AMERICAN IDOL
Returns Jan. 15
8:00-10:00 PM (FOX)

American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe wants us all to know that he is completely aware something went horribly wrong last season. ''Last year we had nobody outstanding,'' he admits of the leggy, pony-hawked, and beat-boxing top 12. ''I promise it's a different year altogether.'' Now that the apologies are out of the way, what's new about season 7? For starters, contestants that reach Hollywood will be allowed to play instruments to accompany their crooning. ''No one did anything stupid,'' Lythgoe says. ''The worst was some poor guy playing drums and doing a very poor impression of Karen Carpenter.'' Far from poor was some of the talent Lythgoe and judge Randy Jackson unearthed during auditions in San Diego. ''San Diego was da bomb,'' Jackson says, adding, ''That's D.A. Space. B.O.M.B.'' (Thanks, Randy.) —Jessica Shaw

Episodes set to air: Zillions