'American Idol' Judge Says This Will Be Best Season Ever

Randy Jackson Weighs in on 'Idol,' Facial Hair and His Own Dance War

Jan. 21 -- While we're still watching the bad auditions, lucky Randy Jackson already knows the top 24 on this season of 'Idol.' He's not telling, but he insists that this batch of kids is the best yet and viewers who make it past the William Hung wannabes won't be disappointed.

AOL TV's Angel Cohn caught up with the dawg pound leader to dish about 'Idol,' Paula, Simon, his new album, his new dance show ... and his facial hair.

You've got a little bit of a new look going on this season with the facial hair.
Well, I had to man up. I manned up for Ryan Seacrest. I threw in the facial hair to help him out.

Does he appreciate that?
Yeah, it's sort of like a soul transference thing. You know what I'm saying.

You also have another new show starting up.
It just kinda all happened at the same time. We've got 'America's Best Dance Crew' on MTV. It starts on January 26. It's a very hot, edgy, cool dance-crew show. It's cool, man.

So, are you actually going to be on this show?
No, no, no. I'm just exec-producing for my company. It's hosted by Mario Lopez. It's got Shane Sparks and JC Chasez as two of the judges.

Is it at all like 'Dance War'?
Oh, no. This is very different than that. This is dance crews -- crews from five and seven people. When you watch videos it's always a crew. It's never really about a solo person dancing. So this is like, it's almost like back in the day, a throwback to the 'Krush Groove' time. Like 'You Got Served.' Do you remember the Michael Jackson "Beat It" video -- his crew against Kenny Ortega's crew? It's really cool like that. All these other shows are great. I mean, I love 'So You Think You Can Dance.' But this is just about the crews.

We don't get to see you busting out any moves on the show?
Nah Nah Nah. I can't do it. I'll have to show you later some time.

So, that other little show, 'Idol' ... is that keeping you busy?
Yeah, listen, I mean, we're happy to be starting our seventh season. We're blessed to have it. And I think we're off to a really great start.

Do you get bored at all going from city to city watching weird auditioners singing?
No, that's the hardest part for us. But it's also the coolest part, ya know, one of the most fun aspects of what we do. I don't think you get really bored because you see different talent all the time. You know what I mean? There're different kids you see all the time.

So you never know when the next Carrie is going to walk in the room?
Dude, you know never know when the next Carrie, the next Chris, the next Fantasia, the next Kelly Clarkson ... You just never know, you know?

How do you feel about the wacky sort of characters that come in?
Listen. We get a lot of flack from people saying "How does this person show up?" It's an open casting call. We don't do some streamline thing that say, like, people who are 5'10" to 5'9" and only this kind of aptitude.

You never know, the girl with the Princess Leia buns could have been good.
Yeah. Listen, people [asked] last season [about] Sanjaya ... why did have him on there? When we saw him in Seattle, Sanjaya was actually really good vocally. He's got personality and he was actually a pretty good singer. So you know, look, it's not like we're out there trying to find the weirdest people we can find. It's just who shows up. It's just 'American Idol.'

Is there another Sanjaya this season?
I don't know if there's necessarily another Sanjaya. The kids who show up are so different from year to year. There are some interesting people every season and this season is definitely no exception. I call it the good, the bad and the indifferent.

So many of the Idols right now are losing their labels, they're losing their record deals. What's going on?
We're talking about post-'Idol' moments now? So, once you graduate high school you can't blame the high school.

No, I'm not blaming, per se, just wondering why.
Right. Well that's what I'm saying. So all these people are saying "what happened?" The truth is it's up to them to make amazing records. If they don't make amazing records ... you know, the business kinda catches up with them. But look, all of these kids still have shots at having careers. So, I think they're all going to be fine.



Tell me about your new CD you've got coming out.
'Randy Jackson's Music Club Volume 1' comes out March 11. Very cool, eclectic kind of compilation record. It's kind of in the wake of the old Quincy Jones albums. He used to have various artists singing various songs. That's what this is, it's jam-packed with a bunch of great artists: Anthony Hamilton, Paula Abdul, Mariah's on there, Kim Burrell, Travis Tritt, Sam Moore, Keb' Mo', Angie Stone, Joss Stone, Elliot [Yamin] and Katherine [McPhee] from 'Idol.' Three 6 Mafia is on there and Ghostface Killah. It's a cool, cool record.

How's the Paula track?
It's a blazing hot record. We've been talking about doing something for a while. I found this song that was amazing. It's from these guys DK in Denmark. And it just worked. It's so great. Trust me, this is hot right here. Everyone is going to love this.

Cool, I loved Paula's old stuff.
Yeah. Come on. [Sings] "Straight up now baby."

I probably knew the whole video by heart.
EXACTLY! We're also performing a little Super Bowl magic coming up.

You'll be there too?
Yeah, you may see me and Paula on the Super Bowl. Stay tuned.

Paula kind of gets a bad rap. Do you think you have to stick up for her?
No. The funny thing about the show is that people see us and they make their own assumptions about who we are and what we are. I'm always trying to keep it real. She's amazing. She's great for the show. We definitely do our thing. People are going to love her on this single.

Who's your early favorite on 'Idol' that we should look out for this season?
It's hard. I think potentially we've got the best talent we've ever had. I know we say that every season. I know.

I swear every season someone says "This is the best season ever."
[Laughs] I know ... but this season. I think this season we have the best [potential] top 10 we've ever had. The most talent per contestant. I think the boys and the girls are kind of even. I mean I would say the girls outweigh the boys a little bit. But the boys have quite a bit more originality. Anyone can take it, dude.

Do you get frustrated when America doesn't vote for the great singers that you love?
Yeah, it's hard. You want them to win and be great and do their thing. But it's really hard.

Are you ever worried about being too mean with anyone?
No. I like to think we're just being honest and we're trying to save them from wasting their time and their lives after something that is not really going to work for them. Who better to tell them than some experts like me, Paula and Simon that have been doing this for 25 years each? Come on, if we can't tell you the truth on one of the few real reality shows that there are, who's going to tell you?

You and Simon have said you are friends outside the show. Is this true?
Of course. We're all friends. Me, Paula, Ryan and Simon are all one big crazy dysfunctional family. We're all still cool.

Are you looking forward to the live portion of the show starting up again soon?
Yeah, I think it's one of parts that we love the most. We love live on air. Let's get it done. Let's make it HUGE!

Will you ever be tired of doing this show?
No man. Listen, I think this show could go on forever. I think it's the best talent show that there's ever been.

You don't see 'Idol' ever starting to slow down?
No, I think it can go on for a long, long time. The numbers will go up and down little by little, but it's not really so much just about the numbers. Our sheer success is about the talent we produce. There are some great kids out there that have a shot at careers. You know, you can look at Blake and Jordin and their records that are out now. The music business is in a terrible slump, but they're still doing terribly well.

So it isn't just their particular albums that aren't doing well.
The music business is in the toilet right now. Trust me -- the music business is in a bad place. So, of course, because these kids are in the business they are going to fall prey to it as well.

Is there any hope for the music business?
I think the records, the content, just have to get better. Better records with better artists.

Well, you're out there with 'Randy Jackson's Music Club.'
I'm trying to help.

Do you keep up with the Idols once they graduate? So to speak.
A little bit here and there. I run in to them here and there. Definitely.

But do you keep tabs on them?
No. Not really. I mean, I try.

Are we going to get a true pop person this season or is going to more country flavor?
Yeah, you never know what you're going to get when we audition. But I'll tell you something ... the kid that wins this time will probably be different than every other winner we've ever had. That's a good thing to know.

They'll be allowed to play their instruments this season too, right?
Yeah, you'll see during the auditions later on that if it helps them to accompany themselves they can play their own instruments. Like a John Mayer or an Alicia Keys.

Are you dying to produce any of the former Idol's records?
Uh, no. But I'm looking at a couple of them actually. I started a label myself that my first record is coming out on. It's called Dream Merchant 21 Entertainment. I'm looking to maybe pick up a couple of things.

People always talk about how Ryan is so busy. You're just as busy!
Yeah I just don't really talk about it. I'm the quiet one in the back working like CRAZY!

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