Sameness is something the judges and producers are striving to avoid this season, which begins Jan. 13.

"We've tried to be as broad and open-minded as possible so that we don't end up with 12 people from 'The Stepford Wives.' I think it's important that we have all types of singers, all types of people. Because, I have to say, I think personality is as important as talent on a show like this. And I think it's important for the show."

And, when it came to talking about past contestants that were really good for the show, Cowell never mentioned either Archuleta or Cook.

"What you hope you end up with is somebody like Fantasia, who not only is extremely talented, she's an incredible person, has a great vibe and makes the show interesting," he said.

"So we've tried … to get a more interesting group of people."

More interesting than those dullards who were on last season.

UTAHNS ON "BACHELOR": Not only is the next guy on "The Bachelor" a single father, but four of the 25 women competing for his heart on the dating/reality show are single mothers.

And two of them are from Utah:

Stacia, 24, a charity accountant from Orem who is the mother of 5-year-old Triston and 3-year-old Grace.

And Treasure, 28, a nurse practitioner from Salt Lake City who is the mother of 6-year-old Isabella.

The bachelor himself, Jason Melnick, 32, is the father of 3-year-old Tyler. Melnick was one of the final two suitors on the most recent edition of "The Bachelorette" but had his heart broken (we were told) when DeAnna Pappas rejected his proposal.

The new season of "The Bachelor" is scheduled to begin Monday, Jan. 5, at 7 p.m. on ABC/Ch. 4.

E-mail: pierce@desnews.com