Idol premieres Jan. 17 (8 p.m. ET/PT), with the first of seven audition episodes from San Francisco, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Denver and Greensboro, N.C. Two-hour episodes air Jan. 17 and 24, with one-hour shows Jan. 18, 25, 31 and Feb. 1 and 7 (8 p.m. ET/PT).

Singers who win the judges' approval will move on to Idol's Hollywood round, airing Feb. 8, 14 and 15 (8 p.m. ET/PT). The semifinalists — 12 men and 12 women — will be announced Feb. 15. The men will perform Feb. 21; the women, Feb. 22. The two men and two women with the fewest viewer votes will be eliminated in a Feb. 23 results show (8 p.m. ET/PT).

The top 12 finalists will be announced March 9, with the finals round starting March 14 (8 p.m. ET/PT).

Judge Randy Jackson says the best male and female singers appear to be balanced in ability this season.

"The kids this time probably want this worse than ever," he told reporters in a conference call. "There's quite a bit of interesting fighting and dialogue amongst the contestants."