'America Idol' Season 9 Auditions: A Little Something for Everyone

Although the 9^th season of American Idol will not debut on FOX until January, 2010, the audition process is in full swing. With the departure of longtime judge Paula Abdul from the show, celebrity judges have been brought in to help producers wade through the audition process.

With auditions all over the country this summer and fall, celebrity guest judges have been flown in to cities like Boston, Dallas, Orlando and Denver.

With regards to the celebrity judges, there's been a little something for everyone as the auditions have swept across the nation.

Spice Girl Victoria Beckham assisted with auditions in Denver and Boston this summer.
R& B singer Mary J. Blige helped out with the Atlanta auditions in mid-August.

Jonas Brothers heartthrob Joe Jonas filled in during the Dallas audition in late August-- so the tween demographic for the show should be good during the week his episode airs.

Shania Twain gave contestants her two cents during the Chicago auditions, which took place August 31 and September 1^st.

Singers Avril Lavigne and Katy Perry both helped out in the Los Angeles auditions.

In September, Tony award winner and Pushing Daisies star Kristin Chenoweth made a trip to Orlando to help out at the auditions.

And, in what may come as a surprise to some, How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris judged some of the Dallas auditions. Doogie Howser, you ask? Fan may know that Harris is a trained singer who has performed on Broadway, so he's more than qualified to sit in the judge's chair.

Fans may also see American idol season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson sitting at the judges table at some point. While a date has not yet been confirmed, Clarkson has reportedly struck a deal to fill in Abdul's spot during the audition process.

The addition of celebrity judges will make for an interesting process, which will culminate with the new live episodes of the show that will air this winter. Ellen DeGeneres has been signed on as Paula Abdul's permanent replacement when the series begins tracking the finalists in January. The addition of DeGeneres to the American Idol judge's panel has been controversial, but FOX is banking on the fact that she'll do well- they reportedly signed DeGeneres on for a five season deal.

As for Abdul, she Twittered to her fans this summer, "With sadness in my heart, I've decided not to return to Idol."

But clearly, even with numerous celebrity guest judges needed to fill her shoes, the show will go on.

Sources:

www.americanidol.com

YahooNews

www.twitter.com/paulaabdul