When the first season of Fox’s “American Idol” debuted eight years ago, no major media outlet wrote a story about the little summer replacement series that seemed like a desperate attempt to revive the 80s show “Star Search.”

Eight years later, Idol has seen a drum roll towards Tuesday's season premiere that has made the Presidential primary seem minimalist and low key. Every fluctuation in the format has been the subject of rumors, counter-rumors, leaks and denials. And this season’s major changes – the potentially risky addition of a fourth judge – have only fueled the frenzy all the more.

At the center of the media whirlwind is the man who arguably has done more to shape reality television than anyone - Fox’s head of alternative programming, Mike Darnell. The executive said he’s excited anticipating the reaction to the shake up within America’s most popular television program.

“I’ve now seen four of the audition cities cut and they’re really good,” said Darnell of the new season. “Not only is the talent great, but the introduction of the fourth judge is really creating a great dynamic. Better than I expected to be honest.”

The new judge, songwriter Kara Dioguardi, joins the holy judging panel that has formed the show’s backbone since its early days. On-air chemistry can be like lightning in a bottle, something hard to capture or replicate, but Darnell believes that Dioguardi will actually heighten – not detract from - the show’s original elements.