'American Idol' Season 10 Premiere: The Second Coming of Steven Tyler

Wednesday night's "American Idol" premiere was our first chance to see new judge Steven Tyler work his magic. And work it he did.

I'm like most "Idol" fans. I thought the show didn't stand a chance without Simon. Simon was the show, wasn't he? Well, it's a new era.

Rock legend Steven Tyler unleashed his own brand of vocal critiquing and managed to have us rolling in laughter at many of his comments. He was edgy, sweet when needed, and surprisingly real.

As for the comic relief, I think we've found our new Ellen, except this guy actually knows a thing or two about the music biz.

Sample comment to a really bad singer at the Jersey auditions: "Did you eat a lot of paint chips as a child?" And that was really the meanest he got.

Then there was the brotherhood between Tyler and Randy Jackson. Refreshing- because Randy and Simon really didn't high five each other all that much.

Tyler is 62-years old, no spring chicken when it comes to rock gods. He's smart to take a breather and take a job like this. Kid Rock, you can only hope you'll get an offer like this when you're his age!

Because of course, there's the backlash Tyler may receive (or has already received) because he dared to take this job. We already know his Aerosmith Toxic twin Joey Perry was none too pleased that his lead singer took the "Idol" gig. And Kid Rock went public saying Tyler's "Idol" deal was "the stupidest thing he's ever done in his life."

But I don't know about that. What else does Steven Tyler have to prove to the music industry? He has been in Aerosmith for 40 years and they're the best selling American rock band of all time. Sounds like he's done his job to me.

Not that Aerosmith is over or anything. Tyler told Joe Leno last week that he and his band mates will go out on the road later this year.

But after all of his rock and roll trials and tribulations (and he's had a few), Steven Tyler has come a long, long way. Dude looks like a judge to me.

Simon who?