Fox has confirmed some format changes for the upcoming season of “American Idol,” USA Today reports. Among the changes are an extra week of the Hollywood round, which will select 36 semifinalists instead of 24, and the return of the judge’s wild-card picks for the final 12, the newspaper says. Also confirmed is the departure of charity special “Idol Gives Back,” which will return during the show’s ninth season next year, USA Today says. The special likely is being nixed this year because the show does not want to ask people to contribute money given the poor economy and the rise of unemployment, the New York Post says, citing industry insiders.
—Sergio Ibarra