TVSquad

Even though she just got the call about the gig a few days ago, new American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi took some time this afternoon to sit down and chat with the media via a massive conference call. As we were going along, I found myself listening as much to how she carried herself conversationally as I was to what she had to say. After all, this is going to be one of the four most listened to voices in America come January when American Idol's eighth season kicks off.

She came across as smart, knowledgeable, a bit funny and clearly overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation into which she's been thrust. She spoke about how for most of her career she's been being the scenes, as a songwriter and producer. I would say that you may have seen her on ABC's The One: Making a Music Star, but then nobody saw that. But it means she's been called to judge a singing competition before, and even saw last season's Syesha Mercado there. Hell, she's practicaly a veteran at this now.

"When I got the call, I thought they were calling the wrong person ... I almost fell off the chair," she said. The now four judges won't even be in the same room together for the first time until tomorrow. And yet so many of the media folks on the call were asking her particulars about what she was going to be doing, where she was going to be sitting, how the producers intended to keep the show still under an hour with another judging voice on the panel (did they so quickly forget all the guest judges they had a couple of years ago,) why she was hired, who would be fired and on and on. She was even asked if there was a songwriting show or project in development now with her spearheading it.

Not surprisingly, Kara had no insight on any of this. She was incredibly flattered to have been offered the job and excited to be joining such a successful show. She only met Ryan Seacrest this morning, spoke with Simon Cowell on the phone and hasn't yet spoken to Paula since getting the job. She does, however, have a working relationship with both Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson in her "day job." In fact, she co-wrote Kylie Minogue's hit "Spinning Around" with Abdul.

As a successful songwriter and producer, it looks like Kara intends to ride the middle of what the rest of the panel currently do with their judging. She said she's a straight shooter when needed, and sees this as an opportunity to offer constructive criticism to the contestants. If that needs to be in a harsh form, then it will be, but she also realizes that sometimes a more nurturing approach is required.

As for any unique approach she might bring to the show, she promises she isn't like any of the existing judges, so we know she'll be sober and won't speak "dawg-talk." But as for particulars, she could only say that she would be herself and we'd have to tune in to see what that means. I guess it would be difficult to describe one's personality. I could tell you all that I'm awesome and incredibly handsome, but would that really prepare you to be in my presence and see it first-hand?

OTHER QUESTIONS

• As a fan, what are strengths and weaknesses of the show? She's only ever evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of the contestants.
• How did your work on The One prepare you? It prepared me for working on television. [I say: "But it didn't prepare her for working on television with an actual audience watching."]
• Angie Martinez was called in to be a fourth judge on Season Two, but backed out due to not wanting to criticize contestants. Do you think you can handle it? She doesn't see it as criticism as much as a learning opportunity for contestants. Constructive criticism is a good thing and she looks forward to being able to help these young singers
  
• As the show has already had some of the first round auditions, how will she be worked into it? She has to have her make-up on by 11am tomorrow and be ready to go. That's all she knows.
• In the spectrum of nasty (Simon) to nice (Paula), where do you fall? She can be on either side of that spectrum. She criticizes artists now in her work and it just depends on what kind of criticism she feels will best reach the particular person she's talking to.
• Do you think Simon has been fair in his assessment of people on the show? "I think he's been pretty spot on most of the time."
• What are some adjectives that describe you? Honest and "I believe in what I believe in and am willing to fight for it. [I say: "That last one isn't really an adjective, but I'll let it slide ... this one time."]
• How prepared are you for being a household name by tomorrow? She's so used to working behind the scenes, [I say: "Being on the show The One can still count as behind the scenes, because no one saw it."] so now she's "putting some money into buying make-up."
• How did you break into the industry? She wanted to break in as an artist, but found that being unsigned meant that no one would give her songs to record, so she wrote her own. Then when she did finally get signed and subsequently dropped, people wanted to record her songs still. So here she is.
• Like Simon with "Unchained Melody," is there any particular song that's really special to you? "Imagine," John Lennon
• What are three current recording artists you really like? She likes Jason Reeves, who cowrote with Colbie Calait, the latest effort from Coldplay and Katie Perry
• Do you have any favorite past Idols? She really liked Kelly Clarkson "from the minute I met her." [I say:"Of course it helps that they had a huge hit together with "Walk Away.""] She also really liked Brooke White from this past season as she sounded like a true artist. [I say: "This opinion bodes well for her criticisms on the show as she will appreciate a more unique and artistic approach."]
• So what kind of talent will you be looking for and how will you know it when you see it? She's looking for someone who's unique and has a great style. Someone who's "the next big thing." The mark of a great artist is if you can turn on the radio to one of their songs and immediately recognize who's singing. On the show, those performances that you will remember the next morning are the ones she's looking for.
  
• How will this impact your songwriting and producing career? Did you worry at all it could be a bad career move? She intends to enjoy the ride she's on now and doesn't see herself ever giving up writing. [I say: "The rest of the judges are still working; hell even Paula is working on an album!"]
• How has American Idol been for the recording industry? It's been great for songwriters. With IIdol albums generally expected to sell rather well, there's always calls out for new songs to put on those albums. In a shrinking industry, it's a good thing to have.
• And finally, I asked her about the theme weeks on the show (hey, most of my other questions were already taken!). I asked her what kinds of themes she thought were more successful and which ones should be avoided. I don't know if her opinion on it matters at all, but I was pleased to hear that she agreed with what I've been saying for years. Some themes are too restrictive to certain types of singers, and thus aren't good choices to be on the show. She said that as long as the theme includes enough great songs, there shouldn't be a problem.

And yes, she has used the word "pitchy" to describe somebody's performance. As annoying a word as it has become, thanks to Randy, it does paint a perfect picture of what they're trying to describe. Ultimately, I liked her. I think she was charismatic and enthusiastic for the job. A criticism I've had is that the judges have seemed they were getting bored with the show. The addition of DioGuardi should liven up the whole gang and bring some much needed enthusiasm and energy.

There'll be somebody new for them to spar with, some new opinions for them to bounce off and a whole new four-way dynamic to establish. Much like Ryan going solo after the first season improved the host situation tremendously, I can't help but think the addition of Kara DioGuardi will improve the judging. And with four regular judges, they won't have room for any guest judges? Right (I say: "God, I hope that's what it means!")?