The women start first tonight in the “American Idol” Top 24 round — and predictions are that a woman will finish first at the end of the season.
Guys have won the last two years of “Idol” — rocker David Cook in 2008 and the mellow Kris Allen in 2009.
But Simon Cowell told reporters last week, “I would say there is a better chance of a girl winning this year than last.
“I’d love to find a Taylor Swift,” he added, “somebody’s who’s relevant rather than just a contest winner.”
It is a risky strategy.
Without a bunch of crush-worthy boys to excite the core “Idol” audience of female viewers, the show has suffered.
And is it even possible anymore for Idol producers to force America to vote their way?
First indications are that the boys may have already pulled ahead.
For the first time, “Idol” producers are allowing contestants to talk to fans on their own Twitter, Facebook and MySpace accounts.
On Twitter, at least, four of the top five semi-finalists with the most followers are guys.
Leading the pack by a wide margin is Andrew Garcia, 25, with over 7,000 followers in less than a week.
A YouTube star prior to “Idol,” fans are going crazy for the singer who can turn a familiar pop song on its head, much like Allen and Cook did.
A distant second, with over 1,800 followers, is the poised and polished Didi Benami, 22, who wowed the judges in Hollywood with the Kara DioGuardi-written tune, “Terrified.”
Her cool blonde looks and vulnerability (she tears up at the thought of a best friend who was killed a few years ago) make her the only girl picking up fans early on.
After Benami, the boys take over.
Casey James, 27, who stripped down to his waist for a smitten Kara in his Dallas audition is next, followed by Asian R&B singer John Park, 20, and lanky retro-rocker, Tyler Grady, 19, whose sexy moves and mass of curly dark hair had the female judges swooning.
If Simon is right and it turns out to be a year for the women, look at one of these singers to be the winner:
•Katie Stevens, 17, wants to win “Idol” for her Alzheimer’s-afflicted grandmother. She sang Etta James’ “At Last” in her Boston audition causing DioGuardi to rave, “You have something that’s either there or not … pretty amazing.”
•Ashley Rodriguez, 22, the Berklee School of Music student who appealed to Simon’s X factor. “Some people have got it,” said Cowell, “And I think you may have it.”
What does it mean for the “Idol” franchise to be a women’s year?
In years past, it has meant trouble.
Season 3’s all-female Top 4, which included LaToya London, Jasmine Trias, Diana Degarmo and Fantasia Barrino — was the lowest-selling “Idol” summer tour of all time.
And Season 6, which produced winner Jordin Sparks, the last female “Idol,” saw a sharp drop in ratings once the live shows began.
And “Idol” history also is unkind to contestants the judges champion.
Look at the upsets — female-favorite Taylor Hicks beating out Chris Daughtry and cute Kris Allen pulling ahead of judge-favorite Adam Lambert.
Sometimes, the harder the judges push, the more the viewers push back.