Fox’s American Idol producers revealed at the Television Critics Association press event that the show will be making changes in order to modernize.
With new judges Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. joining Keith Urban, the show is going into its 13th season on Wednesday amid more competition than ever with shows like NBC’s The Voice.
According to The AP, executive producer Per Blankens said the show will be updated a bit, such as adding more up-to-date song choices for the contestants to sing and for younger audiences to relate to.
In addition, ahead of the regular Hollywood week round of auditions, they’re putting into a place a “rush week.”
TV Guide reports another change they’re making is implementing a boot camp run by former just Randy Jackson, which will teach the singing hopefuls valuable tools for their careers. Executive producer Tish Kinane explained, "Randy is going to be hosting a two-day workshop,” adding, "Randy is very much putting this together, and that will carry through to the live shows.”
The last new addition to the show will something called “the Chamber,” which contestants will enter before their first audition to prepare themselves. "Some people pray, some people sing, some people look under their arms to see if they're perspiring," said Kinane.
image: FOX