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New 'Idol' Judge Was Roomies With Paula

Getting to Know Kara DioGuardi

PopEater / Wire Services
posted: 175 DAYS 1 HOUR AGO
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(Jan. 7) - 'American Idol' fanatics are about to learn if they'll have a love OR hate relationship with Kara DioGuardi, the pop songwriter who's about to shake up TV land as judge No. 4 on the nation's biggest show.
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Idol' Host and Judges

    Singer and TV personality Paula Abdul hosts the MTV Presents RAH! Paula Abdul;s Cheerleading Bowl at the New Balance Track and Field Center at the Armory on November 6, 2008 in New York City.

    Brian Ach/WireImage.com

    Singer and TV personality Paula Abdul hosts the MTV Presents RAH! Paula Abdul

    Brian Ach/WireImage.com

    Singer and TV personality Paula Abdul hosts the MTV Presents RAH! Paula Abdul

    Brian Ach/WireImage.com

    ** FILE ** In this Aug. 26, 2008 file photo, Kara DioGuardi, the newest judge on "American Idol", arrives at a promotional event for the show in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, file)

    AP

    ** FILE ** In this March 20, 2008 file photo, Simon Cowell attends the Details magazine Party in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Phil McCarten, file)

    AP

    ** FILE ** In this March 20, 2008 file photo, Simon Cowell attends the Details magazine Party in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Phil McCarten, file)

    AP

    British "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell smiles during the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium in London in this July 1, 2007 file photo. Cowell said on December 17, 2008 that the apparent suicide of a former contestant and obsessed fan forced him to think "long and hard" about his blunt comments to hopeless singers on the show. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor/Files ( BRITAIN )

    Reuters

    ** FILE ** In this Aug. 26, 2008 file photo, "American Idol" judges, from left, Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson arrive at a promotional event for the show in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, file)

    AP

    ** FILE ** In this Sept. 5, 2008 file photo, TV Personality Paula Abdul attends the Conde Nast Media Group's Fifth Annual Fashion Rocks at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)

    AP

    ** FILE ** In this April 14, 2008 file photo, "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul arrives at the 2008 CMT Awards, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)

    AP

With the season approaching fast (season debut Jan. 13), you might be wondering: Just who is Kara DioGuardi? What kind of judge will she be? Is she being groomed to replace Paula? Where will she sit?
DioGuardi,38, is a hit machine whose songs have been recorded by Gwen Stefani ('Rich Girl'), Christina Aguilera ('Aint No Other Man'), Pink ('Sober') and others, including past 'Idol' winners Kelly Clarkson and David Cook. She represents a big change for the Fox series, which is adding a new voice to those of veteran judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul in an eighth-season effort to freshen its familiar formula.
She started writing songs after graduating from Duke, where she went pre-law, then landed a job at Billboard magazine, and in 1998 walked up to Paula Abdul and handed her a demo. Abdul liked DioGuardi's work so much, she flew her out to Los Angeles to stay with her for six weeks of collaboration. Together they wrote Kylie Minogue's comeback single, 'Spinning Around.'
"We were the best roommates," Abdul told Entertainment Weekly while talking about that time. Adds DioGuardi, "We didn't have one argument. We lived very well together -- it was the strangest thing."
So much for rumors of intra-panel squabbles already. "They're like brothers and sisters at this point," DioGuardi said, having already taped the preliminary auditions AND the Hollywood rounds for the season.
"I'm like the long-lost cousin who they're not sure they wanted to see, but now they're like, Okay, you can stay for dinner."
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Your Idols, Then and Now

    Justin Guarini then.

    Kevin Winter, FOX / Getty Images

    Justin Guarini now.

    Getty Images

    Sanjaya Malakar then.

    Frank Micelotta, FOX / AP

    Sanjaya Malakar now.

    Bennett Raglin, WireImage

    Carly Smithson then.

    Kevin Winter, Getty Images

    Carly Smithson now.

    FOX

    Fantasia then.

    Fox

    Fantasia now.

    Jason LaVeris, Film Magic

    Kellie Pickler then.

    Vince Bucci, Getty Images

    Kellie Pickler now.

    Frank Micelotta, Getty Images

"When I heard she was going to be the fourth judge, I thought, ha ha, hee hee, Simon has no idea I have an ally now," Abdul said.
Since you probably didn't watch ABC's blatant 'Idol' ripoff 'The One,' in which she appeared, you probably don't know what kind of judge she'll be. She makes it crystal clear: "I'm not gonna be this nice on the show."
On those sometimes-awful-sometimes-brilliant 'Idol' auditions, this is what she had to say: "A lot of times people will sing a big song that they don't have the voice for instead of bringing out the uniqueness in their tone. Another thing is, don't cheese me out. It's not a wedding band. And emote. Make me feel like you mean it. Don't just sing the way the song was written. That was Mariah's interpretation. Now what are you gonna do?"
She'll be sitting between Randy and Paula. "They tried [putting] me between her and Simon, but they kept trying to communicate and I didn't want to be in the middle of that," she told EW.
And for the record, the new girl has no intention of bringing down her predecessor. "Paula and I have a good vibe. I have respect for Paula. I'm not of the thinking that women should drag each other down."
Abdul says she isn't worrying about her job security: "I was never told that she was coming in to take my place."
What about Cowell's claims that the two "girls" have ganged up on him when it comes to rating contestants?
"There's definitely times Paula and I voice our opinion and it's of the same ilk. And if that's not what Simon thinks, then there's a little bit of tension there. But it's all fun. Nobody's going back to their room crying," DioGuardi told the Associated Press.
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Your Idols, Then and Now

    Carly Smithson then.

    Kevin Winter, Getty Images

    Carly Smithson now.

    FOX

    Fantasia then.

    Fox

    Fantasia now.

    Jason LaVeris, Film Magic

    Sanjaya Malakar then.

    Frank Micelotta, FOX / AP

    Sanjaya Malakar now.

    Bennett Raglin, WireImage

    Kellie Pickler then.

    Vince Bucci, Getty Images

    Kellie Pickler now.

    Frank Micelotta, Getty Images

    Clay Aiken then.

    Kevork Djansezian, AP

    Clay Aiken now.

    Bruce Glikas, Film Magic

2008 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved. // Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. // Copyright 2008, Reuters
2009-01-07 14:31:10

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Gsan201

03:53 PMJan 09 2009

So the lady already admitts she is predjudice against the guys and wil side with a woman just because she is a woman.Niceee Typical the way Hollywood works Double Standards sexism.racism,bigotry,and biases. Bomb Hollywood somebody please.Let's start anew.We already know anyone that Hollywood supports are douchebags and criminals.

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Poisnivyred

10:23 AMJan 09 2009

I used to really love the show, but I don't think I'll be watching this season. Last season was it for me, I found my American Idol in Jason Castro. Without him on the show there is just no more spark or magic left. It was nice to have a different kind of contestant, one who doesn't belt notes like a diva or hard rocker, rather sings from the heart in his own unique style :) Nope, nothing could top season 7 and Jason Castro for me. I do wish the best for all the contestants of season 8.check out jasoncastromusic.com to stay informed on his upcoming album release :)

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Tarintay

04:40 PMJan 08 2009

You are all fools. Why does anyone have an opinion that they need to share? If you no longer like the show, don't watch it. Simple. Please try to behave like adults just once in a while. If you are not an adult, your posts are as adolescent as you are. I love the wannabe tryouts that really suck. As far as finding the perfect "talent', it proves that America is diverse and not everyone thinks as you do. So don't take it so seriously. It's entertainment, not the potential end of the world if your "fav" doesn't cut the mustard in other's eyes. Grow up please.

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NLivingston777

04:33 PMJan 08 2009

Who's going to be the tie-breaker now?????

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Dnnsjsullivan110

01:54 PMJan 08 2009

Who cares.

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Scottrf68

01:03 PMJan 08 2009

The show has had its time and now its over. Time for them to move on to other things. The show is a joke now. The last few seasons have really sucked and we no longer watch them. What is a fourth judge going to do for them? Not much I dont think. Adding one more person isnt going to help with a show that has already seen its day and is in its waining days now. I wonder if simon will drag it out until everyone just cant stand the show or quit before it gets to that point.

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Scottrf68

01:02 PMJan 08 2009

The show has had its time and now its over. Time for them to move on to other things. The show is a joke now. The last few seasons have really sucked and we no longer watch them. What is a fourth judge going to do for them? Not much I dont think. Adding one more person isnt going to help with a show that has already seen its day and is in its waining days now. I wonder if simon will drag it out until everyone just cant stand the show or quit before it gets to that point.

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REDAY123

01:01 PMJan 08 2009

Anyone else not see what is going on here? 4th one in. This is an audition. If she passes, Paula will be out after this year. Make your bets in Vegas.............

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REDAY123

12:55 PMJan 08 2009

They still do not get it. They keep trying to add something more and while they are doing that, they lose what made this show good in the first place. Here is your success if you wish to keep the puclic happy: 1) Show more of the contestants in the preliminary shows and less of the showboating hosts and background. We just want to see the CONTESTANTS! Got it? 2) Concentrate on the contestants during each weeks show through the final group and less on all the flash, splash and hype. All of that will keep the ratings. Stop filling half of your show with all that behind the scens stuff. That's what we have the internet for. We want entertainment not BS.

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Firewop

12:49 PMJan 08 2009

are people really that stupid/ dont they know by know the show is rigged?if this show werter any indication of talent why have the all fallen off the face of the earth.

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