'American Idol' Judging Panel Set (For Another Predictable Season?)

Word on the street is that the judging panel for American Idol has been set for the upcoming season of what I guess, will be another predictable season.

Being bored to tears during the audition weeks will be Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick, Jr., and Keith Urban.

I never realized Connick needed a job that badly!

Wait... with Randy not sitting on the panel, who is going to torment the hopefuls with a piece of "harsh reality dog!" ???  Lopez is too damn nice and Urban might be a bit edgier than she is...  but he doesn't have that edge.  I can't really see Connick being sharp with the edge or wit.

This could truly be a wee bit of a boring new season for AI.

But I do like how Fox trumps up the fanfare of their new judging panel in their press release:

"Grammy Award-winning and platinum-selling recording artist, actress, movie and television producer and entrepreneur Jennifer Lopez returns to American Idol XIII as a judge. Lopez will be joined by Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning multi-platinum singer, musician, songwriter, composer and film/television and Broadway actor Harry Connick, Jr.  The two will sit on the IDOL judges' panel with previously announced judge Keith Urban, the four-time Grammy Award-winning country artist who has sold more than 15 million albums."

That's some seriously good chest thumping if I ever do say so myself.

Also, despite rumors of Randy Jackson leaving the cash cow show, he's returning to be a mentor to the contenders.

And the crazy, hyper-paid Ryan Seacrest will once again host.

American Idol premieres for their thirteenth (13th) season in January of 2014, with their audition rounds from Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Detroit, Omaha, Salt Lake City and San Francisco.

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