If you’ve been paying attention to the world of TV and film (we assume you are, since you’re here on CinemaBlend), you’ll notice one trend that seems to be dominating the entertainment landscape: nostalgia. And with nostalgia proving to be extremely profitable, just about any property has the potential to make a return. This includes American Idol, which is gearing up for its premiere at its new home on ABC. While Ryan Seacrest is back as host and producer, there’s a new panel of judges made up of Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Ritchie. And it seems like the trio of newcomers will be approaching the job different than past judges, specifically aiming to foster young talent rather than bring anyone down. Luke Bryan recently teased this, saying:

We’re artists, not record company executives or critics. These 15 and 16 year olds are still a couple of years away, but you can see their promise, the potential. We’re not there to discourage them. If we word it wrong, they may give up all up.

It looks like American Idol will be a bit more kind than its original incarnation, which saw Simon Cowell gleefully ripping apart contestants during the original auditions. This dynamic was part of what put Idol on the map, as Cowell typically tore down the folks who viewers weren’t fond of. Plus, there was the relationship between the far more gentle Paula Abdul, which was a great dynamic in the show’s early years.

Katy Perry seems to also be cognizant of how she’s critiquing potential contestants on the show. She recently told Variety that, although she’s also a bit blunt, she wants to be careful to not be especially rude or tear down the hopefuls that she’s tasked with judging.

Young kids take things to heart. I can be sarcastic as all get out, and even a little snarky. Like Simon, I’m also a truth-teller, a straight shooter. But at the end of the day, I’m not here to tell anyone they suck. It’s not about that.

It looks like we’re about to get a very different first season of American Idol on ABC than during its run on FOX. And considering it’s only been a year or so since the OG TV singing competition went off the air, making these types of changes will likely help Idol to once again capture a captive audience. Instead of feeling like just another season of the show, perhaps the new judges will help the new incarnation of American Idol stand on its own two feet.