'American Idol' eyes engaging hopefuls.

• Author: Rancilio, Alicia
• Position: Living

Byline: Alicia Rancilio

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- "American Idol'' needs to find contestants the audience cares about.

That's a criticism Fox's Chairman and CEO Peter Rice admitted to journalists Sunday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour.

"We haven't found in the last two years a group of kids who've captured the imagination of the public,'' he said.

Rice went on to say that "American Idol,'' launching its 14th season next year, is "aging gracefully.''

He said too much attention has been placed on "this constant conversation about who should be judges.''

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