Kara Dioguardi
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It's nothing against Kara DioGuardi.

But former executive producer of American Idol Nigel Lythgoe says he never would have added another judge to the show's panel.

"I think she's a lovely lady, and I think she's relevant and up to date, but, personally, I would never have done it, Lythgoe told The New York Post this week.

And why is that?

"I don't like fourth judges," Lythgoe said. "I think once you've been told 'You suck,' you don't need to be told another three times."

Do you think American Idol should have added Kara DioGuardi as a judge?

Paula Abdul and Kara Dioguardi are former roommates.

We wonder how the new judge and popular songwriter would react, though, if she heard Abdul essentially taking credit for her career.

Here's what Paula said to OK! about the new addition to American Idol:

"Kara and I are good friends.... I started the whole evolution of what her career's become, because I found her on the streets of New York.  She was an aspiring song writer, and I said, 'are you good?', and she said, 'yeah' and I heard her demos and I convinced her to quit her job and move to LA in my house."

Having sat through American Idol auditions in New York, Jacksonville, Louisville and San Francisco, new judge Kara Dioguardi told The New York Post she's found her footing

"I just know I'm getting my groove, loosening up and forgetting about the big elephant in the room," Kara said about the enormity of American Idol and of keeping pace with Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell.

It did take the songwriter a bit to get used to all the attention.

"The first few [audition] cities I was like, 'Oh my God, the camera is on me' - it was a little strange," she said. "But I'm starting to let my true self come out. You forget about the camera and start being you. And that's been fun for me."

Here's your first look at the new quartet of American Idol judges together.

Kara Dioguardi joined Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson at auditions in Manhattan yesterday for season eight. It begins in January.

Paula Abdul may have needed a day or two to fully embrace new judging partner Kara DioGuardi, but Simon Cowell let his excitement about the addition shine through during her first public appearance with fellow American Idol judges yesterday.

The quartet were on hand in Manhattan for a round of season eight auditions, as Cowell talked to reporters about his new pal on the panel.

"It's like, you know, having dinner with three people for seven years, and getting quite bored of each other," Simon said. "So it's having a fourth person, new opinion, I think it's gonna be interesting."

Moreover, Cowell said: "Kara has a good reputation of A, having hits; and B, having an opinion. And that's a good combination. And she's cute."

Simon Cowell is excited to have Kara DioGuardi on board.

Paula Abdul has known new American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi since 1999.

Now, the somewhat insane singer tells Perez Hilton that she can't wait to work alongside Kara, despite rumors claiming she's concerned over the addition of a fourth panelist.

"I've been talking about her for years," Abdul said. "I hope the audience gets excited and accepts it. Sometimes its been hard when we've had four judges in the past. They always wanted four judges since the beginning. It'll be good to have two girls, and two guys. Kara's like a sister to me."

Are you excited for Kara DioGuardi on American Idol?

Over the weekend, we published a story about Simon Cowell demanding changes to American Idol.

We don't know if this is what he had in mind, but Kara Dioguardi will be sitting next to Cowell next season on the show.

The Grammy-nominated songwriter has penned songs for mega-stars such as Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. She has also written for Idol finalists such as Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson.

"She is a smart, sassy lady, and one of America's most successful songwriters. We know she will bring a new level of energy and excitement to the show," American Idol creator Simon Fuller said in a statement.

What do you think of the addition of Kara Dioguardi to the American Idol judging table?