Celebuzz talks to executive producer — and hugely successful songwriter —  Evan Bogart about what makes the show so different, why he chose Jewel to host and asked American Idol’s Kara DioGuardi to take the lead as head judge.  

Can you give us a sampling of the artists you’ve worked with?
Beyonce‘s “Halo,” Rihanna‘s “S.O.S.,” Sean Kingston‘s “Take You There,” and Pussycat Dolls‘ “Jai Ho!” — There’s a long list. I just worked on the new Enrique Iglesias song with Usher called “Dirty Dancer.” I’ve worked with Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears as well as Adam Lambert.

How did you get your start?
I started out as a songwriter and the first song I submitted was Rihanna’s “S.O.S.,” so it was like stepping onto a golf course for the first time and hitting a hole-in-one. That opened many doors for me right away.

Do you feel a lot of pressure to make every song you write a hit?
No. I think if you’re writing to write a hit, you won’t have a hit.

Tell us a little about your show and how it all came about?
Platinum Hit will be premiering on May 30th and it’s all about songwriting. It’s a songwriter competition show that I created with my brother. He started seeing my writing process and collaborations and how it all works and got interested in that. We wanted to show that to people and Bravo understood what we wanted to put out there. I’ve written with Kara before and Jewel is great. We wanted an artist, a songwriter, and a label representative who were really good at what they do and I could not be happier with who we have.

Most people don’t know what’s behind the writing process.
Right. The question I get the most is “How does this shows differ from others?” My answer to that is that this show focuses on the songs. It’s all about a song and how it gets put together. The music industry doesn’t exist without a song and its writers and producers.

It sounds like we get a behind the scenes look at music making. Where does the competition come in?
People will be getting voted off. All of the writers gets broken into groups and write songs based on themes. The judges will figure out which songs were the best and which ones were the worst and why. I want people to really get into it. Music is really subjective, so there will be people who agree and disagree. Everyone has their own opinions on music.

What would you say to anyone who is thinking about being part of the music industry?
Welcome. [laughs] I’m probably in the minority of people who feel this way, but I actually want more songwriters to join us. I think it will benefit us to have more music out there. The only people who would be scared of that would be people who are faking it.

So you don’t have a competitive edge, like when you hear a cool song that you didn’t write?
I definitely feel like I wish I wrote that or came up with those lyrics, but I think that I’ve mastered my own art and worry about myself and not what everyone else is doing.

That’s a really good way to look at it.
That’s the most important piece of advice I can give to people looking to join the business. Study your craft and try to run your own race.

Hoping to cultivate a new generation of songwriters, Kara is ready for the world to see how hits are really made. She recently told NBC:

“Songs are the backbone of the music industry, and this show is about finding hit songs. And there isn’t an artist out there that can survive in the music industry without hit songs.” 

The show follows 12 singer-songwriters on their quest to become the next big hitmaker, as they battle through a series of songwriting challenges. The winner will walk away with a $100,000 cash prize, publishing deal with Sony, BMI Songwriters The Writing Camp and a recording deal with RCA/Jive! Jewel hosts the series and gives her feedback as a judge alongside Kara.

Watch the trailer and be sure to catch Platinum Hit‘s premiere on Monday, May 30 at 10PM on Bravo.

After the Aerosmith frontman, 62, was introduced on stage, J.Lo, 38, emerged from a cloud of smoke (wearing a glittery suit,) to exclaim she is “so excited” about her new gig.

“I’m looking for the next Michael Jackson,” she told the cheering crowd. “We’re looking for the best American Idol ever!

Lopez reportedly inked a $12 million deal with producers, even after she allegedly made diva-esque contract demands.

The new Idol establishment comes after three judges jumped ship after last season. In July, Ellen Degeneres announced she quit and songwriter Kara DioGuardi was reportedly let go.  Idol’s biggest star, judge Simon Cowell, ditched Idol to helm the U.S. version of X-Factor.

Do you approve of Idol’s new judges? Let us know in the comments.

As the VMAs approach, Kanye West tweeted his heartfelt and rather longwinded apology to one Taylor Swift, offering up a “beautiful” song he wrote for her. (See Celebuzz’s full post.)

Following Simon Cowell and Ellen Degeneres out the door, Kara DioGuardi is officially leaving American Idol, saying. “I felt like I won the lottery when I joined American Idol two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave.” Randy Jackson remains the last original judge standing as the world waits for news from Fox on much-talked-about possible deals with Steven Tyler and famed diva J-Lo. [People]

Paris Hilton isn’t lamenting her felony cocaine possession charge, decamping to Hawaii with boyfriend and partner in alleged crime, Cy Waits. [TMZ]

Lindsay Lohan hasn’t decided which of the reportedly dueling networks and TV programs will land her coveted first broadcast interview, according to mom Dina, who hints it could be the Today show. [X17]

You can rest easy knowing Taylor Lautner’s RV lawsuit has been resolved – but ever the good guy, T-Laut is donating his $40,000 in compensation to charity. Aww! [Us Weekly]

The drama never ends for fiery Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice, who’s accused of hiding $250,000 worth of assets when she and husband Joe filed for bankruptcy protection. [PopEater]

The Biebs is dominating in album sales, reaching the 4 million mark – in just one year! [NY Post]

Hulk Hogan was rushed to a Florida hospital with back pain after a “major spasm,” though he took a little time to record a video for all of his “brothers” out there. [Hulk Twitter]

Open wide and say OMG – dentist-playing John Stamos is looking cute in the first pics from his upcoming Glee guest appearance. (He’ll challenge Mr. Shue for Emma’s heart. [TV Guide.]

In another round of the Wyclef Jean vs. Sean Penn feud, the former Fugees frontman took a hit at Penn in song, saying, “maybe he ain’t see me in Haiti because he was too busy sniffing cocaine.” Zing! [Gawker]

This just in: Zac Efron is still ridiculously good-looking. Check him out on the cover of Wonderland magazine, obtained exclusively by [Just Jared]

Last but not least, Jessica Simpson misses her dearly departed dog, Daisy, (who was attacked by coyotes a year ago this weekend) and loves her new boyfriend, Eric Johnson. [Simpson's Twitter]

A source tells E! Online that DioGuardi, who was reportedly shown the door at Idol late last month, was actually looking to get off the show:

“She went to Fox two months ago and told them she didn’t want to do another season. She’s ready to move on. She did two years and thinks that’s enough.”

Problem solved, right? Well, not exactly. Unfortunately for DioGuardi, she’s still technically under contractual obligation to Fox, and is unable to pursue other opportunities:

“It’s frustrating because she can’t even take any meetings…everyone wants to know what her schedule will be like, but she doesn’t know. What happens if Fox tells her they still want her for next season?”

We’re going to guess that won’t be a problem. You have to feel for Kara, though; poor girl can’t even get properly fired in this town.

What do you think DioGuardi’s next career move should be, once she’s officially cut loose? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

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American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, Grey’s Anatomy actress Jessica Capshaw, “Bubbly” chanteuse Colbie Caillat, Entourage beauty Emmanuelle Chriqui, Death at a Funeral actress Regina Hall and Michael Douglas‘ sole reason for living, Catherine Zeta-Jones, all do their part to help our consumerist culture get over the whole clothes thing by posing in the buff for the latest issue of Allure.

It sure would be a shame not to reward their brave efforts by clicking through the photo gallery, wouldn’t it?

Next up on our star tour: the 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bathroom, $1.6 million Idol Sanctuary of A.I. judge, Kara DioGuardi.  “No Boundaries” inside Kara’s home? 

Take a peek and see for yourself.

All photos via Trulia.com.

Decked out in a delightful red dress, the American Idol judge amazed everyone with her bending prowess by dipping under a low railing. If this whole singing-contest thing doesn’t work out for her, we bet she could make a killing on the limbo circuit.

Click the pics and prepare to be amazed!

Idol judge Kara DioGuardi couldn’t be happier to share the judging table with the talk show host.

“I’m a huge Ellen DeGeneres fan,” she said in an interview airing today on Sirius XM’s The Morning Jolt With Larry Flick. “I think she’s going to bring so much to the show.”

Plus, she’s definitely excited that the attention will be off her, as she got quite a lot of negative press during her first year as an judge on the popular singing show.

“Yeah, I got slagged,” she said. “People were … it was difficult for them to accept the change. It was difficult for them to understand why somebody who nobody had ever heard of could kind of come out of nowhere and sit next to these iconic figures. You know, why was I there, what did I do to deserve to do to be there?”

“I can’t get over it. I’m completely shocked,” DioGuardi professed on Ryan Seacrest‘s KIISFM radio show on Friday. “It’s such a loss for the show, such a loss for the contestants. She’s definitely the heart of the panel.”

And while DioGuardi’s addition to the show this past season was controversial for fans, she says that she enjoyed a frictionless relationship with Abdul, who went out of her way to put the new kid on the block at ease.

“The kind of heart she treated the contestants with she treated me with last year,” DioGuardi recalled. “She was so kind to me and made me feel immediately like part of the panel.”

No wonder she’s lobbying for Abdul to return to the show. DioGuardi asserts that she hopes Paula “will reconsider” her decision to leave, adding, “I’ve left her a lot of messages.”

And despite what some American Idol conspiracy theorists might suggest, DioGuardi insists that she never thought about usurping Abdul’s position on the show.

“I never was here to replace her. It would be impossible to replace Paula Abdul,” DioGuardi swears.  “She’s an incredible talent. She is somebody who helped make the show as big as it is. How could you ever replace that?”

Hmm; maybe Kara’s not history’s greatest monster after all.

Readers, let us know in the comments section: Do you think Paula will grant Kara’s wish and come back into the American Idol fold?

E! Online reports that controversial fourth American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi will indeed be returning for the show’s ninth season, which begins shooting auditions in the coming weeks.

“Her deal is done. There are no ifs, ands or buts,” a source reveals. “Done. She will be back.”

The source adds that DioGuardi’s deal is for far less than the judges are receiving. Chances are, she’ll probably also be making less than AI host Ryan Seacrest, who just inked a deal for mega-bucks to remain on the show.

Let us know in the comments section: Are you glad or angry that Kara DioGuardi will be returning to Idol?

The pair—who met when McCuddy built the house next to DioGuardi’s and got engaged in December—exchanged vows at the United Methodist Church in front of about 30 guests.

“What was most unbelievable about the experience was when I looked out at the church and saw all these people that were so important to me and Mike, who were there for us,” DioGuardi tells the magazine. “It was pretty powerful. I was very emotional and I’m not somebody who breaks down and cries.”

Hmm; we would think that anybody who interacts with Simon Cowell on a regular basis would be able to hold back the tears in any situation.

As everyone knows, the main topic of conversation since last week’s finale has been when, and if, runner up Adam Lambert is going to discuss his sexuality with the American public. 

In today’s interview with The View, the controversial judge told the audience that “I don’t think that Adam was ever in [the closet]. I think he was always openly out.” 

She added, ”I mean from what I’ve seen … I do. I never thought he wasn’t.”

Then, Barbara Walters asked Kara if she thought Adam lost because of his flamboyant personality and look, which included nail polish, eyeliner, and tight clothing. “I hope not,” DioGuardi answered. “Because we should be judging on talent and viability in the music industry, and they both had that.” 

Do you think it’s fair for Kara to be talking about Adam’s sexuality when he’s been very vocal about keeping his personal life separate from his music career? Discuss below!

While many were shocked that Kris Allen beat out the favorite Adam Lambert to win the eighth season, perhaps a bigger shocker was delivered from controversial fourth judge Kara DioGuardi. 

When Ryan Seacrest brought back the contestant known as “Bikini Girl” to the stage to accept the Golden Idol award for “Best Attitude” and sing her average version of Mariah Carey’s “Vision of Love,” Kara surprised the audience by walking on stage to sing with the scantily clad girl. 

Then, she decided to show Bikini Girl, also known as Katrina Darrell, who she notoriously sparred with during auditions, that she has a pretty damn good body too!

Also, Ryan points out the obvious, someone got a little work done. 

Who’s got the hotter bod, Kara or Katrina? Share your thoughts in the comments! 

Only a few days ago, Kara DioGuardi shared the news that she was almost 100% sure that this would be her first and only season as the fourth judge on American Idol. However, Simon appeared on an episode of the The Ellen DeGeneres Show that airs today, and told the audience that, Kara will definitely be back.

Not that he’s entirely happy about it. Cowell went on to express his distaste for having four judges.

“There’s less time for us to talk. One week literally we couldn’t talk, so 10 minutes before the show started they said, ‘Oh by the way you can’t talk for half the show,’” Cowell said. “It’s rather like saying in a singing competition to the singers, half of you can’t sing. It was just crazy.”

Oh, that Simon; always one to accentuate the negative.

We want to know your opinions: Do you like hearing the opinions of four judges, or do you wish they’d just stick to Simon, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson? Have your say in the comments section!

After becoming the controversial, fourth judge for the current season of American Idol, Kara DioGuardi is confirming that her time is almost up.

She tells TV Guide Magazine, “I’m only here for one season. That’s what we’ve discussed. So we’ll see what happens. Hopefully they’ll keep me on.”

She continued, “My life has become extremely exciting and I am so excited for this opportunity. I feel grateful to America that they let me grow and they let me find my groove on the show and that they were patient. And hopefully I haven’t disappointed them. It’s been a scary experience at times.”

Rumors of DioGuardi not getting along with the other judges have been rampant these past few months. When asked about DioGuardi’s return, Simon Cowell didn’t sound too keen on his fellow judge.

“The only say I have is about Ryan, Randy and Paula. I’ve always made it clear that I wouldn’t like to do the show without them. So that’s all I’m really concerned about.”

Ouch.

What do you think? Is this the end of DioGuardi? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Jack Guy/FOX

“Paula has a right to her opinions, but I was disappointed by her comments, and hurt that she did not address them to me in person,” Kara told Access Hollywood.

Kara, a producer and songwriter, was added to the American Idol judging panel at the beginning of this season, leading to speculation that the occasionally out-of-it Paula might be on her way to the Home Shopping Network permanently.

In an interview with OK!, Abdul said that she doesn’t think a fourth judge was necessary.

“We tried four judges before and it doesn’t work. It takes up so much time for each of us to give our opinion that it slows down the pace of the show,” Abdul said.

Ouch.

Abdul’s rep said that she was merely talking about a previous attempt at having four judges, and not DioGuardi.

Nevertheless, DioGuardi says that she is “proud” of her accomplishments on the show.

Couldn’t they just make amends with each other by hating Tatiana together?

Darrell got the ax from the show on last night’s episode, after seemingly sabotaging her partners’ performance during group night by ditching practice for sleep the night before and throwing major ‘tude at the judges.

These antics were enough to earn the 20-year-old model from Chino Hills, California—who raised eyebrows three weeks ago by auditioning in a bikini—the boot. Along with a few choice words from DioGuardi.

As Darrell huffed her way backstage on her path to show-biz oblivion, DioGuardi snapped, “What a b*tch!”

The latest addition to the American Idol judges’ panel has had a chilly attitude toward Darrell since her audition, when DioGuardi deemed her a “terrible singer” and told her, “you don’t have the chops” to sing Mariah Carey‘s “Vision of Love,” which Darrell performed for her audition.

It was an awkward moment, to be sure. But it could have been worse; Darrell could freaked the judges out with a perceived threat, like one of the contestants this season.

Photo Source: Michael Becker/FOX

As Randy put it last night, Season 8 of American Idol is shaping up to be “very weird.”

Meet Naomi Sykes and her friend Jessica. A nervous Naomi, completely convinced of her talent, rolled into the audition in Jacksonville, Florida with the intention of blowing the judges (Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and new judge Kara DioGuardi) away.

That’s sort of what happened but not in the way she wanted.

Sykes brought along her best friend Amanda, who desperately wanted to meet Randy.

Randy invited her to perch on his lap during her friend’s tryout. Which caused pop music inspiration Paula to leap onto her arch-enemy Simon Cowell‘s lap. And then Kara DioGuardi invited AI host Ryan Seacrest to bounce on hers.

It was a really weird audition. That got weirder.

Naomi proceeded to try to sing Minnie Ripperton’s “Loving You.” Badly. Very badly. Even her friend Samantha made a face.

The judges tried to help her with a sing-a-long near the end. But it was to no avail. And when Simon lowered the book on her, there were the usual tears.

Weirdness yes, but hey – the judges found love. With each other!