New American Idol Judges - The New American Idol Judges

Keep the rumor mill churning.

Since Ellen DeGeneres announced she was stepping down from the "American Idol" judges' table, numerous celebrities' names have surfaced as possibilities for the new panel. Jennifer Lopez was rumored to be close to finishing a deal, but according to People.com, Jenny From the Block is out.

“Her demands got out of hand,” a source told the magazine. “Fox had just had enough.”

Reps for the show had no comment.

Lopez had been rumored to join Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and original "Idol" judge Randy Jackson at the judges' table.

Tyler, when asked about being a judge on the show, told cameras on July 31, "I'm probably going to be a judge on 'American Idol.' I'm doing it."

Various reports in recent weeks have also named Jessica Simpson, Chris Isaak, Harry Connick Jr. and Justin Timberlake as possible "Idol" judges.

"American Idol."

Reports say Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler are coming on board as judges, replacing Ellen DeGeneres, who announced Thursday she's quitting after just one year.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – When Fox television executives Peter Riceand Kevin Reillytook the stage Monday for their summer press tour session, there was no doubt what they would be talking about.

The only question: Would either of them actually say anything? As it turned out, on the subject of American Idol's ongoing and highly publicized judging problems, neither of them really did, except to say they had nothing to say.

"The only thing I can say with absolute certainty is that no one, in front of or behind the camera, has been signed to an agreement," said Rice, chairman of entertainment for Fox Network Groups. "That's not a particularly fun announcement to make."

That means all the speculation about the additions of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and singer-actress Jennifer Lopez as judges for the hit reality show's 10th season is just that – speculation. It also means that the return of original Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe is not settled business, as Rice confirmed when asked specifically about the producer who left Idol two seasons ago, about the same time the show's ratings started slipping.

Tyler, in Dallas for Aerosmith's concert tonight at Superpages.com Center, confirmed that Fox has approached him about the Idol gig. "It's just a work in progress," he said Monday on the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning radio show.

Rice did allow that Ellen DeGeneres' departure was anything but abrupt. He said the network started talking to her in early June, with her saying she wasn't comfortable and felt the show wasn't a "good fit." This led the network to seek a replacement.

Rice confirmed that the show's final round of auditions would be in mid-September and that the new judges will take part. "So as soon as we have our judges, we will announce it."

Rice later reflected that the show's two essential components will continue to be finding new talent and "the alchemy of the judges' panel."

"Does that mean we need to replace a judge identically with someone who fills the same slot and serves the same function? I don't think so."

Rumors continue to swirl about the new slate of "American Idol" judges. While Fox hasn't revealed any news about who may be sitting in the judges' chairs now that Ellen DeGeneres has checked out and Kara DioGuardi may not be coming back, the producers say that some of the rumors are indeed correct. Meanwhile, after showing initial reticence, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler keeps talking as though he is close to scoring the gig, saying that it would not interfere with Aerosmith's touring plans and that he is fairly confident that he would make an excellent judge if given the opportunity.

If Tyler does score the job, he certainly has the endorsement of the readers of the MTV Newsroom. Yesterday, we wondered aloud whether or not Tyler would make for the best classic rock icon to serve as one of the show's new voices. In the end, the Tyler rumor seemed to please everybody too much, as he came in first place with 47 percent of the total vote. That's a healthy victory, putting him well ahead of second place vote-getter Steve Perry (who nabbed 25 percent of the tally). The Who frontman Roger Daltrey came in third with 10 percent, with Sammy Hagar not far behind with eight. Styx mastermind Dennis DeYoung (an entrant many of the Newsroom denizens thought would be a powerful dark horse) ended up only netting a paltry six percent, and poor old Michael Stipe could only muster three percent of the total support.

Whether or not Tyler takes the job (or it is ever actually offered to him) should become clear soon, but with voting like that, it certainly appears to be a mandate.

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