While American Idol fans were curled up on the sofa munching popcorn and enjoying a night at the movies -- musically speaking -- The Hollywood Reporter was peering behind-the-scenes inside Stage 36 at CBS Television City to see how the movie magic was made. Seven of our on-the-scene observations below...

Ten girls sang and five girls were never called to perform at the first live show of season 13 of American Idol. That's what you saw on TV. The view from inside Stage 36 at CBS Television City offered another picture.

When American Idol broadcasts its first live show of season 13 on Tuesday night, viewers will experience what the top 31 contestants saw this afternoon for the first time -- a brand-new set featuring many new elements, including a second stage directly in front of the seated audience, a lounge area where contestants will watch their co-competitors perform and gantries on two upper levels where even more members of the audience will stand as they surround the stage and become part of the 360-degree environment.

Adding Harry Connick, Jr. to the panel means not only adding a seasoned musician, but also an accomplished actor in his own right. So after entertaining on the big screen with P.S. I Love You, Hope Floats and Independence Day -- plus a long run on Will & Grace -- he aggravated all the nail-biting auditionees with a ton of well-acted fake-outs during American Idol's Final Judgment round on Thursday.

With American Idol about to kick off its 13th season, plenty of questions remain as to how the show may be different in 2014. Expect some of those changes to be illuminated during today's Fox panel at the annual gathering of the Television Critics Association in Pasadena, but The Hollywood Reporter's Idol Worship has this early report.

The biggest difference viewers will notice when American Idol season 13 kicks off on Jan. 15? Not the snazzy Roman numeral logo or the postcard-inspired, Greetings from Asbury Park-esque graphics denoting each audition city.

Nigel Lythgoe is still peeved about the Emmys' American Idol snub.

The Fox show's former executive producer took to Twitter immediately after the award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Show was handed to NBC's The Voice.