Former American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe is close to signing a deal that will return him to the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The move, says THR, could be part of a larger attempt to overhaul the show, which could mean replacing the entire judges panel. Idol creator Simon Fuller is said to be wooing Justin Timberlake and Elton John for slots at the judges’ table.
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Even though he seems to refuse to make an album anytime soon, i really can’t see Justin doing Idol. Elton a little more, but still not really.
I don’t see either JT or Elton doing it. It would bore Elton. And JT has too much going on movie-wise. Now, if they offered these guys a piece of the profits & Simon’s salary + a record label ownership — maybe. Money talks.
On the radio they said Nigel wanted to put less focus on the judges. You mean like on SYTYCD where 90% of the time and comments are about the judges and the choreographers??? He is sinking this year’s SYTYCD. Hope he’ll use some lessons learned for Idol. And get rid of all 3 of those judges. KLH for judge!!
Amen, KLH. He is correct that AI should be less (A LOT less) about the judges, but so should SYTYCD. It is sinking and he is steering the ship! How will he fix AI when he’s destroying SYTYCD?
As devoted AI fan for 9 yrs, I would like to see the judges panel shaken up and overhauled! If they can’t be replaced, then find them mentors who can help them learn how to critique. There should be only three judges! Otherwise, we get too much jabber, and not enough time with contestants. It should NOT be all of one gender or genre. We need/want judges who are knowledgeable AND articulate when speaking of the contestant’s performance and stage presence, NOT on behalf of themselves (ala has-been Abdul)!
We also need a new emcee, like the adept Cat Deely/SYTYCD or Nick Cannon/AGT, NOT someone who considers IDOL his show.
Considering the mess that went on last year, IDOL needs Nigel behind the cameras to clean house and kick a**, so that we can get back to concentrating on these very fine young singers!!!
My personal choices:
#1 – Replace Ryan with Ellen and/or Cat.
#2 – Thank Kara and let her go.
#3 – Randy is here to stay another few years, besides he’s the best at 1st Base to quiet down the crowd.
#4 – Pick two from my Wish List: D.Foster, H.Connick, G.Simmons, S.Twain, N.P.Harris, C.Lauper, N.Scherzinger. (A few others, but totally not available.)
Elton already has said that he isn’t interested. It could be a negotiating tactic, but it sounded sincere. At the end of the day, if the price was right…
Elton performed at Rush’s wedding! Heck yeah, money talks.
I think Nigel is super hot and I hope if he does come back to the show they give him a ton of screen time.
Thanks for commenting, Nigel.
Are you for real???
Snicker.
Jose, is that you ?
hahahahahaha KLH/PIMB
NOT Timberlake. He has publically trash-talked Idol singers in the past. He doesn’t seem to respect the concept of the show, which is surprising since he once competed on “Star Search.” The singers who are trying to launch their careers need honest constructive criticism delivered with respect, and Timberlake is probably incapable of delivering that.
I wouldn’t replace the entire judging panel. I say uber producer David Foster — who judged simon cowell’s Duets — as the perfect replacement for simon.
Jamie Foxx campaigned for it….but his porno past, nude photos, and girl chasing probably knocked him out of the running….too bad, because he would be comical and truthful.
Jamie Foxx is ignorant and sooo full of himself, I think he would be a terrible judge.
As much as it pains me to say it, Kara is now the only judge with any credibility. Fire Randy. Fire Ryan and give Ellen his job. Hire 2 new judges, and go with only 3.
That’s actually brilliant. Ellen would make a great host – Ryan is simply awful. And Kara might step up her game if there were two new judges.
you said it!!! Ellen is a great host, but a terrible judge, she’s too nice.
I think Kara is so hot. I wish she was married to Portia and not Ellen – I mean really, can you picture it???
That is a brillant idea! Ellen would be such a great host. And some new blood on the juding panel would be awesome. Bye Randy!
Kara was better this past season, but still awful. She has no particular credibility. She just got lucky.
She doesn’t have a fan base that would miss her when she left.
Some suggestions for judges: Shania Twain, Neil Patrick Harris, (super producer) Steven Lillywhite, Ken “Babyface” Edmonds, P Diddy, Billy Joel, Ben Folds, and George Michael.
CredibilitY????? Drooling over Casey??????
can”t fire Ryan-has 3 year contract!!
Agree! Except Kara is ratings poison because so many people viscerally dislike her. And her contract is up. Randy has another year to go. Ellen has 4 years left, and too much dinero to see her just walk off with it. If Jackson was finished with his contract, I’d can him too. As is Ellen cannot stay as judge. Make her MC each results night, Idol goves back, and the Finale. Less Ryan Seacrest is also a plus (give him the half hour results night, interviewing the auditioning bozos, and his 20 other TV shows.)
Get rid of Kara, tell Jackson “TheDawg” has one year to clean up his lazy, cliche-riddled act or he is gone too. Unless he doesn’t have good chemistry with Cowels replacement. Then can him too.
If Ellen goes, the judges can afford one celebrity stunt-cast, but no more.
Better they bring in a charismatic unknown for the “Final Word” seat and stick the celeb in the middle. Unless it is Connick, who I think alone of the celebs would do well in the vacated Cowell seat.
People in talking replacing judges always talk of some superstar celebs…being great at judging..well. because they are superstars, darn it!!
But remember sports broadcasting tried putting the numerous ex-jock superstars in as critics of the sports show and play by play analysis and the Great Jocks generally turned out to be MISERABLE at it. So they were generally shoved in a workable niche of “color commentary” and making a lame joke or every 10 minutes – sort of what they found Ellen was limited to as a judge.
Some sort of producer/talent scout type is needed. Performers have to worry about their own fan base and may pull their punches. Simon had no such worries, and apart from the fact that he is a smart, savvy guy, he was totally free to speak his mind since he didn’t have to worry about alienating anyone.
As far as performers go, among prior guest mentors, from last year only Harry Connick, Jr. and Adam Lambert were who I can remember as being worthwhile. Not that it would happen, but they’d be good to add to a behind-the-scenes guy. Shania Twain was a decent guest judge at the auditions, I thought. You just need somebody who can give substantial, honest critiques, not “I don’t know, dawg, that didn’t really do it for me. I don’t know.”
I don’t think the judges really have to know so much about music. The public can decide what they like themselves. We just need some honest judges who don’t try to tell us some mumbling schmo who can’t carry a tune is the second coming. Clearly a lot of fans believed it. Oh yeah, and some relevant music couldn’t hurt.
Ah, relevant music would do more to perk things up than replacing judges would. The themes are completely out of touch with the times. Also expanding the song list. From all indications, the singers are getting dinged for poor song choice when they aren’t given much of a choice to start with.
Ooh, good call! He has the musical credibility, and is just abrasive enough to be entertaining!
Good call – David Foster is good/tough – loved him on the “Legally Blonde -the Musical” gig on MTV.
OMG, if Justin Timberlake is there, I am back!!
me too. although I never left the show it would make me interested in the show again. this past season I was only semi-interested. plus maybe he would attract the younger audience.maybe they could reduce Kara to like a special mentor role or something, keep the other two judeges, & just add a new third one to replace Simon
woah…wait- you are suggesting keeping randy and ellen? really??
That makes me giggle.
It will NEVER happen.
I’m actually really bummed about this – I promised my huisband I’d stop watching but if JT comes on board…. will have to give it a try. Get rid of all 3 judges, hire JT, Shania and Elton John or Jamie Fox and let Ellen host (maybe).
That sounds like a much more interesting judges’ panel. Still won’t bring me back, but yeah.
It’s time to ditch Randy, and Ellen brought nothing to the show. An overhaul isn’t a bad idea.
She has a 5-year contract; Ellen aint leaving unless they buyout.
And just whnat genuis gave Ellen a five year contract? That person should be the first one out the door, right along with the person that hired Kara.
:O
The judges panel will not change. Randy and Kara are not budging and Ellen isn’t going to leave unless she gets fired or released from her contract. I dare say that the ‘guest slots’ are to tipped so that they can draw from the waning interest in the show. Unfortunately, this move is a day late and dollar short. Elton John nor Timberlake will come on the show unless they are paid a substantial amount of money to do so! No interest . . . this show is on it’s last legs – just kill it off already!
Get rid of them all. The panel couldn’t get any worse than it was last year. Simon had his foot halfway out the door the entire season and the rest of them are just idiots…no offense to Ellen because Ellen is hilarious and great at everything else but she brought absolutely no credibility to the panel. Kara may have the ‘knowledge’ but she’s an idiot and Randy…well the knowledge is even debatable on that end…
David Foster, Shania Twain, and Ben Folds, and if you have to have four, Harry Connick Jr. All of them have proven to be good. Maybe then the judges won’t be considered jokes and the focus will be on the talent.
What he said
in 100% agreement with you. Didn’t know about Ben Folds until the a capella show, really liked him and he knows his stuff.
Yes, yes, yes and yes. Clean sweep, and great choices. If they do this, I’ll definitely watch. Oh, and yes to bringing Nigel back, too.
OMG! YES!!!! Ben Folds needs to be on there for sure! Best singing competition judge every…he actually gives CONSTRUCTIVE criticism!
Except for the fact that they’re all currently touring artists and would have to clear their schedule for 6 months to do a show. That’s why it’s nearly impossible to get someone current. You have to get C-listers like Paula Adbul who aren’t active in their recording careers.
Getting rid of the current judges would be AWESOME, but somehow I doubt it’ll happen.
This is all Good news , but keep randy at least, JT would be awesome and Elton would be more awesome. Kick Ellen off and replace her with Shania Twain or Mariah Carey
I was nodding in your response until I see Mariah.
I say keep Kara, and probably Randy and add Justin Timberlake and Nicole Scherzinger or Christina Aguilera..
and KLH or PIMB
Please, do something, ANYTHING, to make AI as awesome as it was when Simon didn’t have one foot out the door and the rest of them weren’t windbags. When I look to Kara as the leader of the judges, you know hell has frozen over.
Replace Ryan with Cat Deely while you’re at it.
I would love that!
Excellent idea, DeborahB. Cat rocks as a host. And I’d dump all the judges, too. Contracts be damned. There’s always a way to break them.
YES!! I have been saying that to people for years now! She would be great!
Hey, if Nigel can come back, we can have Cat for hostess. If not, someone else mentioned having Ellen as a host instead of a judge and getting rid of Ryan. I like that idea, too. Randy still has a year on his contract, so he won’t be leaving – yet. :-S
I liked the idea of Brett Michaels being a guest judge or q permanent one.
I like the idea of brett disappering from my TV permanently.