They're baaack! American Idol is gearing up for another season (its ninth!), and we couldn't be more excited! With new judge Ellen Degeneres, tons of "bonafide singers," and star-studded guest judges like Victoria Beckham and Avril Lavigne, season nine is sure to be unlike any other! So what else can we expect? Randy Jackson gave us the scoop.

Is Simon really as mean as he seems?
I love his phrase, "I don't mean to be rude, but..." He's honest from his perspective. Sometimes it's maybe a bit harsh, but some people call that real. I don't know if he's meaner than he's ever been. I'm not sure I would call it mean; I would just call it very stern.

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