‘American Idol’ season 15: Will Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, former judges return?
“American Idol” was a cultural institution for so many years that it only seems appropriate that so many people involved would honor it … with the people who sat at the famous judging panel being pretty high up on the list.
Therefore, we’re pleased to hear that in the new year, everyone who has appeared on the judging panel at some point (including seemingly Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson Paula Abdul, Kara DioGuardi, Mariah Carey, Ellen DeGeneres, Nicki Minaj, and Steven Tyler) will be making an appearance. This is according to what host Ryan Seacrest said in an “Access Hollywood” interview:
“I’ve spoken to all of them recently and we as a team have talked to them about coming back to do something for the final season. They are going to do it it’s just a matter of figuring what to do with them.”
It’s nice to see that everyone is making their presence felt on the show again! Also, it’s a little surprising that some of them are. (Hopefully, Seacrest’s “all” really is all-encompassing.) Nicki and Mariah repeatedly feuded on and around the show will they were on the panel a couple of years back, and Ellen was really only a part of the part of season 9 after the auditions. She wasn’t particularly well-received, and departed once the live rounds were over.
The biggest thing that we want at this point are Simon, Paula, and Randy back at the same table again, even if it is for just a minute or two. These three were the lifeblood of the original show alongside the contestants, and it is a magic that has never really been replicated. Even when Paula was on “The X Factor,” it still was not quite the same.
Update: The site has updated their post to say that for now, Simon, Randy, and Paula are the only former judges confirmed to come back. We’re still pulling for the others.
You can see the poster for the final season by heading over here! Also, sign up right now to get some other news on everything we cover sent right to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: Fox.)