After the fizzer that was 2007's effort, this latest season of Australian Idol is already having "isshews" - and it's not even on the air yet!

After much fanfare regarding the show's overseas auditions for expat Australians, the Los Angeles round has already been cancelled. The excuse they're using is Kyle Sandilands' busy schedule; is that what they're calling "no one turned up" these days...

The United States auditions were due to be held on Sunday with Sandilands presiding over the judging.

Just hours after Tina Arena and Darren Hayes were announced as guest judges to scope the talent at the show's London auditions, an Australian Idol spokesman said Sandilands' conflicting schedule had caused the endeavour to be scrapped.

Production being stretched for its London auditions was another big factor, the spokesman added.

"London has been massive for us and we've had an overwhelming response to London," he said.

"Kyle's timetable was a factor of us not being able to do all our commitments as well."

We shouldn't be too quick to judge Idol '08, however; the article goes on to reassure us all that audition numbers were up 30% this year... in Newcastle.

We're not going to start holding our breath just yet.