American Idol Premiering Jan. 12

American Idol‘s ninth season will be premiering on Fox January 12 with a two-night, four hour episode. The premiere will feature auditions from Boston and Atlanta.

As you may know, Ellen DeGeneres will be replacing Paula Abdul as a judge. But DeGeneres is not alone!

Victoria Beckham, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, Mary J. Blige, Kristin Chenoweth, Katy Perry, Avril Lavigne and Shania Twain have all been confirmed as audition judges for season nine!

Can’t wait!

Quote of the Night

“Paula‘s frustrating, she’s annoying and I can’t understand half of what she’s talking about – but there’s incredible comfort between us. I think we’re possibly secretly in love with each other.”

–Simon Cowell on co-judge Paula Abdul

Lil Rounds, Anoop Desai Axed on Idol

As Simon Cowell reminded us last week, Matt Giraud‘s save would result in two eliminations this week. Those eliminations ended up being Lil Rounds and Anoop Desai.

Following a performance by season seven winner David Archuleta and group performance that included a Paula Abdul dance routine, the top five were announced:

Adam Lambert, Alison Iraheta, Kris Allen, Danny Gokey and Matt Giraud.

Good luck, everyone!

Simon Cowell Insults Paula, House Band

The situation on American Idol was so bad Tuesday night, that Simon actually starting insulting the house band! 

“I have to say, terrible arrangement,” Cowell began, before looking toward American Idol‘s house band, which features Rickey Minor. “Awful keyboard, whatever that was. I mean the whole thing was just atrocious.”

Cowell later took a shot at Paula Abdul after dramatic contestant Tatiana del Toro performed Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love For You.”

“You are a complete and utter drama queen,” Cowell told del Toro. “You are. I’ve never met anyone in my life, probably with the exception of Paula, that wanted fame more. You are desperate to be famous.“

Ouch!!

Paula Dips During Idol Audition

Warning! Spoiler alerts everywhere.

In the latest chapter of Paula Abdul‘s bizarre behavior, last night on American Idol, Abdul left a Jacksonville audition room because she wasn’t given a chance to speak.

You have a star quality! Was that what you wanted to say, P??

“OK, I guess my opinion doesn’t matter,” Abdul said, before walking out. “It’s so funny because there’s four judges… Sometimes we forget there’s a fourth opinion in this room.”

Unlike other Idol moments of the night (Kara and Paula faux-kissing, a contestant’s friend sitting on Randy’s lap), Abdul’s scene didn’t feel staged.

You almost felt bad for the girl!

19-year-old contestant Julissa Veloz was able to coax Paula back into the room, earning herself a “Yes” from the panel.

Welcome to Hollywood!!!