Hmm, seems like the people behind "American Idol" really are concerned about those declining ratings -- and, if I were Paula Abdul, I'd be plenty worried that a pink slip is in my future.

AI producers announced Monday that there will be a fourth judge for Season 8 -- Kara DioGuardi (pictured here). Never heard of her? Neither have I. She's a songwriter/producer who's worked with past winners like Carrie Underwood. But I do know this: She's a woman, she's young, she works in the business, and I bet she can speak in coherent, non-loopy sentences. I don't care what the producers are saying to explain this. That dais will look awfully crowded with four people, which means someone's got to go ... I'm guessing the ditzy gal who last season infamously judged a contestant for how he sang two songs when he had only sung one.

In other "reality" show news, MTV has a new one based on its "My Super Sweet Sixteen" series in which overindulgent parents foot typically six-figure bills for their spoiled teen's turning-16 birthday parties. Need to fly to Paris for your dress? No problem. You want a famous entertainer for your party? Got it. By the end of each episode, the guest-of-honor nearly always gets some luxury wheels as the piece de resistance.

Tonight, MTV turns the series on its head with "My Super Sweet Sixteen Presents Exiled." The parents of some of the series' more narcisstic, self-centered brats teens decide to send them to far-flung countries to experience hardship.

The obvious idea is to teach these prima donnas a lesson. But shouldn't these parents have thought about teaching their kids lessons from, say, birth, about valuing others and sharing and being useful to society? Maybe these parents should send themselves on an exile trip.