The singing competition features host Ryan Seacrest and returning judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. Auditions will continue with a special, extended primetime broadcast Jan. 22 (10-11 PM ET), following the NFC Championship Game.
The show’s judges – Jackson, Lopez and Tyler – traveled to Savannah, Aspen, Galveston, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Diego and St. Louis in search of contestants for the new season. Audition episodes continue Jan. 25-26, Feb. 1-2 and Feb. 8.
The contestants who impress the judges will head to Hollywood and be put to the test during the “Hollywood Rounds,” airing Feb. 9, 15-16. On Feb. 22 those who make it through Hollywood must then take the “Performance Challenge,” where they face the judges one last time before the top male and top female semifinalists are revealed on Feb. 23.
In the milestone 400th episode, airing Feb. 28, the first group of semifinalists will take the stage to sing for America’s votes. The following night, Feb. 29, the remaining semifinalists will perform.
A two-hour live results show will air March 1 as America’s vote reveals the first set of finalists; those that remain will have one last chance to perform for the judges who will round out the 2012 "American Idol" finalists with their wild card picks. The Emmy Award-winning reality show is produced by 19 Entertainment, a division of CKX, Inc. and FremantleMedia North America Inc. The series is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, XIX Entertainment, and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe.
