"American Idol" is getting a makeover for season seven according to everyone's favorite cranky judge, Simon Cowell, who says he plans to leave after two more seasons.

Now if you have been following the pre-Idol news recently there has already been talk about the changes for this season... less celebrity mentors, more in depth coverage of the Idol's personal lives, contestants being able to use instruments during the Hollywood round.

So, I wont bore you with more of the same but I I can reveal that Idol will be getting a new set this year. Simon spilled the beans during a conference call with reporters today but didn't give any details. In the past few years they have typically made tweaks to the set that most viewers would not really notice. However, this year, I've learned from a show source that the change will be "drastic."

I do know that, like us here at Accesshollywood.com, their website www.americanidol.com, got a face lift too!

Meanwhile, Simon had lots more to say today on topics ranging from Hilary Clinton to Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis' less than stellar record debuts to his brutal take on Fantasia's brother auditioning.

On When He Will Leave The Show : "Nothing is going to last forever. I think the exit point to a point is determined by the public who eventually are going get sick to death of me if they haven’t already. I’ve always in my mind kind of thought I would go up until the end of my contract which would mean two more seasons after this one which would have made it nine in total and nine years is probably enough to inflict on anyone. So, that’s what I have sort of got in my mind. Can the show exist without me? Absolutely. It would probably get better."

If it seems like the TV landscape is bleak in the face of the writer's strike, I assure you there will be plenty of things to watch for the next few months. If a resolution doesn't come soon it's the Fall of 2008 that I think will see the biggest hit.

For now, while we will miss "Heroes", "Grey's Anatomy", "Desperate Housewives" and "The Office" we can at least tune into some brand new and returning shows that should tantalize our TV senses. Here's twenty shows worth a look.

COMEDIES/DRAMAS

"Cashmere Mafia" - premieres January 6th >(then moves to Wednesdays), ABC. Four professional women (Lucy Liu, Miranda Otto, Bonnie Sommerville, Frances O'Connor) juggle their high powered careers and their messed up personal lives in this Manhattan set drama from "Sex and the City" creator Darren Star.

"The Sarah Conner Chronicles" - premieres January 13th, Fox. Buzzworthy show that picks up where the second "Terminator" movie left off, as John's mom Sarah takes matters into her own hands to protect her teenage son. I predict that the nerd herd will help make this one a hit.

"Lost" - returns January 31st, ABC - The survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 return for this super short fourth season. Just eight episodes were filmed before the strike - but based on the trailer circulating the internet rife with clues about when and if the lostees get off the island, less is certainly more. One change we know for sure is that episodes will now feature flash backs and flash forwards.

Ah yes, it's January 2nd. The day when most of us have decided we need to get back in the gym, start eating healthy and lose our unwanted excess weight. Now granted at a size 4, it's not like I'm a candidate for the "The Biggest Loser" and really don't need to worry about such things - but if you have heard the saying 'the camera adds ten pounds' then you know why women who work in Hollywood are crazy about their weight.

So, I too will be hopping on a treadmill with the masses and trying to keep my New Year's Resolution to get in shape and shed ten pounds by April. Did you know that only 1 percent of people who make resolutions actually keep them?

In order to not be part of the 99 percent failure rate, I've decided that while at the gym I'm going to use the brand new Biggest Loser contestants as inspiration. Season five started last night on NBC with the reveal of 20 new contestants, this time paired together as couples. While we were shoving our faces with Halloween candy, Thanksgiving stuffing and Holiday cookies they have been at the ranch working their tails off to lose the weight since October.

It’s that time of year again - when I get to sit at my desk and contemplate the year in TV. Unlike the big magazines and Internet sites with staffs full of people dedicated to watching every show ever made, here it’s just little old me. One person – watching at my desk, watching at the gym… on my iPod, watching at home, watching off my DVR. I only have so much time in my life between doing celebrity interviews and working part time for the show. So, this list encapsulates my favorite shows of the year, the ones I made it a point to tune into because I just had to know what happened next.

10. 'The Riches'
This quirky new F/X drama has grown on me, every time I turn my iPod on to watch it on the treadmill. If you can’t have the American Dream, then why not steal it? You definitely need to suspend your disbelief that a family of travelers (as they are called) can assume the identity of a dead guy and his dead wife, but Eddie Izzard does it so effortlessly you kind of get it. Minnie Driver received an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination for her role as the drug addicted mother but it’s Izzard who steals the show.

9. 'The 4400'
My heart was absolutely broken yesterday when I learned that USA would not move forward with a season five. After a slow start, this sci-fi show that “Heroes” owes much of its ‘ordinary people with abilities’ storylines too, ramped up this season with a terrific twist that saw NTAC agent Tom Baldwin turning bad and taking on 'savior' Jordan Collier. Unfortunately, now it seems we will never know why the 4400 were taken in the first place and what will become of the future. Let’s hope USA whips up one of those movies of the weeks to wrap things up for us one day. Sidenote: I saw Joel Gretsch having dinner in Beverly Hills last night and thought about tackling him to discuss my anger but a cooler head prevailed.

Did anyone catch "The Biggest Loser" finale last night? It's unbelievable how these people can drop that much weight and transform themselves into basically brand new people. It made me want to put down that last slice of pizza I was contemplating!

The show, in all of its makeover madness, is right up there on my craziest TV moments of 2007. But since it just happened, I won't add it to the list. Instead I'll just count down my Top Ten most bizarre, most laughable, most ridiculous and most intense moments in television this year (up until last night!).

10. Meredith Flat lines [And So Does Season Four] On "Grey's Anatomy."
What was one of my favorite shows last year has now become one of my least favorite shows. It all started when Dr. Grey nearly kicked the bucket after falling into the water last February. Along comes McDreamy to save the day - butc after the weak storylines this year, and the chemistry lacking pairing of George and Izzie, it might have been better if he put Meredith [and all of us] out of our misery.

9. Nancy Burns Down Her Own House On "Weeds"
What is a suburban pot dealing, widowed mother of two to do when her entire world is falling to pieces? Well, at least in Nancy Botwin's, case she sets her own home ablaze.

8. Rosie vs. Elizabeth
Who doesn't love a good catfight between politicians? Wait a minute…that's not what happened at all. Instead it was a right wing/left wing feud between two co-workers on a national daytime TV show. Clearly, there were others issues bubbling under the surface for such a heated argument to come to a head like that. Rosie left the show that day and never came back.

7. Marie Osmond Collapses
It's always hard to pick the wildest reality show moment, but this year it was easy. She made it all the way through her Samba but just as the judges were hitting her with their critiques, Marie suddenly collapses to the floor. She claims her fainting spell was due to allergies from all the recent fires, but there are still some who believe it was staged by Marie and her camp.

Now that the writer's strike (which seems like it could be never ending) has sidelined all my favorite shows, "Lost" is the only thing I have to look forward to this January - save for the one leftover "Desperate Housewives" episode floating around that will air on January 6th.

I kind of have mixed feelings about the return of the story of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 on January 31st, 2008. First of all, I'm annoyed that ABC moved the show last year to February so that they could run the back 16 episodes continuously -- worst decision ever by a network Entertainment President!

Having to wait all that time for it to return, the show lost (pun intended) a ton of momentum. Season three started out pretty weak, with too much time spent on the Others. But then it fortunately built to a brilliant flash forward crescendo in the season three finale.

It's clearly not just me who is excited for "Lost's" return. Have you seen the brand new 1:45 minute trailer that has hit the Internet with a tease for the new season? It's good. Really good. Goose bump inducing good.

I hate it when shows I really like get the ax. NBC has not officially canceled "Journeyman" but they have chosen not to produce the back nine episodes of the show. The final two shows will air next week on Monday and Wednesday at 10 PM on NBC. The show's creator has said that Wednesday's episode will at least give a little bit of closure as to why Dan Vasser actually travels back in time.

So, at least if it never comes back we won't be left hanging like fans were for Fox's "Reunion." Remember that show? I still would love to know who the killer was.

Fans of "Journeyman" are not going down without a fight. They have taken a page from "Jericho's" loyal fans. "Jericho" was abruptly canceled by CBS, leaving tons of questions but no answers. A group banned together to save the show and sent 20 tons of nuts to CBS, which was inspired by a line Skeet Ulrich uttered in the finale. Long story on that, you'll have to watch. Go buy it on DVD. It's worth the money.

An "Idol" Top 12 with 12 great singers? Say it isn't so! That's what executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is suggesting will happen this season when "American Idol" season seven kicks off January 16th on Fox.

Though the top 24 won't be revealed until some time in February, Nigel told reporters this morning on a conference call that this year he believes there will be stand out contestants right from the get go.

"It's not just a question of seeing somebody grow like Jordin last year. This year I think you are gonna go, 'Wow, he is great, she is good... Wow and that kid's great too,' and they are gonna be standouts very very quickly."

The best city for talent this year, he says, was San Diego.

Writer's Strike be damned. It's that time again... self congratulatory time that is... here in Hollywood. Sure thousands of people are out of work and the industry is in shambles but let's still hand out awards to people for pretending to be someone else.

Do I sound bitter? OK, admittedly I am. I always find award show season to be so stressful and frankly annoying. There are way too many shows now handing out statues to actors.

How about a nationally televised award show for Best Camp Counselor or Best Scientist or Best Teacher? I'd like to see my favorite High School teacher, Mrs. D, walk down the red carpet draped in Armani.

Where am I going with this? I don't know. I just wanted to vent for a second, but since it's my job to cover TV, instead I'll move on and vent about some of the snubs and surprises among the nominees.

First of all, how could the "Desperate Housewives" not have been given a nod for Best TV Comedy? After an uneven season last year (for which they were nominated), the show has been at the top of its game with the addition of Dana Delany to Wisteria Lane and culminating with the Tornado episode. Dana would have been tops on my list for a supporting actress nomination yet neither she or any of the 'Desperate' divas made the list.

I've just learned that the producers of "American Idol" have decided that last season's charitable event, "Idol Gives Back," is worthy of coming back.

Season seven, which kicks off January 16th on Fox, will yet again feature an "Idol Gives Back" special. The two-hour concert and fundraiser will air Wednesday, April 9.

Though the show received mixed reviews for its content, it was seen by 28 million viewers and raised a whopping 75 million dollars for various US and international charities.

The show was co-hosted by Ellen DeGeneres and included performances by Gwen Stefani, Rascall Flatts, Annie Lenox and Kelly Clarkson among others. High points included Carrie Underwood's compelling music video for her version of "I'll Stand By You" and a performance by the African Children's Choir with Josh Groban -- both of which moved audiences to tears.

The show's major low point, you might recall, was that it was supposed to be a "results" show and at the end of two endless hours it was revealed no one was going home.

No word yet on which stars will participate or perform this year, but I bet somewhere on that show, Sanjaya's hair will make an appearance.

Read my coverage of last season's "Idol Gives Back" here. http://blogs.accesshollywood.com/2007/04/inside_idol_gives_back.php