AI

American Idol has begun yet another season amidst questions of whether the season has lost its luster.

In order to counter the effects of 8 years on the air, Idol producers have changed some key elements of the show. The biggest? The addition of 4th judge Kara. Of course there are some questions of friction, Simon has always been a bit misogynistic and what will Paula think of no longer being the only female judge?! But alas, these take a backseat to what Kara actually offers. She's an accomplished writer and singer who has some serious pipes. On a show whose sole purpose is to look for a singer, it's about time we get a singing judge. And no, Paula does not count.

How do I know she can sing? Well, beyond the fact that the media blitz preceding the season told anyone who would listen that she could, she gave us the treat of seeing it. And then came bikini girl. This mediocre, Turrets ridden? singer showed up to her audition with nothing but a bikini on. And I'll give it to her, she looked great. But girl could not handle the Mariah song she picked out. So Kara showed her how it was done. I don't see her getting past Hollywood week (which is, amazingly, in Hollywood this year!), but I guess she got what she wanted. Even I'm talking about her.

We have plenty of producer wet dreams this season, the legally blind contestant, the man taking care of his dying mother, the single mom. My money's on a plain brunette with a unique tone who Paula said reminded her of Kelly. In store we have an extra gruesome Hollywood Week, a larger semi-final batch, and the return of the wild card round! Hopefully Paula's prediction is a good portend to a return to first season glory. None of this Taylor non-sense.

Sidenote: Buy Kelly's new single "My Life Would Suck Without You" and keep it number one again on iTunes next week!