Former 'X Factor' cast members: Steve Jones, Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul. (Jones/Scherzinger photo by AP; Abdul photo courtesy Fox)

There will definitely be changes on Fox’ The X Factor next season.

Judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones have all left the show, which had consistently good ratings in its first season, but never reached the popularity of American Idol.

USA Today is among those reporting that Abdul and Scherzinger have followed Jones out the door. Jones reported his exit on Twitter on Monday.

Abdul was initially asked to join the show by X Factor executive producer and fellow judge and Idol cast mate Simon Cowell. Scherzinger replaced Cheryl Cole, who was brought over by Cowell from the British version of X Factor but left early on.

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A former “American Idol” contestant is heading to Broadway with a character who, it’s safe to say, is truly two-faced.

Constantine Maroulis will play the title dual role in a revival of the musical “Jekyll & Hyde” that’s slated to come to New York in spring 2013 after a 25-week national tour that starts in San Diego on Oct. 2, Nederlander Presentations Inc. announced Sunday.

Maroulis, who was a finalist on the fourth season of “American Idol,” had a three-year run in Broadway’s “Rock of Ages” and received a best actor Tony nomination and a Drama League nomination for his performance. He also played the role of Roger Davis in a recent national tour of “Rent.”

Maroulis made his Broadway debut in “The Wedding Singer” and is currently in the title role of “Toxic Avenger” at the Alley Theatre in Houston. His debut album, “Constantine,” was released on his own label, Sixth Place Records.

“Jekyll & Hyde” features a story and lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Leslie Bricusse and music by Frank Wildhorn, who co-conceived the musical. It will be directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun.

Additional cast and creative team, as well as tour cities, will be announced later. Read the full story

And it wasn't even his audition.

“Where were you when it all started?” a sober placard at  the beginning of “American Idol”‘s first episode of 2012 asked? Well, ten years ago, when the then-crazy sounding talent show started, I was in my living room in York, Pa., asking my roommate “Are you watching this?”

Yeah, she was, and 10 years later that crazy talent show has become one of the things people ask me the most about, besides whether I am Macy Gray. Which I still am not.

So now I sit in my living room in Lake Worth, 10 years older, and find that, just like in “Dazed and Confused,” I keep getting older and the contestants stay the same age. Actually, they seem like zygotes. Tiny singing showbiz zygotes. David Leathers, Jr., or as his friends call him “Mr. Steal Your Girl” (?), is the first one we see in Savannah. He’s wearing sunglasses and a tie, and his confidence, and boast to have won against last year’s winner Scotty McCreary in a previous competition, means he’s either the best thing ever or a sad singing shame.

And…he’s fabulous. Good for you, Zygote in a Tie.  In an unrelated note, Steven’s theme for today seems to be Cross Dressing Pimp. It’s an odd choice, but we salute you for your commitment. And I think I have that lipstick.
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We all know that Simon Cowell’s boasts about how the American version of “The X Factor” was gonna eat “American Idol”‘s lunch and then hit it in the head with its own lunchpail didn’t quite come to fruition, ratings-wise, but the show certainly maintained a viewership and, most importantly, a pop culture buzz.

Are you ready for some "Idol?"

So as Cowell’s old show returns to FOX for its season opener, one wonders (well, at least this one does) whether it can keep its own ratings excitement going this year, without some new twists. (I would like to propose Exile Island, where they exile JLo and keep her there until she can stop self-promoting and give a daggone straight criticism after Hollywood Week.) But as far as I know, it’s status quo, with the same judges, same host and same Clown Town auditions – for you newbies to my “Idol” blogs, that’s my name for the early city auditions when idiots show up dressed as kung fu chickens or what have you. I find it awful filler, and I don’t love watching delusional idiots with over-indulgent parents losing their crap on TV. I can see that in the food court in the Boca Mall.

Also, I wonder what the fact of “The Voice” will do to “Idol” – I love the former show because they’ve already narrowed the field to the people who can legitimately sing and those who sing even better. We don’t have to deal with the idiots. I know some people like that because it works for “Idol.” But “The Voice” and its success has shown that some also like just focusing on the excitement of weeding the most talented from the talent pool.

So … what do you guys think? You watching it this year?

“American Idol” runner-up David Archuleta says he’s “excited” about working on a Philippine TV series.

The singer’s Filipino co-stars Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Eula Caballero welcomed him with flower garlands at Manila’s airport Friday, and fans and journalists jostled to take pictures as he emerged from the airport gate.

Archuleta, 20, said in a video blog before leaving the U.S. that he has taken acting lessons to prepare. “I’m excited about it,” he said. “This is a new experience for me.”

TV5 Vice President Perci Intalan says “it’s a dream come true” for the network to have Archuleta in a Filipino show.

He’ll be shooting the drama series over the next few weeks. More details on the show and Archuleta’s role were not available.

Archuleta competed on the 2007-2008 season of “American Idol” and has released three albums.

He announced last month he would take a break from music to serve two years as a Mormon missionary. The location of his mission has not been disclosed.

If the U.S. Supreme Court is willing to listen, rocker Steven Tyler has something “old school” to say about nudity and profanity on broadcast TV.

The Aerosmith frontman and “American Idol” judge says there’s a “certain charm” in not relying on nudity or curse words. The high court was set Tuesday to take up a First Amendment case on the regulation of the airwaves.

Tyler himself tossed off a bleeped strong expletive or two on Fox’s live “American Idol” after joining it as a judge last season. He says it is 2012, after all.

That’s different than nonstop cursing on TV, Tyler said, suggesting that could be happen without rules.

Steven Tyler is ready to walk this way, again: The 63-year-old singer is engaged.

Tyler’s representative confirmed Monday that the Aerosmith frontman is engaged to Erin Brady.

No other details were provided.

Tyler has been married and divorced twice.

He is one of the judges on the hit Fox TV show “American Idol.”

“American Idol” finalist James Durbin has married longtime girlfriend Heidi Lowe in a New Year’s Eve ceremony at the edge of a California redwood forest.

The couple says in a statement that the wedding in a Santa Cruz Mountains chapel was a perfect way to kick off 2012.

The Contra Costa Times reports the 85 guests included their 2-year-old son, Hunter, who was the ring bearer.

Other guests included fellow “American Idol” alums Haley Reinhart, Stefano Langone and Casey Abrams.

The “Idol” season 10 finalist turns 23 on Friday. His debut album, “Memories of a Beautiful Disaster,” was released in November.

Durbin is from Santa Cruz.

Image via Wikipedia

American Idol runner-up David Archuleta says he will take a break from his singing career to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The contestant from the 2007 season made the announcement during a Christmas concert Monday in downtown Salt Lake City. The Deseret News reports that the 20-year-old Utah resident says he’s not quitting music, but feels a strong call to serve the church.

A video of the concert on Archuleta’s website shows him crying as he tells the crowd about his plans.

Church spokesman Eric Hawkins confirmed Archuleta’s announcement on Tuesday, but declined to say where the singer will serve.

More than 52,000 church members currently are serving full-time missions worldwide. Most are men between the ages of 19 and 21.