Idol Worship: Barberie To Host 'American Idol Extra?'

We haven't even gotten to Hollywood week yet, but Fox Reality Channel is already prepping for the final 10. We hear American Idol Extra will premiere on March 25 (a Wednesday!), continuing its tradition of being "the show that picks up right where American Idol leaves off." And like its big brother lead-in, it will feature a few changes of its own; Namely, a new host: Jillian Barberie.

The Good Day L.A. co-anchor has a long history with reality television (she was a contestant on the short-lived Fox series Skating With Celebrities and the former host of Ex-treme Dating) and with the network, going back to 2000 when she was hired as a correspondent for Fox NFL Sunday.

Since American Idol Extra premiered in March 2006, the show has had a revolving door of hosts, and like other Idol recap programs, it features former Idol finalists as co-hosts, most recently 2008's rocker duo Constantine Maroulis and Gina Glocksen.

This year, a source tells Billboard, season 5's Ace Young got the gig. He will assist in interviewing eliminated contestants and their families, and serve as the show's man-on-the-street correspondent (hey, he's certainly easier on the eyes than Matt Rogers). We also hear the show will introduce a live post-elimination element. As it was, Idol Extra always got first dibs on the week's ousted contestant, interviewing that person immediately after the credits rolled.

A rep for American Idol Extra would not confirm any of these details, but said to expect an announcement about the show's host and co-host next week. Barberie's publicist did not respond to our request for comment. -- Shirley Halperin