American Idol will return January 16th and 17th with an expanded two part, FOUR hour premiere. At the risk of boring audiences with too much fore flashing, Idol producers look focused on setting yet another ratings record.

Last years two hour Premiere nailed a series best of 35+ million viewers. The expanded American Idol 2007 premiere is justified, producers say, by the super sized lot of would-be contestants that made it through the first wave of auditions. 110 women and 60 men are going to Hollywood for a chance to make it into the initial crop of 24 Idol contestants that will start off the competition.