Following the departure of Simon Cowell, the show’s main judge and some major changes to the program, American Idol is not what it used to be.

Season 10 began this past month looking different than it ever has before. The judging panel has two new faces, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, added alongside veteran Randy Jackson. For the first time in the show’s history, fifteen year olds may audition. The show is now aired Wednesdays and Thursdays, instead of Tuesdays and Thursdays.  

A new executive producer and music director have also been added to the show, as well as many format changes such as reducing the number of lower-level audition rounds. And according to Idol fans, these changes have had a detrimental impact on the quality of the show.

The ratings for the show are still large, though now airing on Wednesdays means that American Idol butts heads with other big television shows, such as Modern Family and The Middle. These shows have had steady ratings since American Idol’s airing changes, which would not have been the case a few years ago, as Idol stole viewers away from all other shows. However, with the show’s long-running time, this is quite common.

The new judges have not had the positive reception that their celebrity status had hinted. Speaking about Steven Tyler, Kid Rock told Entertainment Weekly, “I think it’s the stupidest thing he’s ever done in his life.”

“He’s a sacred American institution of rock and roll,” Rock said, “and he just threw it all out the window. Just stomped on it and set it on fire.”

Freshman English major Kelly Harris thinks the new judges may be famous, but they are not well-known as respected as past American Idol judges.

“Steven Tyler is known as Aerosmith‘s [lead singer],” said Harris. “And J.Lo, though very kind and talented in various ways, had one pop album that was on the charts for a hot minute and really shouldn’t be judging American Idol. She’s what I assume [is supposed to be] a replacement for Paula Abdul.”

Harris also believes the original judges, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell, had more character and more chemistry with one another.  As for the current judges, Harris said they are “kind of bogus.”

“Steven Tyler?” Harris said. “What a step back for his career.”

Junior English major Kris Demers loved the “old trio because of the way they interacted with one another.”

“Simon was always the tough one to impress, Randy was the suave funny guy, and Paula was the peace-maker,” Demers said. “The judges now are a little bit too consistent…it’s like there is no element of surprise. “

 Chrissy Bacak, freshman biology major, misses Simon Cowell’s presence on the show.

“He was really straightforward and told people exactly what he thought,” Bacak said. “A lot of people stopped watching after Simon left because he made the show.”

Sophomore arts applications major Kimberly Smith stopped watching the show after Cowell left.

“He was the main reason I watched it.” Smith said. “He was brutally honest and told people what they [needed] to hear. Without him, there is nothing that attracts me to the show anymore.”

Smith also thinks that the more recent American Idol winners have not become nearly as successful as the early season winners.

“The later winners go nowhere,” Smith said. “Compare Kelly Clarkson to Kris Allen or Taylor Hicks.”

Harris stopped watching because the show “lost its integrity.”

“The best vocalists stopped winning, and the show became purely about appearance,” Harris said. “It’s a popularity contest.”

Her example comes from season nine.

 ”Adam Lambert was musically talented and strived for the title over [Kris Allen],” Harris said. “From what I saw of Adam, he seemed to have a way with making known music unique to his own taste and style and was consistently a joy to watch. Though his post-idol career hasn’t been what I’d call ideal, through the duration of his season he superseded Kris vocally and entertainingly.”

 ”Kris was the generic good-ole’ boy who was going to inevitably win the hearts of all American girls. Adam was different, and I don’t think at the time America was ready to handle him just yet,” Harris said.

Demers believes, despite the show’s long-running quest to find hidden talent, there is still more to be discovered.

“Younger contestants can try out when they reach the age limit, and other people who may not have had the chance, the motivation or the ability to try out are still out there waiting to be discovered,” Demers said.

 Harris disagrees and believes the show has already found all the hidden talent.

“There’s nothing left out there,” Harris said.

And although Demers believes in the show’s mission, he has recently stopped watching American Idol.

“It became too repetitive,” Demers said. “I knew exactly what to expect, because I had seen it season after season. I guess it got old.”

Bacak thinks that the show “needs to end soon.”

“American Idol is the same thing every year,” Bacak said. “I think Simon Cowell’s new show X-Factor will take away from Idol.”

For now, FOX seems happy with how American Idol is doing with this season’s dramatic changes. The show’s future, though, is ultimately in the hands of the viewers.