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.”