The search for the next singing superstar returns to FOX on January 15, but first ET caught up with Exec Producer Nigel Lythgoe for his insights into season seven.

SIMON COWELL just said that this will be the strongest Top 12 we have ever had on "American Idol." What's your opinion?

NIGEL LYTHGOE: (Laughs) I think we are all paid to say that every year. I would say we have got some excellent individuals. Last year, I said I thought it would be our strongest Top 12, and I still stand by that, even though a lot of people dissed us last year with our final group. But as a group, they were the strongest one, I think, of other years, where we have had bad people in it, and you kept your fingers crossed that they are going to be voted out, or you are embarrassed by them. I wasn't embarrassed by anyone last year, even young SANJAYA, I thought, came through with all the hits he was taking. I thought as a group, the MELINDAs, the BLAKEs, CHRISs, they were all pretty strong.

This year, I think there will be standout individuals right from the beginning. This year, it won't be like seeing somebody grow like JORDIN did last year. I watched her go up the ladder of voting. This year, I think, you are going to go, 'Wow! He is great." They are going to be standout very, very quickly."

This year, you said you were going to let the contestants play musical instruments. How did that work out?

NIGEL LYTHGOE: We did that on the Hollywood week. For some it worked out brilliantly. Three that I am positive are going to be in our Top 12 -- as much as you can be -- were terrific. A couple of others really crashed and burned very quickly. It is difficult to play the drums and sing in tune. Even KAREN CARPENTER wasn't that good at doing that.

We are seeing how it will affect the competition. We are trying to see if it will make it unfair on people who can't do that, or are we showing America their talent? -- which is what it is all about. We are opened-minded at the moment. We will see how it goes. We are not closing the door on it. At the same time, we want to make it fair.

You have admitted that the contestants got lost in the shuffle last season. Will there be any changes in the format as a result of that?

NIGEL LYTHGOE: We held our hands up and said, 'It was our fault.' We learned from "So You Think You Can Dance," where we pushed the individuals much more. We were rewarded for that with the success of it, and people understanding the people they were voting for much better. I think we got carried away with the mentors last season. We will take less mentors. We will spend more time talking to the kids about their lives and what they want from this competition.

It is a recurring complaint from the contestants every year -- and some of it is sour grapes -- that people who don't get screen time before the semi-finals have trouble making it into the semi-finals. Any thoughts of including everybody's audition tape?

NIGEL LYTHGOE: Not necessarily. I say that because all I am interested in at the end of the day is turning out a good show. If they are as boring as hell in front of the camera, I am not going to show them, so they should be grateful that they are not seen, to be frank with you. Once they do something interesting or good, we will show that. That's our job.