The COO’s comment at the Goldman Sachs Annual Communicopia Conference should enable American Idol’s producers to breathe a little easier. Chase Carey publicly warned the show last February that it needed “fresh energy” as it slogged through a season that ended its eight-year reign at the top of the prime time ratings list. News Corp said last month that a drop in ad sales at Fox for the quarter that ended in June was “primarily driven by lower American Idol ratings.” But Carey’s upbeat after Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler were replaced at the judges’ table by Mariah Carey (no relation), Keith Urban, and Nicki Minaj — with Randy Jackson the sole holdover. “We’re very excited,” the exec told investors. As for rejuvenating the show’s energy, “I think we’ve done it, and we’re excited where Idol’s going to go.”