After the battle of the Davids — Cook and Archuleta — on last season of American Idol, isn’t it time for the women to rise to the top again? Not yet, says Idol judge Simon Cowell.

“[It will be a] boy this year,” Cowell told PEOPLE at the Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar party on Sunday night. Fellow judge Randy Jackson agrees. “I think it’s a dude, too. He’s [Cowell] copying me. Tell him to stop it!” says Jackson.

via Simon Cowell Predicts A Guy Will Win Idol – PEOPLE TV Watch.

“We say it every season, but I’m not kidding you,” he told AOL. “This is the eighth season of the show. People have seen every other brand of artist. But these kids are different than any other season we’ve had, and I think these boys are some of the most talented we’ve ever had.”

Last season, David Cook managed to win the hearts of Americans, and Jackson, like Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, said he thinks that once again a male singer will charm viewers and win the contest.

“I said it before them, and you can quote me. I was the first to say that,” he said with a laugh. “I just think for some reason this year … the boys are just on a whole ‘nother level. I mean, there are some great girls as well. But we’ll see who goes through the ranks, because there’s a lot more show to go before we get to the end.”

….

“We’re gonna tweak the genres a little bit. We’re gonna tweak the mentor thing a little bit. These are changes that are gonna enhance what the viewer sees at home,” he said. “It’s not really to take away from it. We’re just trying to mix it up a little bit. It’s not like we’re not happy with the success, and blessed with the success of the show, because we truly are.”

via Randy Jackson Says Next ‘Idol’ Will Be Male – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News.