After the American Idol 2013 disaster season, the show's new judges are putting the past behind them as they begin auditions for the upcoming new season in 2014. Keith Urban is the only returning judge from "American Idol" 2013, as he's joined by new judge Harry Connick Jr., and returning Jennifer Lopez. The new judging panel said they're really clicking on the show, according to WebProNews on Oct. 5.
"American Idol" went through a lot of changes in the off season, not only to the judges panel, but there's a new format for the reality singing competition as well as new producers.
Original judge Randy Jackson shocked fans when he announced he was leaving at the end of the 2013 season. However, now he says he'll return as the replacement mentor as Jimmy Iovine exits the show.
Idol made the big changes to the judging panel, which was widely believed to be to blame for the 2013 ratings drop. Likely Urban is breathing a sigh of relief since he won't have to referee any cat fights on the panel like he did with Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carrey last season.
The judges appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show Thursday, telling her the chemistry between them is very strong. Ellen ran a clip of Connick Jr. from May of this year where he said that despite the rumors he was in negotiations, he wasn't joining "American Idol".
"How long have you been a liar?", DeGeneres quipped according to E! News.
The singing show just wrapped the second round of Salt Lake City auditions on Friday, and so far things look like they're going great.
The 13th season of Idol debuts January 15 on Fox.
