"American Idol" 2011 Starts Off with a More Fluid Mentoring Judging Panel

"American Idol" 2011 starts out leaving people looking for more fireworks from the new judges. However, most people will come away feeling that the network did a great jump off to the new "AI" season with a play down of all the over the top contestants that we had been so use to seeing in past seasons. This year the season actually started off with a more positive, mentoring attitude being represented by all the judges. Randy Jackson played the senior guiding judge that set the pace and setup the contestants for the new music icon judges, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez.

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, "wow what a breath of fresh air," not only did he come off as the rebel we all have known and loved but he also played the senior mentoring judge who will push the contestants to bring it. Jennifer Lopez, aka J Lo on the other hand will most likely as the season progresses show that she can not only be compassionate and forgiving, but will also be real with the contestants and their talent or lack there of.

This season has already started off on a positive note and is in no way looking like last season's last leg of the phenom known as "AI."

The new "AI" season started with past Idol winners giving basically a brief thank you to "American Idol" and the fans that helped them live their dreams. "American Idol's, Welcome Home" also gave people a brief glimpse of what "AI" truly is, a chance for young music hopefuls who have magnificent voices to share their gift with the world.

Lopez decided to be the judge that truly saw a way to forever change these young people's lives. Steven Tyler, of Aerosmith showed his thirst to find that next Janis Joplin. That once contestant that blows the music industry away.

Another new edition is Jimmy Iovine who is the head of Interscope Records. Mr. Iovine will essentially work as a contestant's consultant or guide in order to hopefully find the next Madonna or Britney Spears.

The contestants proved that there is an endless array of raw talent this year, but of course there are always those contestants are delusional. Tyler said it best to one contestant when he asked if they had ate too many paint chips as a child.

The contestant talent for the first episode seemed to be a little pushed this year with more of them being passed through than seasons gone by, but I think a little of that was the network allowing for more contestants this year being sent through to Hollywood. As the auditions progress things could change but the first show seemed to be concentrating more on the judges showing they can be comrades and offer the contestants guidance.

Night Two on "American Idol" brought much of the same as the first night. A mix of delusional contestants that believe they can sing and contestants that not only have a good story but indeed have talent. The contestants that really stood out from the crowd was a 15 yr old charming young man Jacee Badeaux, that looked much younger in age and sung "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding. The other contestant was a beautiful young woman Paris Tassin, who had a special needs daughter. The story about her daughter was heartbreaking and anyone watching could see Jennifer Lopez, a mother herself was touched by the contestants hardship.

Ultimately the "American Idol" opening episodes showed endless laughs, as well as the ease and harmony between the judges. In the end, the first two episodes of "AI" showed this year's "AI" fans that the "American Idol" phenom is alive and well.

References for this article include: www.tvguide.com/tvshows/american-idol/100036
www.dailynews.com/news/ci_17135423
www.tv.com/american-idol/first-show-first-recap/episode/288967/summary.html