American Idol 2011 Schedule Released

It’s finally here! FOX has just released their American Idol 2011 schedule after presumably trying to keep as much secret as possible about the new season and its changes. We’ll have four rounds of auditions, starting in New York / New Jersey followed by New Orleans in the first week of the show. After they weed through the masses to find golden tickets we’ll be whisked away to Hollywood week.

New in this season will be the Las Vegas round where the Idol hopefuls will be performing Beatles songs to stay alive during the Top 20 cut which comes at the end of February. After that we’ll be in to the real meet of the American Idol season when the first results show hits in early March.

AMERICAN IDOL 2011 SCHEDULE:
(All times begin at 8:00 PM ET/PT)

• Wednesday, Jan. 19 Season Premiere, Part 1
  New York / New Jersey Audition Episode
• Thursday, Jan. 20 Season Premiere, Part 2
  New Orleans Audition Episode
• Wednesday, Jan. 26 Audition Episode
• Thursday, Jan. 27 Audition Episode
• Wednesday, Feb. 2 Audition Episode
• Thursday, Feb. 3 Audition Episode
• Wednesday, Feb. 9 Audition Episode
• Thursday, Feb. 10 Audition Episode
• Wednesday, Feb. 16 Hollywood Round, Part 1
• Thursday, Feb. 17 Hollywood Round, Part 2
• Wednesday, Feb. 23 Las Vegas Round
• Thursday, Feb. 24 Top 20 Semifinalists Announced
• Tuesday, March 1 Semifinalists Perform
• Wednesday, March 2 Semifinalists Perform
• Thursday, March 3 First Results Show and Finalists Announced

What the New Judges Say

Simon Cowell’s departure from American Idol to pursue his new show, X Factor, has many fans worried that the void he’s left will never be filled. But the new panel of American Idol 2011 judges don’t seem nearly as worried.

Randy Jackson, the only original judge, with his take on who will bring Cowell’s trademark snark:

“Look, it’s definitely been interesting. We definitely miss [Simon], but it’s a different kind of vibe. It’s a different kind of energy now… People have been saying to us, ‘Who’s mean?’ We’ve all traded off on that because I think you have to always give people the truth, no matter what.”

Jennifer Lopez thinks the panel will make more group decisions which is fine by me as long as we don’t get a repeat of Kara saying whatever Randy just said.

“We’re more of a collaborative judging group,” adds Lopez. “We’re always leaning over to each other and saying, ‘Oh my God, I think she’s good.’ ‘Oof, I don’t get it.’ ‘You don’t like it?’ I mean, not in a way where it becomes disrespectful to [the contestant’s] moment, but we discuss things. We just have a totally different style than any of the past judging tables.”

Then there’s Steven Tyler who seems to wander off the judges topic, but sure seems excited about the talent they’re seeing.

“It’s just astounding,” he says. “We throw the drift net out and look what comes up? Gold. [I’m] crying, honestly, from someone who hit the notes so sweetly and beautifully, not just that it’s the end of the day and thank God this motherf—er is the last one. Not that.”