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'American Idol': No one has signed a deal yet
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"American Idol" has no deals signed for their new judges' panel, FOX executives said at their summer press tour day Monday (Aug. 2). "The only thing I can tell you with absolute certainty right now is that no one has signed a deal yet," FOX Chairman Peter Rice says. He added later that that includes Nigel Lythgoe returning as executive producer.
"I can tell you that much of the information that has been written is accurate and some of the information that has been written is wildly inaccurate," continues Rice. He also would not comment on the Kara DioGuardi speculation in particular.
A source close to the show previously told Zap2it there would be no announcement at press tour, but sources on the production side said if talks went well over the weekend, official word could indeed come on Monday. There have been multiple reports that Jennifer Lopez has signed a deal and Steven Tyler is close, but Rice wouldn't comment on any negotiations or any "speculation" about them.
After the session, FOX Entertainment president Kevin Reilly told Zap2it that when an announcement does come, it will probably include the full slate of judges and producers for Season 10. "That's ultimately the goal," he says. "It's going to be a lot more constructive for everybody to kind of do it in one shot."
Rumors of the new judges' panel have been swirling since Ellen DeGeneres announced her departure from the show Thursday, July 29. Rice says of Ellen's leaving, "In early June, I met with Ellen and we talked about the season ... and really the idea that she wasn't comfortable, she didn't feel like it was a good fit for her. I tried to persuade her that it would be different in the future, but ultimately we came to an agreement that we would begin to look for new judges."
"We certainly plan to have a judges' panel [by mid-September]," Rice adds, which is when the auditions with the judges begin.
-- Addtional reporting by Rick Porter
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JLo, Connick and Tyler....
Jenny is the only good news.
I'm with Anonymous.
My respect meter for Steven Tyler will go waayyyyyyyy down if he does AI.
Steve Tyler is an ugly, Icky washed up burned out drug addict--yeah--really a great role model for all the kids watching. Much better than Ellen who tries to HELP people, save the planet and wants to encourage, empower and see the good things in people instead of the bad. JLo and HC Jr. sound like a great start, but PLEASE NOT ST!!!!! He looks more like a STD....
Please get rid of Kara she doesn't have the qualifications to judge. I am a music person and she has not shown me that she knows anything plus she is nasty to the contestants.
I have been a huge fan of idol since the beginning and thought I'd be disappointed to watch last season's show with Paula's departure. I couldn't imagine how Ellen would possibly fit in, however her sense of humor, as usual seemed to save the day. But let's see here, as auditions for Season 10 are rapidly approaching, with no Simon and no Ellen; and as I know it, no Ricky Minor, since he's since moved to The Tonight Show; and now possibly no Nigel Lythgoe? Come on guys who are you trying to kid? I know they're contracts to be fulfilled and Idol was still one of the highest rated shows on tv last season, but please???? Give those of us who actually enjoy watching the potential behind Idol a break and at least hire some judges we'd enjoy watching....and this DOES NOT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, INCLUDE JENNIFER LOPEZ (GAG) OR STEVEN TYLER (CAN YOU SAY MORE THAN HAS BEEN? MORE LIKE NEARLY DEAD!) Come on, what happened to rumors about Bret Michaels? I mean, seriously, he may be an older guy, but talk about real life experience! He's been there, done it and understands it all, and best of all, he seems to WANT TO DO THE JOB!!! I know I'd be interested in watching Idol again, if only to watch Bret! Who knows? Perhaps we need to start something on FACEBOOK similar to what they did with Betty White in order to get her to appear on SNL? I don't know, crazier things happen in Hollywood??
Jennefer Lopez was picked to passify all those who keep wanting Paula back (which isn't likely to ever happen, so move on!) She may be great or not--Paula wasn't that great as a judge either, but we all loved her anyway, and that keeps the ratings up. NO ONE will like Steven Tyler. GAG. He looks like the walking dead. I still pray daily for HC Jr!!! The best thing to save the show would be to start fresh with NEW EVERYBODY.
To me the Idol was Paula and Simon and Randy as judges, it has gone down the tube, as far as Idol in talent it began the #1 was Kelly Clarkson, and it ended with #2 talent Adam Lambert. They were exciting and talented to me the show began and ended with them and Paula please she was and is awesome, and you are actualy putting a drug crazed Steven Tyler in and have the nerve to say Paula was scattered , fox you are the ones that are scattered and Simon was the best of all your great show is longer, I know I wont ever watch it and alot of people won't either, Get Seacrest out too what a woosh.