what with the Super Bowl-like roman numerals and the dream team mention. Still, it's good to know that Fox finally has this business settled as we head into the fall season. Of course, Idol doesn't return until Midseason, but the auditions for Season 13 are already underway. Fox says auditioners who try out in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Detroit, Omaha, Salt Lake City and San Francisco will get to meet the new judges.

Of course, the phrase "new" is relative here. While this season's judges line-up is new, all three of the judges at the table have experience on Idol. Country singer Keith Urban is returning for his second year as judge, having joined the panel last season along with Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey. Carey and Minaj's exits left room for two more judges, the first of which was Jennifer Lopez, who has judged the series previously. And the latest announced judge was Harry Connick, Jr., the Grammy winning artist, who also has two Emmy's under his belt, not to mention a sizable fan base who likely love him as much for his singing as they do his acting. Connick is the only new judge on the panel, though he has mentored on Idol before, so even he's not technically a complete newbie. Connick's casting came after reports that Dr. Luke was, then wasn't going to serve as the third judge for Idol, though Connick rumors have been circulating since May.

Meanwhile, on the mentor side, Randy Jackson has moved from judge to mentor this season, taking over for Jimmy Iovine. I'm not thrilled that Iovine's stepped out, as I always loved his spot-on criticism of the contestants, but considering Randy's the last remaining original judge for the series, and was originally said to be leaving the show, it's good to see him sticking around in some capacity.

And then, finally, we have Ryan Seacrest. Though he continues to pick up new projects, between his other hosting gigs and executive producing various shows, Seacrest has stuck with Idol from the beginning and the series is all the better for it, as far as I'm concerned. He makes hosting a live show look easy, though something tells me it's anything but.

UPDATE: Here's a photo of the new judges panel!

First set of judges without Randy in the mix!

One of the best things American Idol has had going for it is the expertise of Jimmy Iovine, who's served as mentor on the Fox singing competition series for three years. So, excuse me if I don't celebrate the news that Iovine is leaving the show, even if said news includes the report that departing judge Randy Jackson may take over as mentor.

Deadline reported this latest update to the ongoing rumor mill that is American Idol. While most of the updates we've heard have to do with the judges table - Keith Urban is returning, and Jennifer Lopez may return as well) - Deadline's report focuses on Jackson and Iovine. They say Randy's not as gone as we thought, and that Iovine is leaving the series.

We've known since May that Jackson - the last original American Idol judge at the table - was leaving the show, and that Nicki MInaj and Mariah Carey were not going to return after their one-season turns as judges. And all the while, I've been hoping that music producer and Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine would finally take a chair at the judges table. In recent years, Iovine's commentary and critiques of the performers have been some of the most spot-on the show has seen since the days of Simon Cowell (minus Cowell's occasional rudeness and colorful analogies). In a nutshell, Iovine knew what he liked, he knew what worked, and he knew how to be upfront and honest about the performances without being rude. He called it like he heard it without making it personal. I really hope his departure is his own doing and not the shows, because it's most definitely the show's loss.

As for Randy serving as mentor, eh.. My opinion of Randy as a judge is about on par with his general attitude toward singers that don't knock his socks off. It's fine. He's fine. He's familiar enough with the industry to be of value to the series, for sure, and he's one of the show's original judges, so it's nice that he's presumably sticking around. But I don't recall ever being impressed by his judging techniques. He seems to know what he likes and doesn't like, and what he's not sure about, but I see him more as someone who knows what he likes and doesn't like, but doesn't necessarily know how to turn those opinions into suggestions or advice on what they need to fix or why their performance did or didn't work. I guess that's what I like so much about Jimmy Iovine. He's honest and productive as a mentor, which is probably why he's been so successful in the industry. It's one thing to have good taste, it's another to be able to find people's potential and help them figure out how to reach it.

So to sum up, as good as it is that Randy may be sticking around American Idol after all, it's disappointing that Iovine's reportedly leaving. He brought quality to the show and I'm not sure there's any replacing that. But Deadline says music producer Dr. Luke is in talks for a spot as judge, so maybe they have another expert poised to join the show and hopefully offer a bit of what Iovine was bringing to the series.

Twelve years ago, Randy Jackson was hired to work as a judge on American Idol. Over the years, he’s watched the show charge to more than thirty million viewers an episode. He’s watched the show sink to the single digits. He’s watched stars like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood meet America for the first time, and, of course, he’s watched a ton of his co-workers come and go. In fact, apart from Ryan Seacrest, he’s the only piece of on-air talent from the first season still involved, but apparently, his tenure is rapidly drawing to a close.

Earlier today, the Dog announced he will resign his judgeship at the end of the current season. Over the past week or so, there have been rumors that producers might axe Jackson at the end of the year anyway, but regardless of their intentions, we know it’s now official. That being said, it’s unclear whether or not this is a good thing.

On the one hand, the show definitely seems like it’s broken. The format that has worked for so long isn’t bringing in nearly as many viewers as it once was, and there’s really not a whole lot of chemistry between any of the judges on this panel. Something needs to be done. On the other hand, however, Jackson has been a part of numerous successful panels during his run. He’s proven he’s capable of bouncing off of many different personalities, and his music knowledge is the most impressive of anyone in the history of the show.

I see why Randy decided enough was enough, but that doesn’t mean I necessarily think he’s making the right decision. What do you think? Is this the right time for Randy to leave? Let us know your thoguths by voting in the poll below…

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For more questions of the day, head here

Aside from boasting four of the most talented female singers in the show’s history, this season of American Idol has basically been a hot mess. The ratings have been somewhere south of tepid, and wild rumors have consistently overshadowed the on-stage performances. From an alleged Mariah Carey for J Lo swap to whispers of all four judges getting axed at the end of the year, it’s been an ugly rollercoaster ride, and at least one judge has decided he’s ready to walk away.

Stalwart Randy Jackson, the only on-air personality not named Ryan Seacrest to be around since day one, announced today that he’s going to fold his golden tickets and exit stage left after this year’s winner is crowned. Here’s what he told E! News…

Jackson brought different things to the show based on what other judges he was surrounded with over the years, but the one consistent element was his incredible musical knowledge. Whether the contestant was singing pop music, R&B or even classical Indian music, he always knew enough to engage the performer in conversation about it and could instantly tell how sharp or flat on certain notes their rendition was.

I have no idea how many years Idol will go on from here, but no matter how long it does, Randy will always be considered one of the best judges to ever grace the program’s stage. Here’s to hoping he finds some way to continue leaving his mark on the ears of music fans the world over.

After a lot of speculation and plenty of rumors, American Idol finally has its judges situation settled. The official word is in and not only is Randy Jackson confirmed to be returning to his role as judge on the Fox singing competition series, but he'll be joined by a country singer, a rapper and fashion icon, and the previously confirmed Mariah Carey.

With the departure of Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, we were left to wonder who would be brought in to replace them at the judges table for American Idol's twelfth season, which is set to debut January 2013. According to Fox's announcement, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban are the two new judges joining the series. They join previously signed-on Mariah Carey and music producer Randy Jackson at the judges table.

Late last month, it was rumored that Randy Jackson might also be leaving the judges table, but would stay on in a mentor capacity. But as of last week, he was reportedly in talks to come back as a judge and that's been confirmed today. So we'll have one familiar face returning to the series, as Jackson is the only remaining judge who's been with the show since the first season.

Bringing in a popular female rapper and a country star to join Jackson and Carey seems likely to draw plenty of attention to the series when it returns next year. I'm especially interested to see how Urban fits into the mix, particularly because Idol's always been a bit underrepresented in the country music department, despite the fact that there are usually at least one or two country singers in the finals each season. And Minaj is as well known for her unique style as she is for her music, so she may have some interesting things to say on the contestants style and dress as well as their talent.

According to Fox's announcement, host Ryan Seacrest will be joined by the new judges panel when the auditions begin in New York City.

Fox is really shaking things up for the eleventh season of American Idol, in that they’re not making any changes to the judging table this year. The network announced today that last year’s arrangement of judges and host will stand for Season 11 when the series returns in January.

The Fox singing competition started out with three judges. For seven seasons, Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, and Paula Abdul sat at the judges table and served as filters and later, advice-givers to each new crop of Idol hopefuls. In Season 8, Kara DioGuardi joined the show to serve as a fourth judge. In Season 9, Paula left the show and was replaced by Ellen DeGeneres (remember that bit of randomness?). Kara left next, as did Simon and as of last season, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler were on board to fill the two vacant judges’ seats. After all of the shifts and changes, either due to contract issues or the show’s attempt to breathe life into the series that, while still a ratings juggernaut, Idol’s ratings has been steadily fizzling for quite a while now.

For the first time in years, the judges are staying the same. Fox confirmed today that Randy, Jennifer and Steven will return to judge the eleventh season of the series. I can’t say that I all-out dislike Randy, Jennifer or Steven. As opinion-givers go, they’re fine. The star power is there, but the wow-factor really isn't. We don’t see the same spark between them that we once saw so frequently between Randy, Paula and Simon. When the original trio was together, I got the sense that none of them felt like they had much to lose by being completely honest, so all of them were. As nice as Jennifer and Steven are, I sometimes wonder if they’re too used to be polite and supportive to their fans, both being long-time beloved celebrities, to offer genuinely honest criticism.

Given all of the shifting that’s gone on, not changing the judges seems like a bold move. Perhaps this is Idol and Fox’s way of not rocking the boat. With The X Factor set to take Fox by storm this fall, people might be looking for a bit of familiarity by the time Idol rolls around in 2012.

American Idol auditions are currently taking place. For information on when and where, check out AmericanIdol.com.

Stories about American Idol’s huge revenue losses last season are making the rounds on the internet today. Don’t be fooled by the numbers. The reality competition may not be quite the cash cow it was during season five, but it still has the widespread appeal to make bank, despite these year-to-year losses that look horrible on paper.

According to Deadline, CKX, the business behind the American Idol juggernaut, lost a cool 15.7 million during 2010. It seems staggering on the surface, but actually, that figure is almost entirely due to Simon Fuller’s buyout from leaving the company. With him now only working as a consultant, the company will save more than 20 million a year moving forward. It’s a loss but a loss in the same way as accruing student loans to eventually land a higher paid position.

American Idol is by no means going broke. Last week, the show attracted the largest Thursday night audience of any television program in nearly five years. The overall numbers may be down slightly from the Simon period, but that’s to be expected. If Fox and CKX were offered these ratings before the season started, they would have taken them in a heartbeat. The show isn’t going anywhere, and it seems neither are the viewers.

We’re just a few weeks away from our first taste of Simon Cowell-less American Idol, and veteran judge Randy Jackson is already playing favorites. The affable producer has long been a favorite of viewers, even if he overuses a few stock phrases, but don’t for a second underestimate his knowledge. His ear is simply wonderful, and more often than not, the few contestants he does stand behind perform strongly. This year he’s feeling the girls a little bit more, and while he stopped short of guaranteeing victory, he was overt about it.

In an interview with Zap2It, Jackson said, “There are some standouts on both sides, but I’m thinking it’s a girl’s year to lose.” Speaking about his own role on the show, Jackson confirmed suspicions that he has grown more assertive this year, though viewers will have to wait and see whether that’s manifested itself into Simon’s trademark aggression or his propensity to speed things up by directly asking the other judges to vote yes or no.

American Idol premiers on Fox on January 19th at 8 PM ET/PT. Remember, the popular reality show has switched to a Wednesday/ Thursday format this year, as opposed to its normal Tuesday/ Wednesday airings.

After months of speculation and rumors, American Idol has finally confirmed which names will be joining Randy Jackson at the judge's table for next season. As widely expected, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez took the stage at a press event that was also streamed live at the Idol official website. Lopez took the stage in a sparkly jumpsuit after literally rising up from beneath the stage, but apparently it was Tyler who got the best response with a standing ovation from the crowd (via Loquacious Muse on Twitter, who was on hand to witness the entire spectacle).

All three judges will apparently be doing press later today, so keep an eye on here for what Lopez, Tyler and Jackson have to say for themselves-- and if any of them actually believe that they'll have the ability to revive this flagging franchise. I mean, of course they'll say they will, but it's reading the tragedy in their eyes that will tell us everything.

UPDATE: As promised, some more details are forthcoming at Deadline, thanks to an interview with Fox president of alternative programming Mike Darnell. He swears that cutting deals with Lopez and Tyler was easy and there were "no diva demands," though Lopez did swing a TV and film development deal for her production company. Also there will no longer be guest mentors, with Interscope's Jimmy Iovine filling that role each week. Finally, they're getting rid of the "theme weeks," which each week's round being based around a certain decade, not genre. Obviously they're making all these changes with hopes of finally getting more people to tune in-- but does hearing they tweaked the American Idol formula make you more or less likely to stick with it?

Even with so many shake-ups going on with the American Idol judging panel, you can count on one thing staying the same for at least another season. E! Online has confirmed that Randy Jackson will be sticking around for the next season, along with whatever other new judges pop up to join him.

Apparently the long process of picking new judges has trickled down to this fall's tryout season-- even though the production staff will be traveling all over the country to pick this season's contestants in a few short months, they still haven't received official details, "partly because the judges aren't yet formally finalized." Apparently Jennifer Lopez is still in negotiations to sign on, and as for the rest of the lineup, your rumor is probably as good as the next one.

So what do you think-- is it a good thing to have Randy Jackson return and keep some continuity on the American Idol judge's panel? Or would you rather see them let him go and start over again with a whole new crew? Chime in in the comments below.

Gimme a beat! What would any dance show be without paying homage to one of the greatest dancers, choreographers, and all-around entertainers of all time? This week’s episode is the first of the season to open with an all-crew dance number, choreographed by Rosero McCoy, and Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo. “Rhythm Nation” is an obvious choice. I love the military theme and Fanny Pak’s Tiffani descending from the ceiling, but the routine as a whole doesn’t live up to the original for me. It could’ve been a little tighter, and it might’ve been cool for the costumes and makeup to replicate the black-and-white look of the video. Hey, just my vision. Yeah, it copies Janet’s vision, but so what? Don’t pay me any mind, the group number was good.

Out of the six remaining crews, three are saved from elimination by viewers’ votes: Fanny Pak, Supreme Soul, and Boogie Bots. Of the bottom three, SoReal Cru also escapes elimination. The two crews fighting to stay alive in this competition: Super Cr3w and A.S.I.I.D. A.S.I.I.D.??!!!!

Crew: Fanny Pak

Song: “All Nite (Don’t Stop)”

The quirkiest crew kicks off the show with a routine to a song off Janet’s 2004 album, Damita Jo. Fanny Pak tosses aside some of their playfulness and eccentricity to match the sexiness of the tune. Shane Sparks feels transported to the middle of an orgy. Shane, you nasty! I swear, each week he uses the slo-mo replay as an excuse to relive all the freaky parts of routines. But this week, he has plenty of reason to get a little excited. A blatant lesbian kiss, licking, groping, and we’ve barely begun the show. As a critique, he suggests the Fanny boys dance more like men. Lil Mama actually prefers the guys continue to dance with a little feminine twist because that’s what makes them unique. JC Chasez thinks the number is the sexiest they’ve had on the show.

Crew: Supreme Soul

Song: “Nasty”

The song choice is a bit concerning to me for this group, but they end up crafting a really smooth routine. Lil Mama loves their confidence and is impressed by their tricks. JC clearly sees Janet’s influence in their moves, but wishes they had been a bit nastier. I have to agree, and so does Shane; he isn’t blown away by their performance and reminds the crew that being a part of the show’s second season means they have to thoroughly impress the judges each and every week. Maybe if they’d flashed a nipple, it might have redeemed the performance. The most exciting thing about this segment of the show is that Shane and Lil Mama get into it after he shushes her and the audience so he can get his thoughts out. She isn’t having it and some tension ensues. Mama likes to jump back in if she hears something she doesn’t like, especially if it doesn’t jibe with what she’s saying. Sometimes she gets that way – maybe she needs a time-out.

Crew: Boogie Bots

Song: “Control”

During last week’s show, Miguel flubbed the end of the routine and loses confidence during rehearsal. JC advises the crew to shake off any negative vibes from the past and accept this as a new week. He likes but doesn’t love the routine; the crew shines during robotic moves but he thinks they lose energy in other areas. Shane points out a really cool move at the end of the routine where the crew mimics the “Evolution of Man” (loved it). Although she believes they performed better this week than last week, Lil Mama thinks Boogie Bots needs to work on personality and facial expressions.

Crew: SoReal Cru

Song: “I Get Lonely”

Concerned about the opinions of their conservative parents, SoReal Cru tries to balance provocation with artistic merit in order to do Janet justice. Lil Mama assures them that their routine was not overly sexy. I beg to differ (I’m still trying to figure out where that whipped cream came from), but ain’t nothing wrong with that. JC gives the crew a much-needed reality check and reminds them that Janet’s musical content is very often heavily sexual, and that their performance is merely a job. He praises them for handling themselves professionally, despite their fears. Shane dubs this the best performance of the night.

Crew: Super Cr3w

Song: “Black Cat”

This is not one of my favorite Janet songs, but I appreciate DJ Rashida’s hip hop-infused master mix. It suits the crew’s new “do or die” attitude and energy this week. Shane feels Super Cr3w is “back on the map 100%,” due in large part to their fall from the top. He had previously thought that this challenge would be their “kryptonite,”but is thrilled to see how well they handled choreography. JC is also pleased to finally get the choreography he was looking for out of this crew. He believes Super Cr3w really took the challenge seriously, but thinks some of their lines could’ve been cleaner.

Crew: A.S.I.I.D.

Song: “If”

This is THE BEST Janet song choice of the night! And I love the video! Everyone knows the famous hand blade/shuffle move, and the group pulls it off lovely. The costumes, the chairs, the blindfolds, everything was reminiscent of Janet’s style. However, Lil Mama is disappointed the crew didn’t take it to the next level for her. She thinks the ladies were under-utilized as representatives of Janet, and the highlights weren’t enough to carry the rest of the routine. Wait a minute, were we watching the same show? Mama, let’s just agree to really, really disagree. JC thinks it was a wonderful performance and that the ladies did Janet proud. He also gives the crew points for difficulty – the blindfold at the top of the routine removes a second sense from deaf crewmember Joey, and he never misses a beat. I think A.S.I.I.D. is H.O.T! By far, the top routine of the night for me.

The judges surely have a difficult decision to make. I just never thought they’d make this decision.

A.S.I.I.D., your banner must fall. What a mistake to let these fabulous and extremely talented dancers go. Let’s hope Fanny Pak isn’t the next to leave us.

There are seven teams remaining in Randy Jackson’s effort to discover the next great American dance crew. Four find themselves safe to dance another day: Boogie Bots, A.S.I.I.D., Super Cr3w, and SoReal Cru. Of the bottom three, Fanny Pak escapes elimination and joins the safety circle. Our two footloose fighting squads are Supreme Soul and Phresh Select. Gasp!

This week’s challenge is to choreograph a routine to a slow song that switches it up and cranks up the speed.

Crew: Boogie Bots

Song: “Lollipop” by Lil Wayne

Last week, Boogie Bots’ old school video game-inspired routine was tight, creative, and everything you’d expect from these dancing machines. However, something seems to switch off when the speed kicks in. Shane Sparks loves the performance but finds the transition to the fast portion of the routine sloppy. Lil Mama agrees and thinks they need to move more as a group. JC Chasez chooses to ignore the dancing completely and speak only of crewmember Jozar’s comatose dad – I know he’d be proud of his son’s accomplishments too, but what about the challenge? Personally, I wasn’t too impressed. Whoever chose the drab outfits must have been depressed or something. And yes, the transitions were sloppy along with the rest of the fast dancing. The routine came across like they didn’t really care. I don’t believe that’s the case, but looks are often deceiving and Boogie Bots looked like they felt defeated.

Crew: Super Cr3w

Song: “Creator” by Santogold

This song is addictive, but in a strange way. Not like Percocet or chocolate, but more in the vein of sniffing sweaty socks or eating cigarette ash… er, have I said too much? No worries, I’m getting help. It’s odd, it’s cool, and it’s a bit jarring. Love it! Super Cr3w has a great theme that matches their vibe and dance style well: a graffiti artist tagging several golden statues. Lil Mama likes their originality and even dubs them the most original crew on the show. Don’t know if I agree with that, though (see A.S.I.I.D. and Fanny Pak). JC thinks Super Cr3w are “super athletes,” but warns them against wasting precious seconds on too much storytelling and set-up. Shane says that this is the first time he wasn’t blown away by the crew. I wasn’t knocked off my feet either, but did anyone else notice that the dancer playing the tagger knocked kind of hard into the junk of one of the golden statues as he slid through his legs? Did I see that? Way to take one for the team.

Crew: A.S.I.I.D

Song: “Dangerous” by Kardinale Offishall feat. Akon

I like this crew a lot and not because Joey’s deaf – I’m with Lil Mama, no pity parties here. Especially considering Joey’s so friggin’ talented; he should be pitying my two left feet. But his deafness does provide some drama this week. A slo-mo scene from last week’s performance reveals that Joey’s hearing aid flew out of his ear and into the audience, never to be heard from again (wow, no pun intended but that was pretty bad). I wonder if someone caught it and took it home as a souvenir. What good will it do you, you evil bastard? Unless you’re deaf, of course. Oh, Charmaine, you’re on a roll tonight. You should stop now. Well, Joey doesn’t let the loss slow him down. A.S.I.I.D.’s routine doesn’t sacrifice dance for story or vice versa. JC is pleased to note that this is the first group to hit the slow portion of the dance well and take advantage of the full number. However, he is confused with the costumes and their connection to the theme of the routine. What, JC? You haven’t heard of criminal hip hop ballerinas? Shane gets it. He’s completely enamored with the hip hop/ballet fusion, as am I – reminds me a teensy bit of the daring dance style mix of last season’s Broadway/hip hop crew, Iconic. And Lil Mama congratulates Joey for being “the hardest boy in the group.”

Crew: SoReal Cru

Song: “With You” by Chris Brown

Sorry, DJ Rashida, but I’m just not a fan of your master mixes. Until this one. Shane loves it as well and thinks this is the perfect song to set the tone for the night. However, he thinks SoReal’s transition to the fast dancing is weak. Lil Mama gives the group a little more credit by pointing out that their intricate choreography has trouble translating to sped-up music. JC likes the music video feel at the start of the routine but can tell that the crew was thinking too much during the fast section and thus couldn’t adequately sell the dance to the audience.

Crew: Fanny Pak

Song: “Touch My Body” by Mariah Carey

I love, love, love how theatrical this crew is!!! It’s a mini musical movie every week! Tonight, we’re witness to a crazy 80s prom where the punk princess spikes the punch. Lil Mama echoes my sentiments when she declares that “this group totally deserves to be here.” Shane also repeats my thoughts when he claims that Fanny Pak is “his favorite group right now.” JC appreciates that they mastered the most important part of the challenge: transitioning and choreographing to fast music. He also likes that their weekly use of props never interfere with the quality of their dancing. But he does feel a little funny watching white dudes booty shakin’. Don’t know why; they were really good, on par with a lot of club girls I’ve seen. Oh, maybe that’s why.

Crew: Phresh Select

Song: “Shawty Is a 10” by The Dream

The first of the bottom 2 crews to dance for their lives is Phresh Select. During the audition footage, Mark struggles with a “scorpion” transition move but maybe that’s because he’s 8 feet tall! He handles it fine during the routine, but he and his crew still manage to bore Lil Mama. During her comments, she already sounds like she’s saying goodbye and good luck. Shane totally hates the corny nerd theme. Guess it says a lot about me, but I liked the outfits and the theme of the routine. Not so much the dancing. Shane makes an excellent point that Phresh Select formed just prior to the show, so they are lacking a lot of the chemistry other more established crews have.

Crew: Supreme Soul

Song: “Party Like a Rock Star” by The Shop Boyz

Supreme Soul were shocked to find themselves in the bottom 4 last week. Looks like they took that as an invitation to turn up the heat. The song choice is great and I love the hardcore rock vibe to the whole routine. The only thing that disappoints me is the shoddy production work (or is it the editing?) that dictates the front stage-level camera switch to an above-stage shot right at the end of the routine (don’t I sound like I know what I’m talking about?), right before the two center crew members pull their shirts up over their heads to reveal skull faces. Yes, we get to see the terrific star formation but we could have waited to see that. At the very end of the routine and not seconds before. But even that doesn’t take away from an awesome performance. JC says they should come hungry to win every night and Shane praises them for having the best night ever.

After careful deliberation, the judges decide what I’ve already determined…

Phresh Select, your banner must fall.

Next week: The crews must dance to the music of the irrepressible Janet. Ms. Jackson, if you’re nasty.

My prediction is that A.S.I.I.D. and Fanny Pak will thrive. Bottom Three: Boogie Bots, Super Cr3w, and SoReal Cru. Who will lose their spot? Let me know what you think.