Frank Micelotta / PictureGroup for FOXAll the Amber Rileys of the world, fear not. Jennifer Lopez has your back.
As you may know, the Glee star was famously ousted during the audition process of American Idol. But today, during a press conference in Jersey City, N.J., Lopez (and her backup singers Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler) revealed how her years of experience as a international superstar changes the dynamic for season 10 of Idol:
Lopez told reporters, "I really wanna put [the contestants] through the wringer in the sense that I don't want to let anybody who's really great [not] go through because they're really nervous or whatever...I think we work with them a little more than you maybe you've seen in the past. We give them more of a chance, because we know what it's like to be out there."
Tyler agrees that he and Lopez's years on stage and in the public eye are defining them as judges, at least in these early days. He says, "Some of the kids are so young that I'm not sure if they can get how long it's taken me to be successful and how many clubs I had to play and how I was judged so…[pauses] wonderfully…by the press. [Panel laughs.] And how hard it was to take. But they all took [our criticism] well. A lot of tears. Kind of hard for me. But I'll get over it."
Overall, Tyler described the Jersey City auditioners as being, "Spunky and sparky and crazy and over the top," while J.Lo found them, "Very East Coast."
As for Lopez and Tyler's experience being key to the style of season 10, veteran judge Randy Jackson and Idol host Ryan Seacrest agree that the newcomers' star power is making a big impression on the youngsters trying out. Jackson says, "[Lopez and Tyler are] bringing a new experience, both [are] still hugely successful artists performing currently, doing it. So I think a lot of these kids are watching the two of them, and they idolize what that is."
Seacrest concurs, revealing: "Interestingly, the contestants this year, more than ever, have said that they have grown up watching the show and finally it's their opportunity to audition for the show, so the stakes are really high for them, and then they walk into the show that they've grown up watching with these two superstar judges. It's really been an extra dynamic especially [for me]...outside the room with the contestants. A lot of emotion."
Are you getting excited for Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler to judge Idol this year? We sure are!