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!!!
Today was the day when we were Fox was facing the firing squad, I mean reporters, and answer if the rumors that Kara DioGuardi was out and Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler were in as judges of American Idol is true or not. The response was that they have not signed any contracts with anyone who wasn’t already on the show last year. In other words, we know just as much now as we did when Ellen DeGeneres announced that she was leaving last week.
Today is August 2nd and they have until mid-September to announce their replacement(s) because that is when the second round of auditions begin. Peter Rice, Chairman, Entertainment, Fox Network Group said they are hoping to have their judge(s) by then, he jokes “I guess we can shoot it with an empty panel of judges, or we’ll have to wait until we have judges.” But the chances of them waiting until then, I am sure is, highly unlikely.
When it comes to the two remaining judges, Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson he would not comment if they will or will not be back on the show. He also did not comment if they will stay with the 4 judge format or return the 3 judges.
The one thing he did comment on is as of now Nigel Lythgoe has not signed a deal to return to the show and I am fine with that.
Ellen DeGeneres has opted to leave American Idol after one season of joining the show! The blonde judge posted a statement on her daytime show’s website.
A couple months ago, I let FOX and the “American Idol” producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me. I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for. I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings. I loved the experience working on “Idol” and I am very grateful for the year I had. I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be.
I respect her for realizing she wasn’t the right fit for the show. After seeing her judge on So You Think You Can Dance, I knew she would not work. As a daytime talk show host, actress and comedian I think she is great. As a judge, it was not the right fit for her.
It will be interesting to see who they will get to replace her. On Monday Fox will be having their press day and we critics have been speculating that they would make the announcement of the Idol changes then and sounds like they will. I just hope that they don’t announce that Nigel Lythgoe is going to be one of the judges. What I do hope is that they go back to 3 judges!
We will find out on Monday…I hope!!!
UPDATE: Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Jennifer Lopez will be joining American Idol as a judge. She is a good get for the show, but a bad get for me. We shall see on Monday if she is the new one…
Ryan Seacrest Tweeted this picture of Regis Philbin and him hanging out in Las Vegas before tonight’s Daytime Emmys. Looking at this picture of the two of them together, I think that Ryan is starting to look a lot like the Reeg or at least he could pass for his son. I wonder if the American Idol host is trying to copy his look so he can take over as Kelly Ripa’s co-host if Regis ever gives up his day job. After all it is one of the few positions he has yet to inherit, he already took over Casey Kasem’s America’s Top 40 and looks like he is set to take over Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve. What else is left for him to take over to dominate the American airwaves?
For those of us who still care about American Idol after last season, we are anxiously waiting to see who they will get to replace the irreplaceable Simon Cowell. So yesterday when Ryan Seacrest Tweeted, “Just got audition cities for @americanidol 10: Nashville, Milwaukee, New Orleans, E. Rutherford, Austin & S.F. Tmrw announcing a big change!”, I was hoping that maybe we would get the new judge(s) announcement. No such luck because Fox and American Idol announced that the “big change” is that they are lowering the audition age to 15. I don’t think the change is going to make any difference because as we have seen in years pasts the older contestants always do better than the younger ones because of maturity. That and as we are learning with Justin Bieber, their Baby voices are still changing.
So if you are between the ages of 15-28, here are the audition cities.
Nashville, TN on Saturday, July 17 at Bridgestone Arena
Milwaukee, WI on Wednesday, July 21 at Bradley Center
New Orleans, LA on Monday, July 26 at TBA
East Rutherford, NJ on Tuesday, Aug. 3 at IZOD Center
Austin, TX on Wednesday, Aug. 11 at Frank Erwin Center
San Francisco, CA on Thursday, Aug. 19 at AT&T Park
So now that Idol has announced that they will start auditions on July 17th, do you think that they will announce who will be sitting at the judges table in 2011 by then?
