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Ever the half-glass-full optimist, a visit with the lovable dimpled Archie, whose new album The Former Side of Down, was released in October, is zero if not an uplifting experience, and this sentence was no different. Read on to see more of his thoughts on Season 10. And, as always, you can get him on Twitter.

THR: When is the final time you and your family sat down to watch Idol together?

We never do that, but what`s interesting with this flavor is my home was mad to see it, too. When I was on the show, they got overwhelmed by the whole American Idolexperience, but they`re still fans. It`s about wish that fresh start brought this new, fresh excitement back.

THR: What did you mean of Jennifer Lopez?

It was actually fun to see her. She`s someone I`ve grown up respecting by watching the Selenamovie and my mom enjoyed listening to her music. I only loved seeing a Latina on there representing.

THR: A lot of mass were commenting that she was being too slowly on the contestants, what did you think?

[As a judge], you read the nerves that people feel, so you can`t help but feel empathy for them. They`re performers, and I mean ladies naturally have that nurturing side to them. As you saw with Paula, she was always nice, but she got a little more rugged as she went along, realizing, you get over feeling bad for them and start giving them real critiques. I reckon she did a very great job for her first time. It`s not slow to say people to their present and be good if you squeeze their dreams. It`s a long, tough process, to get the bravery to get up there and audition in presence of those judges and those cameras and those producers in the background. It takes a lot of guts.

THR: What did you remember of Steven Tyler?

A lot of people didn`t recognize what a case he is. He actually made it amusing and entertaining to watch. I thought he was leaving to be more reserved or quiet. I thought he was leaving to be more self-conscious than he was, and I`m glad he wasn`t. I reckon he`s used to existence in face of masses and having to trade with attention. It actually was refreshing that the judges were able to be themselves.

THR: Do you look like this is more the real Randy Jackson?

I mean he feels responsibility being the entirely original judge on the present and directing the former two judges, because they are new to this. I suppose there`s a lot that goes into existence a judge – physically being there and emotionally, too. The former two judges are getting the fall of that and Randy is the one leading them. He`s in charge now because he`s the one who`s been there longest and understands how things go. I suppose he`s more tough, because Simon`s not there to be the brutally honest one and do the dirty work, but Randy`s always been pretty honest about things.

THR: If you could relive your audition, would you choose to be judged by Jennifer Lopez or Steven Tyler?

I don`t know. I mean it was pretty cool to have Paula and Simon there. It would have been really awesome to have Steven and Jennifer Lopez, too, though_ and interesting to see what they thought and what sort of advice they would have given after each performance.

THR: Is Simon missed?

It`s difficult to say he`s missed, because I know he`s going to be on another show. I`m going to get my part of Simon, but I look like he required to be asleep in rank to get that new, fresh excitement. To let people look like they`re watching something for the 1st time. It they kept Simon there, it would look like it was getting old.

THR: There have been a lot of talented 16- and 15-year-olds during the auditions so far_

It`s great that they`ve incorporated a lot of younger people, because in the earlier seasons, they discouraged younger kids from auditioning because they didn`t look like they were ready. It`s cool that mass can start following their dreams at a new age. You don`t get to delay until you`re 30 for things to happen, you can be new and motivated and be willing to play hard, and I believe it`s great that they indicate that. Especially now, with Gleeit`s allowed a lot of kids to jazz music and playing at a new age. All ages watched American Idol, but I believe it was gracious to be capable to show kids, “Hey, you can be here, too.”

THR: Do you look like Idol needed to take changes?

For me, they were very welcome changes. I didn`t look as stressed out watching it, because it felt fresh. Maybe I was just stressed because it brought back all the memories – great memories, but still, that was a lot going on. I liked the way they did it, and I suppose it was essential to at least change it a little. Because even if they kept it the old format and same judges, sometimes things can get old if you support something for too long. I mean it was capable to catch people`s attention again.

THR: What are these auditioners going through now that their TV moment has been seen by millions. What was your experience?

All of a sudden, these people started texting me out of nowhere. People somehow had my list and were calling and texting. It really bugged me.

THR: Why?

Because I didn`t want people to know. I didn`t need to disappoint them if I didn`t go further. I`ve always liked keeping things to myself, so it was just weird that one of my biggest secrets – auditioning for American Idol — was now out there, I didn`t recognize what was leaving to happen, but I was very excited_ I was only wondering what’s the future loss to be like? How hard is it going to be? Am I going to be capable to hold it all? I think piece of that stress is just because it keeps you focused.

4:20 PM 1/28/2011 by Shirley Halperin