Kara DioGuardi is Embraced by Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell calls it like he sees it.

And in his new American Idol judging partner, Cowell sees Kara DioGuardi as being talented, opinionated and cute. How can he not be excited to work with someone like that?

"It's like, you know, having dinner with three people for seven years, and getting quite bored of each other," he said. "So it's having a fourth person, new opinion, I think it's gonna be interesting."

The new judging team made its first public appearance yesterday, arriving in Mahattan for a series of season eight auditions. In a building at Chelsea Piers, Simon explained to reporters why Kara DioGuardi is a welcome addition to the show.

"Kara has a good reputation of A, having hits; and B, having an opinion. And that's a good combination. And she's cute."