American Idol Season 10 2-Hour Premiere Recap

American Idol - the biggest, most influential talent show in the world is back on its 10th Season!

Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, American Idol Season 10 welcomes a brand-new judges, positive changes, lots of surprises and some red-hot talent.

The Emmy-Award winning show added two new judges to join resident judge Randy Jackson this season: recording superstars Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, frontman of rock band Aerosmith. Highly regarded record producer Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, also debuts as the new season's in-house mentor.

Actress and platinum-selling singer Lopez, or J. Lo, is quite impressed with many of new IDOL hopefuls. She told the L.A. Times, "We've put a bunch of people through - probably more than they have in the past. We have about 15-20 real superstars... people who could be recording artists."

Rock icon Tyler is similarly impressed. But the Grammy winning recording artist also promises to be as straightforward as possible.

For Season 10, a number of positive changes are set to make the show even bigger and brighter. The audition episodes will kick off with New York/New Jersey, followed by New Orleans. Those who make it during the auditions will go on to the Hollywood Rounds.

The hopefuls who survive the Hollywood round go on to the next round, where, for the first time ever on IDOL, contestants will get to perform in Las Vegas, on the Cirque du Soleil LOVE stage no less. More twists, surprises and shockers are ahead, including a change in the selection of finalists.

Will the "Wild Card" - the option of the judges to add one more contestant - return this season? Will the judges get along? What outfits will J. Lo - the woman who wore the green Versace dress with the infamous plunging neckline - have on IDOL? And, of course, will another Fil-Am make it to the finals?

Here's what the netizens have to say about the two-hour first of two-episode premiere of American Idol Season 10 last January 20:

American Idol feels the Jersey Shore effect (PopDust) – Maura Johnston: “There was also a bit where Steven Tyler seemed like he was morphing into the Black Swan.”

New Jersey Auditions – I Had This Disease When I Was 5, But I’m Fine Now… Love Me Anyway (Vote for the Worst) – Dave Della Terza: “So what did we learn tonight? The new judges feel bad for all of the contestants so they let anyone through to Hollywood who cries.”

‘American Idol’ New Jersey auditions: The recap (Joe’s Place Blog) – Mila: “It almost looked like the show had remade the judges’ panel in the image of Paula Abdul.”

American Idol Season 10 Premiere: What Did You Think? (TV Line) – Michael Slezak: “Admittedly, night one of Idol 10.0 wasn’t its most thrilling installment of all-time ever, but the show’s increased emphasis on truly talented singers — and its decision not to belabor audition packages from the talentless, the deluded, and the attention-craving - made for a zippy, feel-good 120 minutes.”

‘American Idol’ Episode 1 Recap: Steven Tyler Steals–And Maybe Saves–The Show (Reality Rocks) – Lyndsey Parker: “Steven had me at “hello”–or more specifically, he had me the first time he let a curse word slip during the show’s cold open. And the second time. And the third. And that was just, like, the first 10 minutes.”

Renewed Idol Washes Up on Jersey Shore (Tubular) – Joey Guerra: “Simon Cowell is gone. Deal with it. I have. This is essentially a new show. And all in all, it worked. I honestly didn’t find myself missing him almost at all.”

American Idol 10: New judges, new life for 10th season premiere (Idol Watch) – Howard Cohen: “Steven Tyler’s unpredictable nature and oft-bleeped comments could be a source of fun this season.”

‘American Idol’ finally has a grown-ups table (L.A. Times) – Mary McNamara: “… it was gratifyingly clear that for the first time in a long time the fumblings and flailings of contestants fighting to find their feet on stage will not be mirrored by the judges table.”

American Idol 10 – New York/New Jersey Recap Live Blog (MJ’s Big Blog) – MJ Santilli: “Steven Tyler is going to be the BREAKOUT STAR of American Idol Season 10. Tonight, I was so enamored with the Aerosmith frontman-he managed to balance eloquence and heart with balls-to-the-walls crazy–that I didn’t give Simon Cowell a second thought.”

‘American Idol’ Premiere Plays Nice with Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler (Billboard) – “There are no more mean judges, and Jennifer Lopez might be the nicest one of all.”

Tiffany Rios American Idol Audition




Rachel Zevita American Idol Audition




Travis Orlando American Idol Audition




Robbie Rosen American Idol Audition





In the Philippines, American Idol Season 10 kicks off with a two-episode premiere on January 20 and 21, 6pm via satellite (with same day replays at 7:45 for January 20 and 8 pm for January 21) on Q Channel 11.