American Idols Live Tickets: All Three Original Judges Stayed On The Judging Panel For Eight Seasons

American Idol program aims to discover the best singer in the country where the winner is determined by the viewers. Through telephone, Internet, and SMS text voting, viewers have chosen as winners Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen, and Lee DeWyze (listed in chronological order).

The series employs a panel of judges who critique the contestants' performances. The original three judges were Grammy Award-winning record producer and music manager Randy Jackson, Grammy Award-winning pop singer and Emmy Award-winning choreographer Paula Abdul and award-winning music executive and music manager Simon Cowell.

Since January 2011, the judging panel currently consists of Jackson, award-winning singer/actress and record producer Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Steven Tyler. For all seasons the show has been hosted by radio disc jockey Ryan Seacrest.

The show was described by rival TV executives as "the most impactful show in the history of television."It has also become a recognized springboard for launching the career of many artists as bona fide stars. As Entertainment Weekly puts it, "It's given us Kelly, Carrie, Daughtry, and J. Hud. Idol rules the reality roost because the winners of Fox's ratings juggernaut actually do go on to greatness. And Taylor Hicks? He's the exception that proves the rule."

The show had originally planned on having four judges following the Pop Idol format, however only three judges had been found by the time of the audition round in the first season, namely Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. A fourth judge, radio DJ Stryker, was originally chosen but he dropped out citing "image concerns".

In the second season, New York radio personality Angie Martinez had been hired as a fourth judge but withdrew only after a few days of auditions due to not being comfortable with giving out deep criticism.The show decided to continue with the three judges format until season 8. All three original judges stayed on the judging panel for eight seasons.

In season eight, Latin Grammy Award-nominated singer songwriter and record producer Kara DioGuardi was added as a fourth judge. Paula Abdul left the show before season nine after failing to agree terms with the show producers.Emmy Award-winning talk show host Ellen DeGeneres replaced Paula Abdul for that season, but left after just one season.

On January 11, 2010, Simon Cowell announced that he was leaving the show to pursue introducing his show The X Factor to the USA for 2011.Kara DioGuardi also left the show on September 3, 2010 after two seasons. On September 22, 2010, it was announced that Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler would join the judging panel.

Guest judges may occasionally be introduced. In season two, guest judges such as Lionel Richie and Robin Gibb were used from the Top 12 to Top 4. In season three Donna Summer, Quentin Tarantino and some of the mentors also joined as judges to critique the performances in the final rounds. Guest judges were used in the audition rounds for seasons four, six and nine, such as Gene Simmons and LL Cool J in season four, Jewel and Olivia Newton-John in season six, Neil Patrick Harris and Shania Twain in season nine.

The winner receives a record deal with a major label, which may be for up to six albums in seven years, and secures a management contract with American Idol-affiliated 19 Management (which has the first option to sign all contestants), as well as various lucrative contracts. All previous winners reportedly earned at least $1 million in their first year as winner.

All the runners-up of the first nine seasons, as well as some of other finalists, have also received record deals with major labels. All top ten finalists earn the privilege of going on a tour where the participants may each earn a six-figure sum.The tenth season is the first season to have eleven finalists going on a tour.