“American Idol”: Can Randy Be A Tough Enough Bad Cop?

Thursday, 20 January 2011 | by Pat's Picks

The new “American Idol” judges made their debut last night. Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler both settled in nicely, but it was clear that neither is going to take over Simon Cowell’s role as the bearer of honest feedback for those who need it.

If you’ve read my past blog posts about “Idol,” you know that I am a huge Simon fan. Not because he’s mean but because he’s almost always right. And he wasn’t shy about sharing his opinion with contestants. That made for good TV and it’s why there’s a big hole in the program as its 10th season gets underway.

One of the storylines producers played up last night was the reluctance of the new judges, particularly Jennifer Lopez, to say “no” to any earnest and somewhat capable contestant. They’re going to have to develop that skill soon. Randy Jackson reluctantly took the lead in dismissing weak entrants, but he could use a little more help than he got last night. In her New York Post column, TV critic Linda Stasi had high praise for the new “Idol” panel. But the Post also rated the judges on a sweet or nasty scale, and Randy was the only one who got anywhere near the nasty side of the scale:

Aside from the reluctance to be mean, the new judges impressed me. J Lo was fun and likable. When she told a returning contestant that she remembered her Season 6 audition, it was warm and sincere. Steven Tyler was fun, engaged and proved his musical depth. (USA Today noted that he’s stepped into Paula Abdul’s role as the wacky judge who interacts with contestants.)

Of course, the secret to the show’s ratings success is its ability to uncover true talent. The judges are just a small part of that. But the show is off to a good start in a critical year. And I’m looking forward to seeing how Season 10 plays out.