JLo casts long shadow over other judges as ‘American Idol’ returns

This
was never clearer than when, at the end of a sneak preview of
Wednesday’s premiere for season 13 at the UCLA campus, judge Keith Urban
gallantly descended the stage at an auditorium to cheers from the
audience and put his arm around a trembling questioner. He handed her
the microphone.

Her first question: “JLo, can I have a hug?”

That theme seemed
prevalent in the series premiere where Urban and new judge Harry Connick
Jr. good-naturedly made fun of themselves and the fact that most of the
contestants were in awe of returning judge JLo, at the expense of the
two other judges.

“It’s like we’re bookends,” complained Connick in the premiere. “Nobody ever looks at us.”

At one point, while
one contestant is having a breakdown over seeing Lopez in the flesh,
Urban leans over to Connick and says: “So Harry, what have you been
doing lately?”

There is even a segment with Connick walking around with the subtitle “Who Dat?” to contestants trying to figure out who he is.

The ribbing is in
stark contrast to last season when judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj
were decidedly chilly to one another, leaving Urban looking decidedly
uncomfortable at times. This time around — in between the constant
high-fives — he seems to have developed something of a bro-mance with
Connick.

And if the premiere is
anything to judge by — the chemistry between the judges is the best
yet. It’s also, perhaps taking a cue from competitor The Voice, the first time that the judging panel is composed entirely of musical performers.

The notion of people
actually getting along seems antithetical to riveting TV, where conflict
drives ratings. But in this case it works. And it looks like this trio
could actually drive the show back to the top of the ratings. The
casting seems that good.

Much of it is due to the humour of Connick, who is superb as the new judge.

One of the funniest
moments you will see on TV this year is Connick holding up a contestant
like a baby while he is being sung to.

“I could watch that over and over again,” said Lopez at the point of tears on stage at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

“I haven’t bathed since. He smelled good,” deadpans Connick.

The reception at UCLA
amongst fans was also much warmer, compared to a day earlier at the
Television Critics Convention where, as customary, no one clapped or
applauded the stars. But seeing them in a fan environment is much
different and brings home the visceral connection that some fans see in
the judges, who are also major stars.

Idol, of
course, is a rare phenomenon in television, experiencing a nine-year
streak at the top of the ratings, before losing it. This could well get
them back on track.

The season starts Wednesday on Fox and CTV Two at 8 p.m.