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Michael Becker Fox While the Academy Awards hope to draw a larger viewership by allowing more competitors for its top prize 8220 American Idol 8221 is betting the contrary way In advance of its ninth season 8220 American Idol 8221 the popular Fox singing competition said that it would give to its traditional format in which 24 semifinalists 8212 12 women and 12 men 8212 are chosen in the show 8217 s Hollywood rounds to vie for the title Last year 8220 Idol 8221 altered its rules to allow 36 such contestants The singers then performed in groups of 12 with three contestants from each group acirc 8364 8221 one female one m

le and a tierce of either sex acirc 8364 8221 moving on to the finals Fox gave no immediate reason for the proceeds to the original format though a smaller pool of semifinalists might give viewers less time to get tired of them the 8220 Idol 8221 finale in May was down more than three million viewers from its 2008 conclusion and the second lowest rated in the show 8217 s history Confusion over voting rules for the Oscars which in 2010 will receive 10 best picture nominees instead of five might have spooked 8220 Idol 8221 producers too There is already enough of change afoot on 8220 Idol 8221 which will return Jan 12 without its longtime judge Paula Abdul She 8217 ll be replaced by various rotating guest judges during regional auditions including Victoria Beckham Mary J Blige Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris Ellen DeGeneres will unite the judging panel when the show arrives in Hollywood in February Four semifinalists 8212 two male and two female 8212 will each be eliminated on broadcasts scheduled for Feb 25 March 4 and March 11