Just when we thought the judge shortage at “American Idol” was all sewn up, with rock front man Steven Tyler and former pop-star Jennifer Lopez taking over for ousted judges Kara DioGuardi and Ellen Degeneres, it looks like it might not be a done deal after all. While Tyler is blabbing all over the media about his new gig - er, telling everyone except his band mates, that is - Lopez has been very tight-lipped about the whole thing. With good reason - based on a report from People, J.Lo wasn’t done negotiating her terms, and “Idol” producers finally said “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Jennifer Lopez won’t be a judge on American Idol after all, according to a source close to the situation.
The singer-actress had been closing a deal to be a permanent judge on the show for its upcoming 10th season but the deal fell apart.
“Her demands got out of hand,” says the source. “Fox had just had enough.”
With Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres both departing the talent search, the network had been pursuing a number of celebrities as potential judges, including Aerosmith‘s Steven Tyler.
But now that Lopez is out of the running, the network may be looking at their earlier top picks again.
Other reports have said that the panel could go back to the original three-judge format.
Fox had no comment. A rep for Lopez did not immediately return calls for comment.
Does this surprise anyone? J.Lo’s demands are legendary at this point. I’ll bet FOX missed Paula Abdul, big time. All she wanted was a little more money. So, now that J.Lo is out, does this mean that Jessica Simpson is back in? And will viewers care at all - or will they follow Simon Cowell to his new, probably better, talent show, X Factor?
