Idol Chatter & Voice Views

What a difference a year makes.

Last year at this time, American Idol seemed to be relying on the potential for catfights between Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey to reel in viewers.

Ryan Seacrest with American Idol’s new judging panel of Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. (FOX Photo)

Well, we all saw how well that worked out.

This year, Idol is selling camaraderie among its new judging threesome of Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban.

And those who turned in to a special online judges’ Q&A Tuesday night heard that message over and over and over again.

Ryan Seacrest was talking about having lots of fun on the set from the word go. Jennifer was talking about how great the chemistry is when you combine the right people.

“I love being on the panel sitting between these two guys,” she said at one point. “They make me laugh. The big danger for me this year is not to come off looking like a giggling fool.”

About the only thing the judges didn’t do to convince viewers how well they get along is engage in a group hug.

And, hey, that might have been on the night’s agenda. Until they realized Jennifer’s leather dress was so tight, she’d have trouble standing up to hug anyone.

Well, actually she did manage to hug a fan at the end. But Ryan and Harry had to lift the fan onto the stage so that could happen.

Harry Connick Jr. is being cast as “Harsh Harry” during Season 13 of American Idol. (AP Photo)

What’s it all mean for Idol fans?

Well, I imagine we’ll all appreciate it if the judges get along a wee bit better than last year.

We’ll probably appreciate it even more if the judges prove they can judge.

Jennifer has a very spotty record in that regard. Keith has a better record, though he was overshadowed in Season 12 by the dueling divas.

Harry would have to be a blubbering idiot on live TV not to be better than Mariah, who pretty much was a blubbering idiot. But I’m hoping he aims a lot higher than that.

For now, he seems to be cast in the role of the mean judge. In fact, a viewer asked him a question Tuesday about his nickname: Harsh Harry.

Replied Harry: “If I don’t like (a performance) — I don’t think I’m mean about it — but I’ll say it succinctly. I’m going to tell you very specifically what didn’t work for me.”

Of course, regardless of all the focus on the judges Tuesday, we all know the secret to the success or failure of American Idol Season 13 rests elsewhere — with the cast of singers the show finds.

The biggest downfall of Season 12 wasn’t the dysfunctional quartet of Nicki, Mariah, Keith and Randy Jackson, though that certainly didn’t help. The biggest problem was the lackluster cast.

Three talented female singers — Angie Miller, Kree Harrison and Candice Glover — established themselves early on. The male talent was the weakest Idol had fielded since Season 3. So the show offered very little sense of suspense or unpredictability until the field of singers had been whittled down to the final three.

Keith Urban says the American Idol judges are looking for that certain spark in contestants during Season 13. (AP Photo)

This year’s cast?

Understandably, the judges didn’t talk about individuals Tuesday night. After all, the first audition shows air Wednesday and Thursday, beginning at 8 p.m. each night on FOX.

Harry did make a reference to some of the very talented singers the show had to ultimately eliminate. But, of course, we hear something along those lines every year.

The most astute comment about the Season 13 talent came from Keith as he pondered precisely what the judges are looking for.

After all, he noted, in today’s music there’s a lot of trickery that can be used to make someone who isn’t a great vocalist sound very good, and that person can wind up selling lots and lots of records. On the other hand, the show could find someone with an amazing voice who doesn’t have that special spark that’s going to sell records.

So, he said, in the end it’s a matter of finding singers who touch the judges in some special way.

Here’s hoping Idol has found several singers who touch viewers in a special way in Season 13.

Because no one’s tuning in to vote for the judge who shows the most camaraderie.