How was the crop this year versus last year?
We have an interesting bunch. Where I think we got a little bit stuck last year, it was kind of like battle of the blondes and they all looked the same, I couldn't differentiate one from the other. This year there seems to be more personality. They're definitely standing up for themselves more, which I like. They're different from the people we've had before. I'm actually happy and I'm optimistic about this year. Often, we will go and talk to the contestants beforehand, before they even audition, and say to them, "Look -- welcome to American Idol. If any of you don't like criticism, please don't come into the audition room," and nobody's ever left.

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