Updated

“American Idol” is the top dog of the singing competition shows but last year the series’ ratings were on the decline. With a new judge, the handsome crooner Harry Connick Jr., it seems “Idol” may have found their saving grace.

“Harry Connick Jr. could save ‘American Idol,’ because he has this likability factor,” Rich Davis, SiriusXM Radio Host, told FOX411.

He noted that many “Idol” fans may not know the new judge’s musical background, but it doesn’t seem to matter.

“… I don’t think the average person really knows much about Harry Connick Jr. except that they just like him. Do you think people can name Harry Connick Jr.’s songs, or the history of what he’s done? Most people just say ‘Harry Connick Jr. good guy.’”

So far, Harry has piqued viewer’s interests by being tough, said HollywoodLife.com's Editor-In-Chief Bonnie Fuller.

“I think what’s fantastic about Harry Connick Jr. he’s likable and he’s knowledgeable, and he’s not a pushover. He’s not somebody who just because one of the contestants has a sympathetic story that he’s going to say yes… He’s like a voice of reason, and he’s also drama-free.”

But he’s not too mean either, Davis pointed out.

“The whole idea of having the mean guy, the over-friendly person, that’s over with. You just need to get honest people that the audience responds to. And I think Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey’s bickering back and forth, I think that pushed a lot of people away.  I don’t think you need a Simon Cowell, mean guy, ripping apart the contestants.”

However with so many other singing shows emerging these days, should "Idol" still be worried about its future?

“It doesn’t have the ratings it used to but it still [has] ratings that are better than most things. It makes money off the iTunes downloads, they tour every year, and you’re only really paying the judges and Ryan Seacrest. Besides that, the costs are so low for this,” explained Davis.  “…This show will not go away. They’ll have to drag the show off the air.”

Plus, the show churns out stars like none other, Fuller said.

“I still believe that if each show does a great job of producing talent, and that’s the bottom line,” she said. “If they can find real talent that excites the audience, I still think they can be smash hits.”