'American Idol' is back, but do we need all of these changes?

Paula is gone. Simon might be going. Ellen is coming. Kara isn't budging.

And Randy?

He's quietly collecting a paycheck while thinking of new ways to squeeze the words "hot" and "dog pound" into a critique.

Welcome to season nine of "American Idol," Fox's ratings juggernaut that returns Tuesday at 8 p.m. for a two-night premiere.

As any "Idol" vet knows, the three weeks of auditions that follow the premiere either constitute your highlight of the season, or, if you're like me, keep you sidelined until the thousands of hopefuls are whittled down to a dozen singers with some distinguishable talent.

That said ... I am intrigued enough by the rotating panel of guest judges who took the Paula seat during auditions that I just might tune in. Way to suck me in, Fox.

Really, I don't need to hear Samantha from Denver squawk through "I Will Survive" or watch Danny from Dallas flail around the audition room trying to remember the lyrics to a Boyz II Men song.

But, as an entertainment fan, I might be amused by the reactions of Joe Jonas, Shania Twain, Mary J. Blige, Kristin Chenoweth and that archetype of powerhouse singing herself, Victoria Beckham.

It's no secret that "Idol" needed a touch-up — after more than five or six years, what show doesn't? (And consider that a warning, "Desperate Housewives.")

But the show is so far from being on life support, it doesn't even need an oxygen mask.

True, the ratings for season eight continued the decline from the show's pinnacle — the premiere of the sixth season in January 2007 attracted 38 million viewers, the fifth most-watched show of the decade, according to The Hollywood Reporter — but what network TV series hasn't lost eyeballs to cable, Facebook and RockBand the past few years?

"Idol" still consistently ranked No. 1 in the ratings by pulling in 20 million-plus viewers for each of its multiple-night airings and churned out a star in Adam Lambert, while winners Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson continued their spectacular success.

Yet producers seem panicked — and nothing productive ever comes from decisions made out of desperation.

This season's Let's See What Sticks changes include Ellen DeGeneres filling the Paula seat starting with the "Hollywood Round" episodes (Feb. 9-10); a 24-semifinalist format, which the show used in seasons four through seven (women perform on Tuesdays, men on Wednesdays, and the two lowest vote-getters from each group get the ax on Thursdays); and, praise the TV production gods, the apparent elimination of the "Wild Card" round, which allowed the judges more power, but held little suspense for viewers.

All of this to swallow, plus another distraction with the looming possibility of a Simon Cowell-less "Idol" when his contract ends after this season.

The gambling site bookmaker.com has already set odds for Cowell's replacement, with Piers Morgan as the favorite at 2-1 (likely because he fits the Simon mold of British accent + snarky commentary), followed by Sean "Diddy" Combs at 3-1, Quincy Jones at 3 1/2-1, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds at 4-1 and Simon Fuller at 6-1.

As for DeGeneres' role in this overdone makeover, I'm torn. She'll surely bring new viewers, at least initially, simply for the curiosity factor.

She's a terrific comic and a loose, amiable chat-show host. But she's also a star, and stars, consciously or not, demand the spotlight.

Whether DeGeneres will be able to curb those tendencies with alpha-male Cowell is an experiment with potentially hilarious results.

But if you're an "Idol" fan, wouldn't you have watched anyway?

Melissa Ruggieri is a writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.