We've just learned the backstory of how Ellen DeGeneres bowed out of American Idol and who will be the new judge taking her place. It's Jennifer Lopez, whose singing and acting career has been on the skids after her recent movie failed at the box office in the spring and she was dropped by her record company Sony Music Epic Records this past winter. We hear her manager Benny Medina (whom she once fired) orchestrated the meeting with the American Idol producers a month ago, and negotiations have been ongoing ever since. We've learned a deal was closed earlier this week under the utmost secrecy.
Today's news came shortly after Nigel Lythgoe returned to Idol as an executive producer. He has vowed to shake up the show's team of judges in the wake of the departure of Simon Cowell, publicly stating that he always thought a panel of three and not 4 made the most sense.
Still to be decided is who will replace Simon Cowell. Everyone associated with the show wants Elton John, but we hear he's asking for too much money and has too many touring commitments he can't get out of. (Denials That Justin Or Elton Judging 'Idol') 2ND UPDATE: Tonight, unconfirmed reports say Idol has offered Cowell's judge seat to Steven Tyler. 3RD UPDATE: And another unconfirmed report claimed judge Kara DioGuardi has been fired to bring the panel count down to just 3, not 4.
As for Ellen Degeneres, we're told she wanted off the show two months ago and complained that Idol producers "couldn’t control Cowell", one insider tells us. Least of all Cecile Frot-Coutaz, the CEO of FremantleMedia North America. "Cecile is doing X Factor with Simon, so she's in his back pocket." DeGeneres and her reps went in to to see Fox Broadcasting's Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice and Alternative TV President Mike Darnell and asked to be let out of the year left on her contract. "She's not comfortable. She's not happy. It's not been fun," Fox was told.
Jacked from Deadline
9 comments:
who cares?! this has-been can't sing a lick trick is trying so hard to stay relevant, when she needs to be a mother to her kids and keep her skeletor hubby happy before she's on her next divorce.
she done. sit down
im glad they ditched the dyke, she made too many gay jokes
Jennifer Lopez judging a singing competition is like Stevie Wonder studying to be an optometrist. I can't see it.
They should just cancel this show. This trick is so through. When the hell did she sing anything worthwhile?
Jennifer Lopez being a judge on a show that's supposed to be about talent/singing is totally an oxymoron. That bish can't sing a lick, and she won't be receiving an Oscar anytime soon for her acting either; Mariah put her on blast years ago saying she didn't use her own vocals. She has Ashanti, Christina Millian and others to thank for mixing their vocals with her Kleenex thin vocals to make some of her biggest songs.
Kara shouldn't have been brought back after her first season. I don't watch Idol to see judges try to compete with the contestants. I give Kara credit for knowing about music but I don't tune in to see her sing against contestants. Then Ellen was the next bad idea. I like Ellen personally but why have her judge a show about singing? Ellen should have put aside her being a fan of the show and not accepted it because of her lack of musical insite.
JLo is a mediocre dancer, actor, and a horrible singer. I'll have to go out on a limb and say that atleast Paula was a great dancer and choregrapher.
Wow, American Idol must be really tight with their millions because there are way too many legends with free time that could take this whack show to greater heights.
Pay: Patti La'belle,Pay Usher he ain't doing sh%T and he wants to be an icon so desperately. Cher ain't busy,even Olivia Newton John is cool and lord knows Ron Isley need some cash money, and Tina Marie...the list is long but obviously American Idol is cheap.
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