On Wednesday night (January 19), "American Idol" officially begins its post-Simon Cowell era. Producers have overhauled the show's format, instituted a slew of rule changes — hello, 15-year-old, I'm-so-totally the-new-Bieber contestants! — and hired Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler to share the judges' burden with Randy Jackson.
For years, Cowell had been the most important person in the "Idol' universe, driving creative decisions behind the scenes and influencing viewer opinion far more greatly than any of his fellow judges in front of the cameras. He was the show's acid-tongued truth-teller. Whether you got slammed ("You sounded like Dolly Parton on helium," he told one singer) or praised, you almost always deserved it. That's why voters at home truly listened to what he had to say.
How can you possibly replace such qualities? Well, you can't, as anyone connected to the show will freely announce. But the question remains: Who on the show will take over Cowell's role as the most influential judge?
Will it be Randy, the show's swaggering elder statesman, a guy whose commentary has at times been more entertaining than enlightening? Or perhaps Lopez, a woman who knows what it's like to be a solo singer in the spotlight and who has described her judging style, somewhat paradoxically, as "tough, easy and fair"? Or will viewers be listening most intently when Tyler, the show's undeniable wild card, opens up his mouth?
We won't truly know the answer until Wednesday's season premiere, or possibly even later, as the judges find their niches and become comfortable as a unit. But we already know enough about these folks (both as reality show personalities and as celebrities in their own right) to speculate.
So what do you think? Which "American Idol" will have the biggest impact this season? Vote in the poll below and leave your arguments in the comments!
Don't miss our "American Idol" live stream "Judging the Judges: An 'Idol' Without Simon," featuring post-show analysis from Jim Cantiello and special guests, on MTV.com this Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET. Tweet your "Idol" commentary with the hashtag #idolwithoutsimon, and we could quote you on the show!