American Idol Returns in the Shadow of Tragedy with Kara DioGuardi as a New Judge

American Idol is back, beginning its series of auditions in Phoenix, Arizona, in the blazing heat of 106 degrees. It's summertime in the city, and American Idol's talent contest is a huge sensation every year. This year promises no fewer screaming teenaged fans than the last. There is a bit of a shadow cast on this year's American Idol, with Paula Abdul's sale of her home in the Los Angeles area due to the tragic suicide death of Paula Goodspeed, a doomed Idol contestant who just couldn't handle the spotlight.

To take our minds off those contestants whom American Idol may or may not have intentionally driven to the brink of self-destruction, there is a really sexy new judge, Kara DioGuardi, who is a rather talented, hot little vixen whom I wouldn't mind seeing in a bikini.

Dioguardi can also hold her own in the studio, having worked on several top 10 pop albums with the best of American Idol stars. It's great to have DioGuardi around, because the team needs a fresh face who is not jaded by how bad the auditions are, so we can expect an element of genuine surprise coming from her, and not just a bunch of catch phrases about pitchy dawgs. Arf!

Despite the addition of Dioguardi to add some authority to the judge's panel, I fear that this year promises to be just as useless and mean-spirited as the last few years, and even my mom doesn't seem that interested in watching; in fact, she told me she's recording the Daily Show and watching The Biggest Loser instead, because she likes the healthy tips and exercise spots they offer. She totally forgot Idol was even back on Fox yet.

This year's talent, at least thus far in Phoenix, seems to be slightly less focused on humiliating contestants who really, really, shouldn't be there. I suppose they can't drop it entirely, but it really makes me sad when I see them insulting someone who obviously doesn't need to be kicked again from whence they lie.

I blame the lack of my mom's viewer interest in the big giant yawn brought on by old time musical guests like Tony Bennett, who doesn't really appeal to the mid-50s crowd. I also think that Idol needs to bring on more contestants who have taken singing lessons, and let fewer people through the audition if they're just hometown karaoke superstars with no real talent.

Paula Abdul is, of course, still around, and just as likely to be kooky, funny, and show up to auditions half asleep and cranky this season. However, due to the selection of David Cook last season, there is some doubt that Simon Cowell will go his usual queeny route and subsequently fail to recognize many forms of non-pop talent and send home anyone with any actual heart or soul. Let's hope this year, American Idol will step up, audition some people with actual talent, and stop manipulating the mentally ill for better "reality" tv.

David Cook, last year's Idol winner, is already set on a course to stardom. Who will be the next dreamer whose life is changed on American Idol 2009? Will it be someone you know?