STAGE TUBE: AMERICAN IDOL Judges Talk Upcoming 11th Season, Premiering Tonight on Fox

In a recent interview, AMERICAN IDOL Judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler spoke about the upcoming 11th season of the hit singing competition which premieres tonight on the FOX network.

Featuring host Ryan Seacrest the show returns with a two-night event showcasing the nation's most extraordinary talent Wednesday, January 18 8/7c and Thursday, January 19 8/7c. Auditions will continue with a special, extended primetime broadcast of AMERICAN IDOL Sunday, January 22 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC Championship Game on FOX.

The show's judges - Jackson, Lopez and Tyler - traveled to Savannah, Aspen, Galveston, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Diego and St. Louis in search of contestants with the raw talent and potential to become the next American Idol. Auditions continue on Wednesday, January 25 8/7c and Thursday, January 26 8/7c; Wednesday, February 1 8/7c and Thursday, February 2 8/7c; and Wednesday, February 8 8/7c on FOX.

The contestants who impress the judges will head to Hollywood and be put to the ultimate test during the "Hollywood Rounds,". Those who make it through Hollywood must then take the "Performance Challenge," where they face the judges one last time before the top male and top female semifinalists are revealed.

The judges have their say after every performance, but it's the viewing public that determines who will advance to the next round of the competition and who will go home. In the milestone 400th episode, airing on a special night, Tuesday, February 28 8/7c, the first group of semifinalists will take the stage to sing for America's votes.

The following night, the remaining semifinalists will perform. The competition takes an intense turn on the two-hour LIVE results show Thursday, March 1 8/7c as America's vote reveals the first set of finalists, then those that remain will have one last chance to perform for the judges who will round out the 2012 American Idol finalists with their wild card picks.

The following week, the competition heats up when the finalists take the stage on Wednesday, March 7 8/7c. One finalist's journey will end as America's vote is revealed on Thursday, March 8 8/7c.

RECAP (All times ET/PT)

Wednesday, Jan. 18 (8:00-10:00 PM) Season Premiere, Part 1
Thursday, Jan. 19 (8:00-9:00 PM) Season Premiere, Part 2
Sunday, Jan. 22 (10-11PM ET/7-8 PM PT) Auditions Episode (Special Broadcast)
Wednesday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM) Auditions Episode
Thursday, Jan. 26 (8:00-9:00 PM) Auditions Episode
Wednesday, Feb. 1 (8:00-9:00 PM) Auditions Episode
Thursday, Feb. 2 (8:00-9:00 PM) Auditions Episode
Wednesday, Feb. 8 (8:00-9:00 PM) Auditions Episode
Thursday, Feb. 9 (8:00-9:00 PM) Hollywood Round, Part 1
Wednesday, Feb. 15 (8:00-10:00 PM) Hollywood Round, Part 2
Thursday, Feb. 16 (8:00-9:00 PM) Hollywood Round, Part 3
Wednesday, Feb. 22 (8:00-10:00 PM) Performance Challenge
Thursday, Feb. 23 (8:00-9:00 PM) Semifinalists Announced
Tuesday, Feb. 28 (8:00-10:00 PM) Semifinalists Perform/400th Episode (Special Broadcast)
Wednesday, Feb. 29 (8:00-10:00 PM) Semifinalists Perform
Thursday, March 1 (8:00-10:00 PM) Results Show; Finalists Announced & Judges' Wild Card Picks Revealed (ET live/PT tape-delayed)
Wednesday, March 7 (8:00-10:00 PM) Finalists Perform
Thursday, March 8 (8:00-9:00 PM) Results Show; First Elimination (ET live/PT tape-delayed)

To view the interview with the AMERICAN IDOL Judges, click below!