'American Idol' Finds Superstar Talent in the City of Champions

The City of Pittsburgh is known as the City of Champions sports-wise, and the judges of FOX's "American Idol" say that there's a good chance that they might find the show's 11th-season champion there.

"This is the City of Champions," said Ryan Seacrest, the show's host, "the perfect spot to find our new superstar."

Judges from the hit FOX reality TV show—Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler—as well as Seacrest, took a break from the show's audition process on Thursday afternoon to hold a press conference at The David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh.

The concept of the "American Idol" series is to find new solo recording artists.

Tyler said that the judges have put about five or six people through to the show's Hollywood audition round (where the 24 finalists are determined) who are top-12 material.

The "Idol" crew has been in town since Wednesday for the second round of auditions. "Idol" hopefuls first had their shot to impress producers in Pittsburgh .

This past Wednesday in Pittsburgh was "one of the best days we've had," Jackson said.

The judges and crew have been exposed to some Pittsburgh staples, including Tastykake, Terrible Towels and Primanti Bros. sandwiches, or "that weird sandwich," as Randy referred to them.

"Idol" contestants also seem to channel the spirit of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, Lopez said.

"In the City of Champions, a lot of these contestants won't go down without a fight," she said. "We had a lot of fighters."

Jackson said that he also has some similarities to the Steelers.

"I'm kind of like the Steelers in a way," he said. "I'm hard to penetrate—a steel curtain, if you will.

This show's 11th season promises to be a good one. Seacrest said that a female contestant, who made it through to Hollywood, planked—the fad of lying face down in an unusual location—outside of and then during her audition.

Jackson said that the judges have seen a lot of people with "quirky" talent in different genres.

"That's exciting to us," he said.

"American Idol" faces stiff competition this year from FOX's "The X Factor," where former "Idol" judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul now judge, and NBC's "The Sing Off."

But that's not a problem, Jackson said.

"They do their thing; we do ours," he said.

"Idol," ultimately, is about the judges helping contestants to pursue their passion and giving them a chance.

"This is that kind of outlet where we get to work with other artists and watch them grow and help them with the benefit of our experience," Lopez said. "It's great to be able to do. It's a nice exchange, because in return, they wind up teaching us."

Tyler agreed.

"Everybody can sing, but we're looking for that simple song sung in a specific way that changes somebody's life," he said. "And it's out there."

The 11th season of "American Idol" is expected to premiere in January 2012.

This article originally appeared on the .