January 20, 2011 | 1:37 am

Steven Tyler & Jennifer Lopez Bring American Idol Back to Life & Even Ryan Seacrest is Good

Posted by Ilana Angel

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I love American Idol.  I watch it, I vote, I think Ryan Seacrest is annoying, and I blog about it.  Well I used to blog about it, until I got bored.  The last couple of years have been painful to watch.  Ellen, while fantastic, never belonged there, and Kara was not entertaining, and added no value.

I thought with Simon gone, so was I.  I truly had no plans to watch but my son convinced me that we should watch the first show, just so we could see what all the buzz was about, and it would make us able to join in conversation about it in the morning should people be talking about it.

So we watched and boy was I surprised.  New judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez were very entertaining and managed to take season ten and make it fresh.  Then there was Randy.  Poor Randy Jackson.  As much as we loved him in the beginning, I am completely over him now.

I watched the last two seasons without Paula wishing she were there, yet for this season opener I did not miss her, or Simon.  I can say, after just two hours of the new season, this show is great and would have been even better if they had not brought Randy back.  He’s so annoying.

Ryan Seacrest rounds out the quartet and if you read my blog on a regular basis you know I don’t really understand the appeal Ryan.  That was then, because now I find myself liking even Ryan.  His voice felt familiar and comfortable and I thought, for the first time, that he belonged there.

Steven Tyler is insanely sexy for a man of his age, and even though he has gone a little overboard on his cosmetic surgery, he’s still yummy.  He is also very, very, very entertaining.  He is just what this show needed to start fresh.  He was funny, sensitive, charming, and delicious.

Then we have Jennifer Lopez.  This woman is so incredibly beautiful that it seems a little unfair.  The color of her skin is perfection and I liked her.  I liked her personality, how she looked, how she was worried about the feelings of the contestants, and it was like she always belonged there.

Some standouts: The chick from the Ivory Coast who sang Madonna broke my heart.  She was horrible but so sweet and at the end when she said bye to Ryan I wanted to cry.  The Snooki wannabe guidette from Jersey had a great voice, under a horrible outfit.  She made it through.

16 year old Robbie Rosen who sang Yesterday, and was one of my favorites.  I love this kid.  Ashley Sullivan wants to be the Liza Minnelli of pop music and she was super awkward and super cute.  Good voice and while she’s not really AI material, I’m glad they put her through.

Victoria from NC was sugary sweet and gave me a cavity.  She should be competing for Miss America not American Idol.  Melinda, whose parents won the Green Card Lottery from Kosovo, was good and her story made me cry.  Yes. I cried watching American Idol.  Twice.

Devvyn, the singing waitress was really good and made it though even they humiliated her by telling her she was a schlub and needed a make over.  The kid from Japan, who loves Michael Jackson, will be back for the finale to sing a duet with Miley Cyrus and I can’t wait to see it.

The final singer of the night was 16 year old Travis from the Bronx.  I love this kid, love his family, love his story, love it all.  I cried from the moment we met him and I will be thinking about him between now and Hollywood week.  This is a special kid and I want him to do well.

I loved this show.  I loved Steven and Jennifer, and dare I say it, when Ryan got emotional at the end with Travis, I loved him too.  It felt new and fresh and I think it’s going to be a great season.  I will watch, vote, and for those whose American dream will come true, I shall keep the faith.