It’s Ba-a-a-ck!

The 11th season of “American Idol” arrives on Fox tonight, and host Ryan Seacrest says for some viewers, the return can’t come soon enough.

“I’ve been hearing a lot of ‘We can’t wait,’” Seacrest told ABC News Radio. “Actually, I’ve been hearing more ‘I can’t wait for ‘American Idol ‘to come back this next season’ than I’ve heard in two or three years.’”

Seacrest says he finds that interesting, because there’s so much more competition, from shows like NBC’s “The Voice,” but, he noted, “From what I hear, there’s just something about the original, and the Americana, that is ‘American Idol.’”

The biggest reality show of the year cranks up the music again this week, as “American Idol” returns. Some thought the singing competition could never survive the loss of Simon Cowell, but judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler proved them wrong. This week kicks off with the infamous auditions, which are either your favorite or your most-hated part of the show. The countdown to someone standing in line in a ridiculous costume starts now. (Jan. 18 and 19, 8 p.m., FOX)

There are some overnight success stories who let fame go to their head. And then there’s Susan Boyle.

As Boyle told TODAY’s Amy Robach, the attention and sudden wealth that has come her way since she appeared on “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2009 hasn’t really changed her much. She bought a big home down the street from the one she grew up in (in a “quaint” part of Scotland, according to Robach) — and set out a welcome mat that reads “The Posh House.” But more often than not, she can still be found in the house she grew up in.

Sure, “Dancing With the Stars” is one of the most popular reality competitions on TV, but it’s not just the smooth moves that viewers can’t get enough of.

It’s the errors.

“Dancing” contestant Nancy Grace’s wardrobe malfunction two weeks ago was one of the most popular stories in reality TV. This week in The Clicker, fellow hopeful Chynna Phillips’ ballroom disaster had the majority of our readers clicking.

The competition took a beating Thursday because of The X Factor, which gave FOX a win in adults 18-49 (3.9 rating/10 share) and another chance to boast about its domination (like, how its the first time ever that Fox has won the first two Thursdays of the season). The two-hour show averaged 11.9 million, according to early results.

Thursday was the final night of “X Factor” auditions, and not a moment too soon. Two-hour tryout tracks run together to the point where it all blends into a medley of pop/hip-hop/country twee. 
At least Newark, the first stop of the night, offered something unique. For starters, the crowd seemed quicker to break out the boos, and some of the unsuccessful acts had to feel like they were trapped in a remake of the Gong Show. But at least Simon Cowell was happy to be there.

Boy, the season hasn’t even officially started yet, and “Dancing With the Stars” is already No. 1!

Clicker readers couldn’t get enough of the show, starting with Monday’s cast announcement. And as with previous seasons, there were some “stars” who really got fans of the show talking and bumped the story about the reveal to the top of this week’s list. We got a hint of that early in the day Monday, when it was rumored that Nancy Grace was one of the chosen ones. (Wow, did readers have a strong reaction on our Facebook page!)

Cher has leapt to the defense of son Chaz Bono after a host of angry “Dancing With the Stars” fans hit the show’s website and other online portals to protest casting the singer’s son on Season 13 of the show.

“Lovelies!” Cher wrote on Twitter, addressing her faithful. “Chaz is Being Viciously Attacked on Blogs & Message boards about being on DWTS!This is Still America right ? It took guts 2 do it.”
‘Dancing’ pros and pairings revealed

The superstar said she stands by Chaz, and vouched for her son’s spirit to compete

Oh boy. If you thought casting Bristol Palin and Kate Gosselin for previous seasons of “Dancing With the Stars” caused an uproar, the latest casting rumor could bring about yet another frenzy of passionate comments.

According to TMZ, one of the celebs who will be announced as a “DWTS” competitor tonight will be none other than former prosecutor/current TV host Nancy Grace. The opinionated Grace made plenty of headlines and received much criticism for her coverage of the Casey Anthony murder trial. She currently hosts “Nancy Grace” on HLN.

Remember when a “Dancing With the Stars” insider confirmed to us that the show was aiming for a higher caliber of celebrities? It looks like the folks behind the ballroom bash may actually be trying to do just that … at least a little bit.

Sure, TMZ reported late last month that “Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ ” Rob Kardashian had signed on and that “Jersey Shore’s” Snooki was in talks. A source also told Access Hollywood that former “Hills” star Kristin Cavallari is getting ready to put her name on the dotted line.