Idol Chatter & Voice Views

My all-time favorite singer-songwriter and my all-time least favorite American Idol judge are teaming up for a new reality competition.

Because the world apparently can never have enough such shows, Bravo plans to launch “Going Platinum”  in 2011.

Jewel, the singer-songwriter referenced above, will mentor the contestants in songwriting. According to the video posted on her website today, she’ll also be hosting the show.

Kara DioGuardi, the least-favorite referenced above, will return to her role of judging the competition.

If there are going to be other judges, the Bravo announcement doesn’t name them.

Which worries me. Because anyone who had a hand in writing “No Boundaries” and thought it was good enough to be an American Idol coronation song should not be the solo judge of anything.

If you don’t remember, “No Boundaries” was that schmaltzy piece of garbage even Adam Lambert couldn’t pull off  in the season eight finale. It pretty much ruined the last performances by the Idol finalists that year.

In fairness, Kara has had a hand in writing many far better songs.  Though her one collaboration with Jewel — “Good Day” off Jewel’s “Goodbye Alice in Wonderland” album — also made me wonder. Jewel speaks rather than sings most of the song.

Sorry, Kara, but if I’m writing a song for Jewel, she’s singing.

That said, I’ll probably check out their new show, much the way I used to occasionally watch Nashville Star back when Jewel served first as host, then as mentor/judge.

Hey, I figured any show that had former Idol semifinalist Kristen McNamara and country superstar Miranda Lambert as contestants was worth a look.

As for the rest of the scoop on the new show — contestants will be asked to write all sorts of songs, from “tear-jerking love ballads to ear-wormy dance tracks,” according to Bravo.

The winner will walk away with $100,000 and a record deal with RCA/Jive.

No word on a precise date for the show’s debut, but I’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, for those who haven’t heard it, here’s Jewel singing the Kara DioGuardi co-written “Good Day.” Part spoken or not, she pulls it off, of course.

And while I’m shamelessly promoting Jewel — hey, it’s my blog — check out her new album, “Sweet and Wild.” Especially the tracks “Stay Here Forever,” “One True Thing” and “Ten,” all of which she co-wrote.