Steven Tyler hits right note, thanks to 'American Idol'

Photo by Andre Penner, AP2011

For Steven Tyler of Aerosmith (seen here performing in concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in October), being a judge on "American Idol" has brought a new boost to his career. The Fox reality show returns Wednesday.

Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler is having the last laugh.

He took some ribbing from his bandmates for being a judge on "American Idol" last season. Now, they're cool with him being on the hit singing contest (returning 8 p.m. Wednesday, Fox).

"It wasn't really accepted up front, I must admit, mostly from my own bandmates because they didn't know what was going on with the Aerosmith thing," Tyler said recently.

However, the audience reaction to being on "Idol" soon changed the minds of many who mocked him for doing it.

And the mocking lessened after Aerosmith reaped the benefits of Tyler's newfound TV fame.

"It's brought nothing but younger kids to our music anyway," Tyler said.

Sales of Aerosmith's old albums were up 260 percent last year. A new CD is in the works, combining their traditional, hard-driving rock sound with a contemporary twist.

"I can't go anywhere now because of the show," Tyler said.

Judges of singing competitions are seeing the benefits of the exposure more than the winners in many cases. Besides Tyler's resurgence in celebrity culture, Jennifer Lopez, his fellow "Idol" judge, had a Billboard top 10 single last year, her first in several years.

Over on "The Voice," judges Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine of the band Maroon 5 had top 10 songs in 2011, too.

These days, the judges are discovering their careers revived, more so than new talent getting their huge breaks.

At 63, Tyler is not exactly the rock star many of the solid devotees of "Idol" recognize. Most of the show's voters — many of whom are pre-teen girls — weren't even alive when Aerosmith dominated the radio and sales charts in the 1970s.

The same audience wasn't around for the band's revival in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

So consider "Idol" as being Tyler's third chance at stardom.

Now in his second season as an "Idol" judge, Tyler plans to be as feisty as ever — big hair, colorful skin-tight outfits and all. his '70s-style trademarks.

Beyond the career boost, Tyler said "Idol" has meant more to him on a personal level.

"I got in touch with that side of me again that loves music," he said. "(It reminded me) that in order to be good you have to play the clubs, you have to be good at that sort of thing to be an idol."

Other highlights for the week of Jan. 15-21. All times Eastern. Listings subject to change. Check local listings:

SUNDAY

+ "The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards" (8 p.m. NBC). The Hollywood Foreign Press Association awards the best in TV and movies. But, really, all we will remember is what host Ricky Gervais said and whom he made angry while doing it.

+ "Undercover Boss" (8 p.m. CBS). The top executives of major companies disguise themselves and work among the employees as the reality show enters its third season.

+ "Napoleon Dynamite" (8:30 p.m. Fox). The adventures of nerdy Napoleon go from the big screen to this new weekly animated series. Jon Heder, who wrote and starred in the 2004 feature film, provides the voice of the title character.

MONDAY

+ "The Revolution" (2 p.m. ABC). A new makeover show takes one woman a week and works on her body, her mind and her style.

+ "Lost Girl" (10 p.m. SyFy). Bo (Anna Silk) discovers she's a Succubus, who feeds off sexual energy. She goes through A LOT of boyfriends.

TUESDAY

+ "Remodeled" (9 p.m. CW). An expert goes to various modeling agencies around the country and tries to save them from going under.

+ "Southland" (10 p.m. TNT). In season four, Detective Adams takes on a new partner.

+ "Justified" (10 p.m. FX). Boyd and his crew aren't the only ones who want to rule the underground in Harlan, Ky., when season three starts.

+ "White Collar" (10 p.m. USA Network). For season three, Peter (Tim DeKay) tries to make sense of the stolen Nazi treasure and what that means for Neal and Elizabeth.

WEDNESDAY

+ "Royal Pains" (10 p.m. USA Network). Dr. Hank (Mark Feuerstein) tries to revive a patient given the wrong medicine as season four launches.THURSDAY

+ "Unsupervised" (10:30 p.m. FX). From the creators of "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" comes this animated series about two losers who keep trying no matter what.

SATURDAY

+ "Drew Peterson: Untouchable" (8 p.m. Lifetime). In this mystery movie, an ex-husband (Rob Lowe) and his new girlfriend find the ex-wife dead in a bathtub.

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