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
Winter TV Preview: Inside 18 New Shows
Writers' strike got you down? Fret not: Here's the scoop on new episodes of the returning ''American Idol,'' ''Jericho,'' and ''Greek,'' as well as newcomers like ''Lipstick Jungle,'' ''Jezebel James,'' and ''Oprah's Big Give'' to carry you 'til spring
Add your comment
The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.