'American Idol' is jamming, thanks to the new judges

By Robert Bianco, USA TODAY

Many of us thought American Idol would survive without Simon Cowell. But who knew it would prosper?

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  By Michael Becker, AP

  Remix: Newcomers Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler jumped into the mix with Randy Jackson, left, and Ryan Seacrest, right.

By Michael Becker, AP

Remix: Newcomers Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler jumped into the mix with Randy Jackson, left, and Ryan Seacrest, right.

Yet it has, not just in the ratings ? which show some natural erosion but not the precipitous drop many expected ? but also in critical and viewer reaction. Much of the credit goes to returning producer Nigel Lythgoe, whose tweaks lend the show a renewed energy, and to the contestants, a more varied and entertaining group than last year's crew. But main credit goes to the judges who chose those singers.

If newcomers Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler and returnee Randy Jackson have made Idol more enjoyable, it's as much for what they're not doing as what they are. Gone are the bickering, flirting, inane jabber, failed attempts at humor and nastiness for nastiness' sake. It may have been worth losing Cowell, as worthy a critical force as he was, to be spared the school-boy banter between him and Ryan Seacrest.

"Better," of course, does not mean perfect. The set can be too busy, the sound too mushy, and there have been far too many times when the panel should have ignored the singers and slammed the overly intrusive new music producers. And while I don't miss Cowell's fondness for cruel jabs, I do miss his honesty and his perspicacity: There are moments you can almost hear him screaming "self-indulgent" or "ghastly."

Clearly, there's room for improvement. Now that they're in the live-show stretch, a few pointers for the panel:

Jennifer Lopez. One of the surprises and joys of the season has been watching her blossom as a TV star, a far warmer and more appealing presence than many would have guessed. And last week, she found a way to retain that warmth while offering more pointed, relevant remarks, the only way for a judge to aid the better singers and weed out weaker ones. Let's hope she stays on that path.

Steven Tyler. Like Lopez, he's been a surprisingly joyful addition, pairing a bit of Paula Abdul's loopiness with more musical credibility. But unlike Lopez, he still seems to be searching for his judicial role. So here's a suggestion: Start paying attention to when singers are ignoring the meaning of the lyrics or indulging themselves at the expense of the song, and call them on it. Oh, and enough with the cursing. Children in the theater shouldn't have to hear it, and parents at home shouldn't have to explain the "bleeps."

Randy Jackson. Congratulations to Jackson for stepping it up, being more critical more often and expanding beyond "pitchy." Now, please drop the name dropping. It makes it look like you're trying to convince us you deserve the job; that just makes people wonder if you do.

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