So American Idol is a little over a month from filming their auditions with the judges and as of now neither us nor Fox know who will be sitting in those seats. The only thing we know is that Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres are out, but who is in is still a mystery. Recently there were rumors that Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler were going to join the show. Well today People is reporting from a source that Jennifer Lopez is no longer being considered because, “Her demands got out of hand,†says the source. “Fox had just had enough.†Why does she think she still has the right to make reportedly outrageous demands? I mean wasn’t she reportedly dropped from her label when the first single off the upcoming album bombed and they opted not to release it. And who has seen her last few movies, no really who has seen her last few movies. Wait why I am complaining? Because if J-Lo got the slot, I (like many people I spoke to) were going to drop Idol like Ben Affleck did right before their wedding. Too soon?
Talking about demanding divas, Nick Cannon told Hollywood Reporter that his wife Mariah Carey would be interested in the vacated slot. He said, “You know what? She talks about it. She says, “I would love to do that.” She is one of the greatest singers of our time; she would be great. I don’t know if she has enough time, though, but if they could work with her schedule, I know she would love to do “Idol.” Let’s start the campaign!” You know what I wouldn’t mind Mariah joining the show because she can be tough!
So want a random name that was thrown into the mix? Glee show creator Ryan Murphy told us last week at the Fox TCAs that he was asked if he would be interested in being a judge, but then added he can’t comment on that. What he did comment on is when I asked him if there would be an American Idol crossover, he straight out said “no!” Then I asked even an audition episode, he again said “no!” Oh well.
Now over to someone who has been a judge on the show, Zap2It posted Kara DioGuardi’s father Joseph DioGuardi talking to Capitol Tonight about his daughter and he said, “Would you believe that she did not hear and still has not heard anything. She read it the way you did and I did. In fact, her disappointment is that that’s the way she’s being treated … I think what they’re trying to do is create a lot of buzz, like they did with Paula Abdul. They’re trying to reformat the thing. But Kara has a very deep career in music … so she’ll be fine. Does she want to do it another year? I think so … I think she will at some point confront them on that.” That is messed up, they should at least let her know they have or haven’t decided yet if they are keeping her.
So with this update, I kind of feel that we won’t have our judging panel ready when they are ready to begin production next month. So what happens if those seats are not filled? Here is what Peter Rice, Chairman, Entertainment, Fox Network Group told me when I asked him that question, “I guess we can shoot it with an empty panel of judges, or we’ll have to wait until we have judges.†He said with a smile on his face! Something I have on my face, now that J-Lo is allegedly out of the running!!!
