'American Idol' Judge Kara DioGuardi Hits Her Stride In Season Premiere

The fourth judge bonds with Paula and Randy, and even gets along with Simon. Kara Dioguardi Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images Imagine being the newbie when the rest of the class has spent eight years getting thisclose and developing a finish-each-other's-eyerolls chemistry. Last night was the first chance for America to see how producer/songwriter Kara DioGuardi handled being on the hot seat as the first permanent fourth judge on the once iconic "American Idol" Panel of Three. ( Read "American Idol" expert Jim Cantiello's live blog of the premiere here. ) Before turning to the tryouts in Phoenix, Arizona, Tuesday night's season premiere opened with a primer on DioGuardi's background writing songs for Jewel , Celine Dion and Kelly Clarkson . And right away, we saw clips of DioGuardi fighting to be heard ("Can I say something !?") and getting a fake open-mouth kiss from former odd-girl-out Paula Abdul. When first contestant Tuan Nguyen did his worst  ... (link)