american idol season 8 goes bang!!!

The eighth season of American Idol will begin on January 13, 2009. Auditions began July 17. It has been revealed that this season will feature fewer drawn-out audition episodes and more half-hour result shows. Mike Darnell, the president of Fox’s alternative programming, stated that this season the contestants will be more emotional and viewers will see more of their reality and emotional state. Also this season will have a fourth judge on the panel: record producer and songwriter Kara DioGuardi.

After Fox and producers promised changes to the show, on August 4 showrunner and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe announced he was leaving “Idol” to focus on international versions of his other show So You Think You Can Dance.

It was also announced that Idol Gives Back will not return this season due to the ongoing economic crisis and recession.

This season will feature for the first time 36 semifinalists with 12 different semifinalists performing every Tuesday. The male, female, and the next top vote getter with the highest number of America’s votes will make it into the top 12. This season will also feature the return of the Wildcard round last used in Season 3 with the judges chosing three eliminated contestants to advance to the finals.