The Fox Network will lift the curtain on the fourth season of 'American Idol' tonight. There are a few minor changes in store, but overall, the format remains the same with Simon Cowell ready to pounce on the next contestant and America eager to embrace the next Rubin, Kelly or Fantasia as well as the next William Hung.

Cowell, the ever eager quipster indicated that the show had to maintain its freshness and unpredictability. 'The minute we've lost our controversy, I think we've lost a hit show,'' Cowell told the Chicago Sun-Times. 'So when it goes wrong, in my opinion, it goes right, which is why I'll always fight about sanitizing the show. In other words, it's a reality show and you have to allow for things to go wrong -- and they will.'

There are a few procedural changes this year. The age limit has been raised to 28, the 'wildcard' spots have been eliminated and the
24 semi-finalists will be reduced during a three week period that will allow for more continuity and viewer familiararity.

'You're going to be able to get to know these contestants a lot better,' said returning judge Paula Abdul.

Cowell was eager to get the next season started and indicated how unpredictable the show really was. 'I would never ever in a million years have offered Clay Aiken a recording contract if he walked into my office the way I [first] saw him [and] I would have been wrong, because the competition has turned him into a star,< Cowell said. 'Unpredictability is the key to making great reality TV.'