Judge DioGuardi Is Just What Idol Needs

The addition of hit songwriter-producer Kara DioGuardi as a fourth judge on American Idol is a much better fix for flagging ratings than simply sending irrelevant judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson packing, writes Andy Dehnart for MSNBC. While guest judges in the past haven't had much effect, DioGuardi will bring youth and relevancy to an aging and increasingly pedestrian panel, he predicts.

DioGuardi has hinted that she might not dish out blind praise as easily as Abdul and Jackson. The show's producers seem to hope that all her work with current stars like Miley Cyrus and Gwen Stefani will translate into bigger success for the next winner the show churns out. No winner since Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood has been unequivocally idolized.
(More American Idol stories.)