Randy Jackson plays himself in "Change of Plans," a Fox movie starring Brooke White. Photo credit: Chris Tomko/Fox

“American Idol” judge Randy Jackson calls this season “Idol season 10 the remix.”

But what about Jackson’s role this season with new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez?

“You see all sides of me. Before, people saw only one side because there was Paula [Abdul], there was Simon [Cowell],” Jackson told me in a conference call with reporters today. “I think you will see a new version of the Dawg. There’s maybe a little more hair on the Dawg.”

But I wanted to know what adjectives he would use to describe his role now. “Definitely you will see me take a little more assertive role, because I’m the kind of the young veteran on the show,” Jackson said with a laugh. “You’ll see me take more of an assertive role and trying to guide it a little bit. I won’t say I’ve stepped into the Simon Cowell shoes. I don’t think those shoes can be filled, nor would I want to be in them.”

And he added, “I think you’ll see a lot of excitement. I think you’ll be like, ‘Wow, Dawg!’ ”

And so I told him goodbye with a “Wow, Dawg!”

Fox’s “American Idol” starts its new season on Jan. 19 on WOFL-Channel 35. But Jackson was promoting “Change of Plans,” a movie with “Idol” alumna Brooke White that premieres at 8 p.m. Saturday. Jackson appears in the movie and produced the soundtrack. Jackson said that White has grown greatly as a singer and a writer since “Idol.”

But “Idol” was the main news. Jackson said the new judges add “zest” to the show and are like spices added to the mix. “I think people will be pleasantly surprised,” Jackson predicted.

Jackson said that new judges Tyler and Lopez bring the artists’ perspective to the singing contest. Jackson said Tyler is a living legend and that Lopez can act, sing and dance.

How are they as judges?

“I think they’re doing extremely well,” Jackson said. He described Lopez as “loving” and Tyler as funny.

Jackson said there are “some small changes” to the show this year and the biggest changes will come in the middle rounds. “It ain’t being changed that much,” he added.

Is he a harsher critic this season? “I’ll be a little differently assertive. How’s that for being vague?” Jackson said. “You’ll see other sides of the Dawg.”

White offered this advice to “Idol” hopefuls this season: “Don’t Google, work hard.”

Jackson said there is “some amazing talent” on the show this season. He predicted a female will win. “It’s a girl’s year to lose,” Jackson said.