The vibe is positive. The energy is good. Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson is in the house, figuratively speaking - or on the phone, if you want to be real about it. And when he says this season of American Idol could hit some of the eight-year talent competition's highest notes yet - a song Idol followers have heard before - he insists he's not singing a bum tune.

Jackson hinted, for one, that this will be a year for the female singing talent.

"The last couple of seasons, boys have won," Jackson said. "And I have been scratching my head, going, 'Dude, where are the girls? Where have all the ladies gone?' I think there are some really talented girls who showed up this time.

"I think that what changes the show from year to year is the contestants that we get. And what's interesting is that, this year, you would have thought there would be a lot more theatrical-type singers, a lot more Adam Lambert or Kris Allen types that showed up for the auditions. And that didn't happen at all.

"Usually, whoever wins or comes in one and two, you see a lot of those kinds of singers in the next season of auditions. It's almost like a signal to everyone at home that's like them to come and try out for American Idol. But that didn't happen this time. I think we have a really interesting, unique cast that's unique to this season. I think it's going to be really, really exciting and very different."

Jackson, a career record producer, music manager, bass player, singer and musician in his own right - he played in bands with Carlos Santana and Jean-Luc Ponty, and has been Mariah Carey's musical director on several of her recent tours - knows he is sometimes perceived as a soft touch, because of his laid-back vibe, cool demeanour, good nature and weakness for expressions like, "dawg," "a'ight" and "so check it out," but he knows what he's looking for in an aspiring singer.

"The big three. The big three, to me, is, one, undeniable talent. Two, you have to have something that makes you unique. And, three, you have to have some star persona."

There have been times, Jackson said, when he knew instantly.

"Honestly, for me, the day I saw Adam Lambert audition; when I saw Kelly Clarkson on day one; Carrie Underwood, day one; Chris Daughtry - I truly believe that stars really are born. They're already cultivated. You can help them manifest into bigger and brighter stars, but I think those things you are born with. You know when you hear them that they have something special."

Jackson admitted it's going to be a long and oddly winding road without Paula Abdul on the panel. Abdul left Idol at the end of last season after being unable to come to terms on a new contract with Idol's producers.

"The Paula thing is really near and dear to my heart," Jackson said. "She's one of my best friends. I talked to her a couple of days ago. We speak all the time.

"This whole thing started with Ryan, Simon, her and me. We were all close friends, and still are. I miss that. I look down the table sometimes and go, 'Wait a minute, where's Paula?' I expect to hear something in my left ear and I go, 'Wait a minute, that doesn't sound like Paula.' So it's going to take a little getting used to."

American Idol has just entered the Hollywood Week phase, which has seen the arrival of new regular judge Ellen DeGeneres. The Hollywood Week episodes will air beginning Feb. 9 and continue on Feb. 10, 16 and 17. The on-air broadcasts will lag behind the tapings until the first live results show on Feb. 25.

"Welcoming Ellen to the fold has been a good look," Jackson said. "She's funny. She's charismatic. She's really cool. She's my home girl from Louisiana. It's a different dynamic. I mean, they're completely different people. Ellen is very different from Paula. It's going to be a very interesting, wild, crazy, exciting season, I think."

Jackson dismissed critics' early complaints that DeGeneres has little experience or knowledge of the music industry.

"Her being a diehard music fan and just loving music and being a really smart, talented person qualifies her - that, and her knowledge of performing and entertaining. This is how she's made her career an amazingly successful, great career. She has the expertise of being a professional entertainer who's been hugely successful, and that's where all these kids want to go. She'll be that somebody who sits there and says, 'I know about entertaining. You guys (the other judges) may think these vocals aren't good, but I actually thought they were really good.' I think she will give the home viewer a real voice on the judges' panel."

Jackson said his focus is on the season at hand. He's not concerning himself too much about the change in vibe when Simon Cowell leaves at the end of the season.

"I don't know if it's a distraction, certainly not for me," Jackson said. "I'm sure that, in terms of the show, it is a distraction for some people because I think people get a little sidetracked with that.

"This is a singing competition. There are contestants, you know. Not to belittle what we do - because I think the show is about the mix of the four judges, Ryan and the contestants - but let's focus on what we're judging and the actual meat of the show, which is about finding that next superstar talent."

American Idol airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays CTV and Fox at 8 ET/PT.