Real Time

American Juniors

Fox · Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Already this ''American Idol'' for kids is shaping up to be a pint-size hit (the debut episode was watched by some 11.9 million viewers, making it the 10th-most-watched program of the week). Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the show puts some fresh twists on ''Idol.'' The parents and not the performers are the targets of teasing, the youngsters are invited to chat cutely about their feelings à la ''Kids Say the Darndest Things,'' and a singing group of five (instead of a solitary winner) will be selected at the end of the series. Explains coexecutive producer Ken Warwick: ''The pressures and strains at this level of the music business are too much for one young person, so this way they'll have four mates to go through it with them.'' Still, except for the size of the contestants, the fundamental goal remains the same: to find talented, soulful singers and, if at all possible, make someone cry on national TV.