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Fox Announces Plans For New Season Of 'American Idol'

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2008

TAMPA - There will be fewer audition episodes, a special wild-card night and more contestants going to Hollywood when "American Idol" returns for its eighth season in January.

Fox announced today that the season will kick off with a two-night, four-hour premiere event on Jan. 13 and 14.

The changes are being made to give good singers a better chance to advance, says producer Ken Warwick.

Season eight will have three weeks of auditions rather than four, creating room for a second Hollywood week. Simon Cowell will break tie votes to decide whether a singer goes to Hollywood.

Thirty-six hopefuls, up from 24, will be chosen for February's semifinals, and wild-card picks — back for the first time since the third season — will let the judges put three singers into the top 12.

Those changes, along with the addition of fourth judge Kara DioGuardi, are just "tweaks" to an already winning program, Warwick says. "They're not megachanges. They are just little things to keep the whole format fresh and interesting."

The "Idol Gives Back" charity fundraiser is taking the year off but is expected to return for a third time in the ninth season.

The audition episodes will feature tryouts held in East Rutherford, N.J.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Kansas City, Mo.; Louisville, Ken.; Phoenix; Salt Lake City; San Francisco; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

After the two-night premiere, auditions will continue for two weeks on Jan. 20, 21, 27, 28 and 29.

Those who get the judges' approval then move on to the "Hollywood Round" where contestants will vie for a semifinalist position during the grueling next phase of the auditions.

Extended for one week, the "Hollywood Round" episodes air Feb. 3, 4 and 10.

On Feb. 11, dreams will come true for three dozen hopefuls as Simon, Randy, Paula and Kara announce the Top 36 semifinalists.

It will then be up to America to decide who moves forward in the competition. For three consecutive Tuesdays, including Feb. 17 and 24 and March 3, a dozen different semifinalists will perform each night in the hopes of moving on to the Top 12.

Each week during the live results shows, airing Feb. 18 and 25 and March 4, the three contestants with the highest number of America's votes – one man, one woman and the next top vote getter – will secure coveted spots in the Top 12.

On March 5 there will be a special "Wild Card" episode featuring the judges' favorite remaining contestants. After each of the contestants performs, the judges will select the three final contestants to round out the Top 12.

The competition will heat up as those Top 12 finalists take the stage together for the first time on March 5.

"Idol" was down about 7 percent in viewer numbers last season. Warwick says there might be a slight drop this coming season considering the economy and overall decline in broadcast ratings.

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813 259-7654 or wbelcher@tampatrib.com.

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