New and Improved American Idol

(andPOP) - American Idol will be one of the few fresh shows viewers will have to tune into this January. So, with the writer’s strike lingering, Idol hopes to give avid TV watchers a much-needed break from reruns and cheesy reality shows.

Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is promising less cheese and the best group of singers in American Idol history this season.

The season will kick off with a two hour special on January 15 and Lythgoe says the show will layoff on the guest celebrity mentors to focus more on the contestant’s personal stories.

"I think we got carried away with the mentors last season for sure," he said, MTV News reports. Last season’s guest stars ranged from Carrie Underwood and Fantasia, to Gwen Stefani, Fergie, and Jennifer Lopez. "We will spend more time talking to the kids about their lives [and] what they want from this competition," Lythgoe said.

Another change to the show will be allowing contestants to play instruments during their initial auditions. Idol has strayed from letting singers play live in the past for fears that those who can play will have an unfair advantage over those who can’t.

The show’s current formula has been under recent scrutiny pending the disappointing chart debuts from last season’s winner, Jordin Sparks, and runner-up, Blake Lewis.