American Idol Video: Kristy Lee Cook

I like this girl.

FOX Re-Works Midseason Schedule

Fox has tweaked its strike-affected midseason schedule, giving two troubled series, "New Amsterdam" and "The Return of Jezebel James," coveted previews behind ratings juggernaut "American Idol," which returns January 15.

Fox was the first network to rejigger its midseason lineup on November 7, the third day of the Hollywood writers strike, and has made the most dramatic strike-related scheduling move, keeping the incomplete season of "24" on the shelf until next season. Now that the work stoppage is shaping up to be a long one, Fox executives have taken another look at their lineup.

"As we have new information on our needs, we thought it was time to adjust the schedule," said scheduling chief Preston Beckman. "We want to make sure we give all new shows every opportunity to find an audience because we may need them."

The March 10 launch for the supernatural detective drama "New Amsterdam" will follow two previews after "Idol" Tuesday, March 4 and Thursday, March 6. The Parker Posey comedy "Jezebel James" will get sampling after "Idol" on Wednesday, March 12, two days ahead of its premiere. ("Idol" will expand to three nights a week for three weeks, beginning February 21.)

The strike has boosted both shows' chances, since fresh episodes of any shows are in strong demand. In October, Fox shut down production on "New Amsterdam" with seven episodes in the can, and cut the order on "Jezebel James" to 7 from 13.

"New Amsterdam" stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as a New York City homicide detective who happens to be immortal, while "Jezebel James" stars Posey as a successful book editor who learns that she is unable to conceive.

The Simpsons on American Idol

The Simpsons judge Simon on American Idol.

Jordin Sparks - Tattoo (HQ Audio) with lyrics!

Jordin Sparks' debut single "Tattoo" from her debut album which will be released on November 20.

American Idol winner Jordin Sparks signed to Jive

American Idol winner Jordin Sparks has signed to Britney Spears' record label Jive.

The teenager--the TV talent show's youngest winner ever--has become the first Idol winner to join the label.

Her first single, "Tattoo," will be released at the end of August, and her debut album is slated for a November release.

In a statement from her new boss Barry Weiss, he says, "Her poise, her amazing vocal ability, her relentless optimism has been apparent to millions of fans all around the world. We’re honored to have this burgeoning worldwide superstar on Jive Records.”

Calling all 'American Idol' wannabes

By Bill Keveney, USA TODAY

Weren't we just here?

Just a month after American Idol winner Jordin Sparks was showered with confetti on the Kodak Theatre stage in Los Angeles, the top-rated Fox series is gearing up for Season 7 auditions.

San Diego, a first-time audition site, will kick off the seven-city tour July 30. New audition cities Omaha, Charleston, S.C., and Philadelphia join Dallas, Atlanta and Miami on the tour, which last year attracted 100,000 hopefuls, according to Fox estimates.

"We do like to see America," executive producer Nigel Lythgoe says of the annual search for vocal talent. Smaller cities, such as Charleston or an earlier site, Greensboro, N.C., "produce some wonderful stuff."

The tryouts will start a week earlier than last season because producers also will be conducting auditions for a new Fox reality series, The Search for the Next Great American Band.

Atlanta, Charleston, Dallas and Miami may bolster Idol's typically strong Southern flavor. Last season's finale, when Arizona's Sparks bested Washington state's Blake Lewis, was the first without a singer from the South, which provides one of Idol's largest fan bases.

Whether any city will perform as well as Season 6's Seattle, much maligned by judge Simon Cowell, remains to be seen. (Sparks and Lewis auditioned in Seattle.)

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Lythgoe says. "Everything was condemned about Seattle … and out of it came Sanjaya (Malakar), the two finalists and the songwriters" who wrote Sparks' finale single.

After battling the elements in some earlier seasons, Idol will hold most auditions indoors, save for Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego and Dallas' Texas Stadium, which has a partly covered roof.

As with past audition tours, Idol producers will narrow each city's field to 300 to 400 of the best and worst singers. Lythgoe and co-executive producer Ken Warwick will then cull to about 120 per city to sing to judges Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

Producers want to find a way to make sure more good singers make it through the initial auditions and the Hollywood round and into the final 24.

"Too many slipped through the net," Lythgoe says, adding that no big changes are planned.

Last season, Tuesday and Wednesday episodes (29.5 million viewers and 30 million, respectively) were TV's top two shows, although Tuesday was 5% below Season 5's record number. Wednesdays matched Season 5, also a series high.

Auditions are open to 16- to 28-year-olds as of July 28. Details are at americanidol.com.

'Idol' producers pull out of Emmys

The surprise move prompted more than a few grumbles within TV circles.

"American Idol" executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick, who were enlisted to bring their hit-making pizazz to this year's Emmy Awards, abruptly pulled out of the show Friday, a surprise move that prompted more than a few grumbles within TV circles.

Veteran producer Ken Ehrlich, who has helmed several previous Emmy broadcasts, has been recruited to take over the live broadcast, which will air Sept. 16th on Fox.

Lythgoe and Warwick said in a statement that they felt they had too many projects, including the finale of "American Idol" and the return of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" to give sufficient attention to producing the Emmys.

Said the duo: "We looked at our upcoming slate of projects ... and the additional shows we will be involved in this summer, and realized that we could not devote the creative energy and time necessary to make the Emmys outstanding for the Academy and FOX."

Some insiders blasted the producers, saying they should have realized before taking on the Emmys that the show would require a huge commitment.

The announcement in February by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which sponsors the awards, that Lythgoe and Warwick would produce the 59th annual Emmys was greeted with much hoopla, due to their roles in running "Idol," television's most popular series. The two were expected to help juice the ceremony's recent lackluster ratings.

In an interview following that announcement, Lythgoe had boasted how he was looking forward to bringing some sparkle and excitement to the Emmys.

"How could you present the cast of 'Heroes'?" he wondered of NBC's pulpy hit drama. "Could they come flying in on wires? Could you stop time? Those are the things I want to look at ... I think we're gonna shock people."

Said Academy president Dick Askin of the departure of Lythgoe and Warwick: "We respect Nigel and Ken's decision and are fortunate that Ken Ehrlich has agreed to return to executive-produce his fourth primetime Emmy telecast. He did a terrific job with the Emmys last year, and we are glad to have him back."

The Emmys, like other televised awards shows, has seen a steady erosion in its viewership in recent years. Last year's Emmy broadcast on NBC, with an average viewership of 16.18 million, was the second least-watched Emmy telecast since 1991.