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AMERICAN IDOL adds Kara DioGuardi to its panel of judges

August 25th, 2008 by Scott Marks

Kara DioGuardi

Just as my annual withdrawal symptoms from American Idol appear to have subsided, news comes that the show’s producers are going to fix what isn’t broken by adding a fourth judge.

When season 8 kicks off next January, look for Grammy-nominated songwriter Kara DioGuardi to get her own gigantic Coca-Cola cup as she takes a seat alongside Simon, Paula and Randy on the judges’ panel. In a statement, Mike Darnell, Fox’s president of alternative programming said, “For the past seven seasons, Paula has had to endure the experience of being the only woman at the judges’ table.”

Gender notwithstanding, Abdul is clearly the dopiest of the three judges. She makes Randy’s banter about the “dog pound” and his constant use of the word “pitchy” look pithy. Apart from the audition phase, where America looks for its next William Hung, Abdul’s slurred line readings, hackneyed advice and verbal bouts with Simon are invariably more entertaining than any of the contestants vocal skills.

“With Kara by her side, Paula has some backup and now there is going to be a lot more `girl power’ on the show,” Darnell said. WOOOOOOOO! GIRL POWER! WOOOOOO! Give the goddamned simple-minded sloganizing a rest already!

“We are turning the heat up on Idol this year and are thrilled to welcome Kara to the judges’ table,” said creator and executive producer Simon Fuller in a statement. “She is a smart, sassy lady, and one of America’s most successful songwriters. We know she will bring a new level of energy and excitement to the show.”

Turning up the heat or desperately trying to win back viewers tired of the same-old same-old?

The extremely successful Ms. DioGuardi has written, produced and/or sang backup for Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Pink, Miley Cyrus and the Pussycat Dolls. For me, the biggest news to come from this story is that someone actually writes the crap the Pussycat Dolls sing.

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