Randy Jackson
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We always knew Ryan Seacrest and Randy Jackson were good friends.

We just had no idea they were this close.

Here's a shot of the American Idol personalities during a recent appearance on the Rachael Ray show. They're looking mighty cozy...

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.

Miley Cyrus is totally one of Randy Jackson's dawgs.

Then again, who isn't? The American Idol judge has love - and a fist bump - for seemingly everyone...

We interrupt updates on Danny Noriega and other season seven contestants to discuss a pair of our favorite judges...

A week after Paula Abdul's lip-synch-tastic Super Bowl performance, we're found out that her American Idol co-judge Randy Jackson has confirmed that he will have a hand in producing her forthcoming full-length album.

"We've been talking about it," Jackson told Entertainment Weekly. "We gotta keep things rolling, you know?"

No release date or label has been announced yet, but last week Paula Abdul's official website posted a message saying to expect an album in the summer of 2008.

Randy Jackson recently chatted with AOL about this season's American Idol auditions, among other experiences he's enjoyed as a member of TV's top-rated series:

Do you get bored at all going from city to city watching weird auditioners singing?
No, that's the hardest part for us. But it's also the coolest part, ya know, one of the most fun aspects of what we do. I don't think you get really bored because you see different talent all the time. You know what I mean? There're different kids you see all the time.

So you never know when the next Carrie is going to walk in the room?
Dude, you know never know when the next Carrie, the next Chris, the next Fantasia, the next Kelly Clarkson ... You just never know, you know?

How do you feel about the wacky sort of characters that come in?
Listen. We get a lot of flack from people saying "How does this person show up?" It's an open casting call. We don't do some streamline thing that say, like, people who are 5'10" to 5'9" and only this kind of aptitude.

You never know, the girl with the Princess Leia buns could have been good.
Yeah. Listen, people [asked] last season [about] Sanjaya ... why did have him on there? When we saw him in Seattle, Sanjaya was actually really good vocally. He's got personality and he was actually a pretty good singer. So you know, look, it's not like we're out there trying to find the weirdest people we can find. It's just who shows up. It's just 'American Idol.'

Is there another Sanjaya this season?
I don't know if there's necessarily another Sanjaya. The kids who show up are so different from year to year. There are some interesting people every season and this season is definitely no exception. I call it the good, the bad and the indifferent.

Read the full interview with Jackson now.

Aside from saying "dawg" a lot, Randy Jackson will remind us what got him on the American Idol panel in March.

The Grammy-winning producer is bringing together a musical “dream-team” for his new CD, Randy Jackson’s Music Club Vol. 1.

“I’m really pleased that a bunch of wonderful, talented people showed up,” Jackson said of his experience producing Randy Jackson’s Music Club Vol. 1. “I’m really blessed by the way it all came together.”

The CD hits stores on March 11. Until then, Jackson will be grading season seven hopefuls such as Kady Malloy.

Chris Daughtry recently took a slight swipe at American Idol, saying it had lost a lot of momentum.

While the singer retracted those comments a bit, we'd imagine they still stung folks like Randy Jackson. But the American Idol judge said the following in response:

“I love Chris. I think he made an amazing record that he sold extremely well,” Jackson said. “He’s a testament to the fact that no matter where you finish on Idol - even if you finish twelfth - if you make a great record and you got that kind of exposure, the public will resoundingly buy it. But the bottom line is there would be no Chris Daughtry if there wasn’t American Idol.”

Jackson went on to say that American Idol is still a great opportunity for young singers trying to break in to the business:

“I did A&R at record companies for fifteen years. No company was out looking for these kids. I’m sure you can ask any of the winners or the runners-up: were you trying to get a record deal before American Idol? I’m sure they will all say ‘Yes.’ Were you successful? I’m sure they’ll all say ‘No.’

So now we’ve got all these people, and guess what brought them here? The quickest rocket ship to the top.”

Randy Jackson recently spoke to Parade Magazine about all things American Idol. A few highlights:

On whether he’d let his kids audition for Idol:
“Yes. I would, if they truly wanted to try. Oh, my god, you may think we’re tough, but the public is tougher. Mick Jagger had it hard at first. They threw stuff at Prince when he was an opening act. People will say, ‘What big ears, I don’t like that nose, look at her hair,’ even before they listen to the music.”

On Simon and Paula:
“They’re cool people. Simon is very smart, with an amazing eye for talent and a little bit of brash. But people identify with him. Paula is a great artist who really loves these kids and nourishes them like a mother.”

On his weight loss:
“A couple of years ago, I was feeling rocky. I was 43, and when I went to the doctor, he said I had type 2 diabetes. I lost 121 pounds and put only 10 back. I completely changed my lifestyle.”

Remember a few weeks ago when the American Idol judges said they'd love to help Britney Spears?

We thought it was a kind gesture. But apparently Britney did not.

According to Star Magazine, the absolute train wreck responded to such reports by saying: "What a joke!  They help me? I invented what they do!"

Spears then vowed never to work with any of the judges again, ripping each one, by saying:

• Paula Abdul is a "has-been freak."
• Simon Cowell is a "creepy Eurotrash guy who's mean and dated."
• Randy Jackson is a "lame, cookie-cutter producer."

We can't say for sure whether Britney uttered these words or not - but would you put anything past her at this point?

Might Britney Spears appear on American Idol next year?

Probably not. But the judges are fans of the pop star/train wreck.

"We have decided we can bring Britney back," Simon Cowell said in offering to help Spears's career. "We are serious. We plan to buy her underpants, get her bigger shorts to perform in and get her away from her stupid friends."

Paula Abdul said:, "We always have time for Britney. We love her."

Finally, Randy Jackson added: "We'd love to take care of you, Spears! We will make you a superstar again!"