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By SCOTT COLLINS

Simon Cowell’s barbs could hurt, but apparently not as much as having him leave the show.

A retooled “American Idol” opened its 10th season Wednesday without its resident mean judge — and to its worst numbers, down 13%, since its first season back in the summer of 2002. An average of 26.1 million tuned in to the two-hour premiere that introduced new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, along with Randy Jackson, the sole remaining original judge. “Idol” also opened on a new night, rather than Tuesdays as in the past.

Among the key demographic of adults aged 18 to 49, “Idol” was down 18%.

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