Stryker and Angie Martinez were let go before the auditions aired. When Season 10 premiered, the panel was a sleek trio of Jackson, Lopez, and Tyler. The footage involving Stryker and Martinez was never broadcast, making them the "Ghost Judges" of American Idol history.
However, Stryker famously backed out just before filming began, citing . Though his specific reasons remain somewhat of a mystery, his last-minute exit forced the show to launch with only three judges—a dynamic that accidentally became the series' signature for nearly a decade. The Season 2 Audition: Angie Martinez american idol judges history stryker angie martinez
She stated that telling contestants to give up on their dreams was too "uncomfortable," especially since many of those auditioning were people who had supported her own career. Stryker and Angie Martinez were let go before
While most official histories glide over this, reports from The Hollywood Reporter and other outlets at the time confirmed that Angie Martinez and Stryker were heavily involved in the initial auditions and screen tests. However, Stryker famously backed out just before filming
