Panel of 4 begins 'Idol' auditions

By Erin Carlson

Published: August 28, 2008

NEW YORK — It was her first day as an "American Idol” judge, but already Kara DioGuardi seemed part of the dysfunctional family.

DioGuardi, the freshly installed fourth "Idol” critic, joined Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson in a public show of solidarity Tuesday afternoon as the quartet entered a Chelsea Piers building on Manhattan's west side for a round of Season 8 auditions.

They walked a red carpet amid a media circus aimed at getting the first photo opportunity of DioGuardi with her new co-workers. Cowell summed up the thinking behind adding the singer-songwriter, 37, to the panel.

"It's like, you know, having dinner with three people for seven years, and getting quite bored of each other,” Cowell told reporters. "So, it's having a fourth person, (a) new opinion. I think it's going to be interesting.”

Jackson said, "I think it's going to make it sexier.”

DioGuardi's songs have been recorded by Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Faith Hill and Pink, among others. Her recent Top 40 hits include Stefani's "Rich Girl,” Clarkson's "Walk Away” and Dion's "Taking Chances.”

"Kara has a good reputation of A, having hits; and B, having an opinion. And that's a good combination,” Cowell said, adding, matter-of-factly, "And she's cute.”

"You think I'm cute?” DioGuardi replied (as if she didn't know it already). "Oh, good.”

A smiling Abdul said she was excited to have another woman at the judges' table. She had expressed uncertainty about the new format in a radio interview the day before, saying she was "concerned about the audience and acceptance. Time will tell. We'll see.”

As it happens, Abdul and DioGuardi are longtime friends. They co-wrote the dance song "Spinning Around” for Kylie Minogue in 2000.

"I know Kara, and she speaks her mind, so she will be speaking her mind,” Abdul said of DioGuardi's judging technique.

Cowell said they hadn't decided how ties will be broken in the audition process. In past seasons, two of the three judges had to agree to advance aspiring pop stars to the Hollywood round.

What will be the seating order on the panel?

"I'm going to sit between the two girls,” Cowell said.

Jackson interjected, "I'm going to sit between the two girls, as well.”

And how will the time-starved show fit in four judges' opinions? "Paula will have to speak less,” Cowell said, unable to resist another swipe at his favorite target.

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