There were a number of other major changes in the thirteenth season, from the judges to the format of the show itself including the opening intro, which now uses the "Gyroscope 2.0". Three members of the judging panel from the previous season, Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson and Nicki Minaj, have left the series to pursue other ventures.[2] On August 1, 2013, it was confirmed that Keith Urban would return as a judge for another season.[3] Executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick were succeeded by Per Blankens, previously of Idol, the Swedish version of the Idols format.[4] On June 25, 2013, it was confirmed that producers Jesse Ignjatovic and Evan Prager would join Blankens as executive producers of the show.[5] Bill DeRonde replaced Warwick as a director of the audition episodes, and Louis J. Horvitz also replaced Gregg Gelfand as a director of the show, who had been directing since the sixth season.[6] Fox television executive Mike Darnell who helped launch American Idol in 2002 left as programming head of Fox, and Fox Sports executive David Hill was hired to oversee the series.[7]Rickey Minor returned to the show as musical director after having left at the end of the ninth season to go to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[8]
In August 2013, Jennifer Lopez's boyfriend Casper Smart stated she would be returning as an American Idol judge.[9] On August 22, 2013, it was reported that Jimmy Iovine would not return as the in-house mentor for this season, but he is to be replaced by former judge Randy Jackson.[10] On August 30, 2013, The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Harry Connick, Jr. signed a deal to join the panel as the third judge and that Simon Fuller held a party the night before with all three judges on hand to toast the forthcoming announcement.[11] On September 3, 2013, Lopez and Connick Jr. were officially announced as judges for this season along with the confirmation of Jackson being the new mentor. Lopez is the first American Idol judge to return after leaving at the end of season 11. It was also later reported that Idol alumni Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry would be assisting Randy Jackson in mentoring the contestants.[12]
In a rules change from past years, semi-finalists from Season 12 (but not previous seasons) who were not in the top 10 nor on the Season 12 Tour were eligible to return, provided they met all of the other requirements.[13]
An auditioner this season was Tristen Langley, son of season one's third-placed finalist Nikki McKibbin, who made history as the first of the second-generation contestants on American Idol.[24]
Hollywood rounds
A special "Hollywood or Home" round was introduced this season whereby contestants were eliminated soon after they have landed in LAX airport before they even reached Hollywood. 52 contestants the judges were uncertain of performed solo in an airplane hanger, and 32 were sent back to the airport.[25] The 160 contestants left then proceeded on to Hollywood and performed solo in the Dolby Theatre in groups of ten. After this round, 104 contestants remained where they performed in groups of three or four. 77 contestants went through to a further solo round.
The Hollywood rounds ended with a Top 30 being announced on 12 and 13 February 2014. However a new twist was added and the judges chose only 15 girls and 14 boys, with the "15th boy" to be chosen by the voting public. The options were Ben Briley or Neco Starr. The result of the vote and the name of the public's choice to complete the Top 30 was announced on February 18. And it was Ben Briley who had made into the Top 30.
Semi-finalists
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2014)
The following is a list of Top 20 semi-finalists who failed to reach the finals:
Semi-finals
The semi-finals round started on February 18. The three-day event on February 18, 19 and 20 was marketed as "Rush Week". Below are the two semi-final groups (females and males) with contestants listed in their performance order. The top five males and top five females, along with the three wild card choices by the judges, advanced to the finals. In a series first, the judges eliminated five of each gender before they even had a chance to perform in front of the live studio audience. The females started the semifinal round, and the males continued on following night's episode, and the contestants will perform songs of their choice (there was no particular theme).[26]
Eliminated: Briston Maroney, Casey Thrasher, Ethan Harris, Jordan Brisbane, Maurice Townsend
Wild Card round
Following those ten singers advancing on Thursday, February 20, five of the remaining 20 semi-finalists were selected by the judges to compete in the Wild Card round. The Wild Card round immediately began, following the announcement of the ten finalists. Following another performance by each Wild Card contender, the judges then selected three contestants to advance to the final group of 13.[27]