On Thursday, February 13, 2014
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The thirteenth season of American Idol, also known as American Idol XIII, premiered on the Fox television network on January 15, 2014.[1] Keith Urban returned for his second season as a judge, with Jennifer Lopez returning for her third season after departing at the end of season 11, replacing Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. Harry Connick, Jr. replaced Randy Jackson, who had appeared since season 1. Rickey Minor returned to the show as musical director after having left at the end of the ninth season to go to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[2]There were a number of other major changes in the thirteenth season, from the judges to the format of the show itself including the opening intro, which now uses the "Gyroscope 2.0". Three members of the judging panel from the previous season, Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson and Nicki Minaj, have left the series to pursue other ventures.[3] On August 1, 2013, it was confirmed that Keith Urban would return as a judge for another season.[4] Executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick were succeeded by Per Blankens, previously of Idol, the Swedish version of the Idols format.[5] On June 25, 2013, it was confirmed that producers Jesse Ignjatovic and Evan Prager would join Blankens as executive producers of the show.[6] Bill DeRonde replaced Warwick as a director of the audition episodes, and Louis J. Horvitz also replaced Gregg Gelfand as a director of the show, who had been directing since the sixth season.[7] Fox television executive Mike Darnell who helped launch American Idol in 2002 left as programming head of Fox, and Fox Sports executive David Hill was hired to oversee the series.[8]
In August 2013, Jennifer Lopez's boyfriend Casper Smart stated she would be returning as an American Idol judge.[9] On August 22, 2013, it was reported that Jimmy Iovine would not return as the in-house mentor for this season, but he is to be replaced by former judge Randy Jackson.[10] On August 30, 2013, The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Harry Connick, Jr. signed a deal to join the panel as the third judge and that Simon Fuller held a party the night before with all three judges on hand to toast the forthcoming announcement.[11] On September 3, 2013, Lopez and Connick Jr. were officially announced as judges for this season along with the confirmation of Jackson being the new mentor. Lopez is the first American Idol judge to return after leaving at the end of season 11. It was also later reported that Idol alumni Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry would be assisting Randy Jackson in mentoring the contestants.[12]
In a rules change from past years, semi-finalists from Season 12 (but not previous seasons) who were not in the top 10 nor on the Season 12 Tour were eligible to return, provided they met all of the other requirements.[13]
