4 questions as 'American Idol' returns

"American Idol," TV's biggest show, returns tomorrow night (8 p.m., Fox/5) -- and as always, there are questions. So let's get straight to 'em . . .

1. Music, music everywhere . . . maybe too much music (music) everywhere?

Forget the "The X Factor," which wrapped just weeks ago. NBC's "The Voice" bows Feb. 5, after the Super Bowl, then airs for two hours every Monday night. How much voting can anyone stand in a single week (not to mention "Dancing With the Stars," returning March 13)? There's always the possibility that people will get fatigued with "Voice" first, but Ken Warwick, "Idol's" executive producer, conceded in a recent phone interview: "Viewer overload or fatigue is always a problem, and I sincerely hope it doesn't affect us, but I can't guarantee it won't."

2. Aren't we all just a little fatigued with "Idol," anyway?

Tell that to Nielsen, which recorded 29 million viewers for last year's 10th-season finale. In fact, the 10th reversed five seasons of steady viewer erosion. But people -- and by people I mean "critics" -- like to observe that "Idol" hasn't discovered a bona fide superstar since season four's Carrie Underwood. Yet 10th-season champ Scotty McCreery's first album just went platinum. Scotty may not be huge in this neck of the woods, but he apparently is in points south and west. But "Idol" is, in fact, "aging up" -- median viewer age last season was 47.4, which means kids aren't really watching much anymore. That is a big concern.

3. What other challenge does "Idol" face this season?

An unexpected one, or, as Warwick puts it, "All of these big singing stars suddenly won't give us clearance to play their records." This, of course, is another "Voice" reverb effect: Kelly Clarkson has joined as an on-air adviser, as have Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Jewel, Miranda Lambert, Alanis Morissette, Ne-Yo, Lionel Richie and Robin Thicke. You won't be hearing their songs on "Idol."

4. What's new this season?

In a sign of confidence, perhaps, no major changes are contemplated, according to Warwick. (The 10th season had more than enough of those, anyway.) Tomorrow night's auditions begin in Savannah, Ga., which issued more yellow tickets to the Hollywood round than any other city this season. Plus, Warwick makes this prediction: "I would say it's a girls' year. The truth is, you need to get to the final 12, or six, before someone is really outstanding, but my feeling is, it's the girls."