‘Idol’ kicks into fourth gear

Scoot over, Simon: “American Idol” is adding a fourth, judge.

Grammy-nominated songwriter Kara DioGuardi will sit alongside Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson when the eighth season of “Idol” premieres in January, Fox announced Monday.

“For the past seven seasons, Paula has had to endure the experience of being the only woman at the judges’ table,” said Mike Darnell, Fox’s president for alternative programming.

“With Kara by her side, Paula has some backup, and now there is going to be a lot more ‘girl power’ on the show,” Darnell said.

DioGuardio’s songs have been recorded by Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood and Pink, among others.

Executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz said a fourth judge isn’t a new idea.

“We had originally intended for ‘American Idol’ to have four judges,” she said.

“We’ve seen from our international series that having a fourth judge creates a dynamic that benefits both the contestants and the viewers.”

The skids are greased

Another “American Idol” alum is heading to “Grease” on Broadway.

Ace Young, who competed on season five of the talent competition, joins the cast of the musical revival Sept. 9, playing Kenickie in the revival of the popular musical.

That’s two days after 2006 “Idol” winner Taylor Hicks completes a two-month stint in the show as Teen Angel.

Skin of his teeth

The lead singer of the Canadian pop band Barenaked Ladies and three other people survived a plane crash in rural southeastern Ontario, authorities said Monday.

Ed Robertson’s Cessna 206 floatplane crashed in a wooded area near Bancroft, Ontario, on Sunday afternoon as he was trying to take off. No one in the plane was injured.

Robertson is host of “Ed’s Up” on the Outdoor Life Network, which documents his travels by plane.

Sugar, spice, everything nice?

On the celebrity baby beat, Charlie Sheen, who already has three daughters from two previous relationships, is expecting a fourth child with new wife Brooke Mueller.

Sheen has a 25-year-old daughter by former girlfriend Paula Profit, and girls ages 3 and 2 with ex-wife Denise Richards.

And Melanie “Sporty Spice” Chisholm is pregnant by her boyfriend of six years – making her the fifth and final Spice Girl to deliver.

The Mango, it is sour

Former “Saturday Night Live” player Chris Kattan has split from his wife of eight weeks, Sunshine Tutt.

Kattan has filed for a legal separation instead of divorce, leaving the door open for a possible reconciliation.

The birthday bunch

Singer Valerie Simpson (Ashford and Simpson) is 62. Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is 48. Actor Chris Burke (“Life Goes On”) is 43. Singer Shirley Manson (Garbage) is 42. Actress Melissa McCarthy (“Gilmore Girls”) is 38. Actor Macaulay Culkin is 28. Actress Keke Palmer (“Akeelah and the Bee”) is 15.