Justin Guarini's Idol Comeback

Thu., Jan. 25, 2007 12:44 PM PST by Sarah Hall

At long last, the American Idol experience is panning out for Justin Guarini.

The season-one runner-up has joined TV Guide Channel's Idol Tonight, a live preshow dedicated to the minutiae of the talent competition.

Guarini, whose recording and Broadway careers have fizzled since he lost to Kelly Clarkson, will provide commentary on the show alongside cohosts Kimberly Caldwell, a second-season Idol finalist, and Rosanna Tavarez, a winner of the WB's Popstars.

"He's a lot of fun, and he kind of anchors our commentary, which tends to be a lot edgier and a little more critical," Tavarez told tvguide.com of her new coworker. "He restrains himself a little more, so he's a good balance."

Strictly for those who don't get their fill of American Idol during its multiple airings each week, Idol Tonight features interviews with former finalists, stylists, vocal coaches and industry experts, among others.

According to TV Guide Channel president Ryan O'Hara, the first season of Idol Tonight was one of the network's highest-rated series.

"American Idol is like the Super Bowl week in and week out, and our fans can't get enough of it," O'Hara told the Hollywood Reporter. "We're positioning ourselves as a destination for all things American Idol."

The second season of Idol Tonight will launch in March, after the current pool of contestants shrinks to the final 12.

The sixth season of American Idol maintained its momentum this week, with 32.6 million viewers tuning into Tuesday's episode, featuring the Memphis auditions, and 33.6 million tuning in for Wednesday's episode, featuring the New York auditions.

Highlights included the audition of New Yorker Ian Bernardo (previously seen trying his luck on So You Think You Can Dance), who became combative after Simon Cowell opined that his performance was "rubbish" and was escorted from the judges' chamber by security.

In Memphis, Idol hopeful Phil Stacy missed the birth of his second child in order to try out for the talent contest but—luckily for him—earned a pass to Hollywood. He was then accompanied home by a camera crew so that his poignant first encounter with his daughter could be captured on film, making for a touching television moment.

Next week, the show spotlights the audition process in Birmingham on Tuesday, followed by Los Angeles on Wednesday.