Just minutes before Season 13 auditions were slated to get underway, Idol is already starting to look and feel.... um.... oddly un-revamped. As had been widely rumored, Season 11 judge Jennifer Lopez is now returning to the new three-judge panel after a one-season hiatus (and a successful concert tour). Late last week The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that former Idol mentor and frequent performer Harry Connick, Jr. has been signed to fill that third judge position. It was becoming clear that a serious time crunch was working against the producers, as the Reporter said, "Had the show not signed a third judge soon, production could have faced a delay." Finally, the dearly departed Randy Jackson has already been resurrected, this time in the new role of mentor. Season 13 of American Idol gets underway on January 15, 2014.
