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Sepember 22, 2010

Pop star and actress Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler are joining TV singing contest "American Idol" as judges in a major overhaul aimed at keeping the show No. 1 with viewers as it enters its 10th year.

Producers on Wednesday announced the signing of Lopez, 41, the singer and star of movies such as "The Wedding Planner", and Tyler, 61, at a glitzy event in Los Angeles that ended months of speculation over who would join the judging panel.

Record producer Randy Jackson remains the only original judge since the program debuted on Fox television in 2001, and Ryan Seacrest will remain as host.

"American Idol" producers announced other big changes to get away from what they called the "karaoke" feel of the show when it returns to U.S. television in January 2011 after a four year ratings decline.

Universal Music executive Jimmy Iovine will act as an in-house mentor and will be featured behind the scenes working weekly with aspiring pop stars as they compete to become the 2011 "American Idol".

Major record producers like Timbaland also will work with the contestants, but celebrity guest mentors will not be used and contestants must dance more. The moves are a bid to find genuine stars like first champion Kelly Clarkson who went on to a Grammy-winning career.

"We are 10 years-old and we are being given the opportunity to recreate the magic," returning executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said at a news conference announcing the changes. "We have got to go back to creating an 'American Idol'".

Lopez and Tyler replace British judge Simon Cowell, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and songwriter Kara DioGuardi as the judging panel returns to its original three-person format.

Tyler said on Wednesday he wanted to "bring some rock to this rollercoaster".

"I want to give everybody a little love before I decide who goes home heartbroken. If you don't like what I say, don't get mad, get better," the colorful Aerosmith showman added.

Lopez, star of movies like "The Wedding Planner", said she had long been a fan of the show and that the opportunity to be a judge "felt like the right thing at the right time for me."

"American Idol" has generated huge advertising revenues for Fox over the years and boosted record sales and digital downloads for early winners like Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

But despite being the most-watched TV show in the United States for eight years, "American Idol" has lost about six million viewers since 2006, and recent winners have largely failed to translate their success into chart-topping careers.

Lythgoe said that contestants would no longer be made to sing different genres each week, like country, disco or rock, but would be encouraged to perfect their own original style.

"It has been alleged we are a bit of a karaoke show," he said. "We have a whole new set of rules. We are not just going to copy tracks. And they are no longer just going to be standing there, like shoe-gazers. We will want them to move. I want the focus to go back on the kids and their talent."

Brian Friedman, one of the executive producers of TV show "America's Got Talent", said "Idol" needed changes to keep it fresh.

"The last thing you want is your studio audience and viewers at home to be able to predict the show. You have got to keep everyone on their toes," Friedman told Reuters.

http://abcnews.go.com/Ent...amp;page=1

This show is DEAD on Arrival.

I wonder how Tyler's long sparring bandmate is gonna feel about this.

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While drunk paula was good for a laugh here and there, I don't think I'm going to enjoy junkie tyler as much.

Its going to be interesting to see how quickly this show sinks next season & what excuses will be made for its failure.

RIP American Idol

Jennifer Lopez?

Your article is missing a quote by Jlo that made me ultimate facepalm....

Lopez, clad in a sparkling jumpsuit, came out next from underneath the stage in a cloud of swirling dry ice. "You have to just concentrate on the moment as best you can. Just live. It's your moment," Lopez said, adding she's "looking for the next Michael Jackson."

[Edited 9/22/10 17:16pm]

Yes, the new judges are pretty terrible. But let's face it anyone with talent who still has a promising career isn't going to want to take time away from recording and touring to be a judge on American Idol. So they are sort of stuck with has beens.

I don't know why they have to dance. Not every genre of music lends itself to dancing. If they are doing dance music, then yes they should dance. But that doesn't make sense if they are doing some other kind of music.

If they want to get away from karaoke they should require they sing some original songs either they wrote or that a friend of theirs wrote that haven't been heard before.

I never watched a single episode of this show before,and there's no reason to start watching now

SoulAlive said:

I never watched a single episode of this show before,and there's no reason to start watching now

Me neither.

I dont know what it is about J-Lo these days, she's really lost that J-Lo glow (isnt that the name of her perfume?) LOL. And Steve Tyler just looks...old. He's a few years away from being in a nursing home.

MajesticOne89 said:

Your article is missing a quote by Jlo that made me ultimate facepalm....

Lopez, clad in a sparkling jumpsuit, came out next from underneath the stage in a cloud of swirling dry ice. "You have to just concentrate on the moment as best you can. Just live. It's your moment," Lopez said, adding she's "looking for the next Michael Jackson."

[Edited 9/22/10 17:16pm]

Amusing ain't it?

The media couldn't wait till MJ roll over and kill himself, but eversince he died, they're looking for his heir.

Harlepolis said:

MajesticOne89 said:

Your article is missing a quote by Jlo that made me ultimate facepalm....

[Edited 9/22/10 17:16pm]

Amusing ain't it?

The media couldn't wait till MJ roll over and kill himself, but eversince he died, they're looking for his heir.

And guess what? They're not going to find it. They would have to create him. Dummies don't seem to realize that but that don't stop them from trying.

MajesticOne89 said:

Your article is missing a quote by Jlo that made me ultimate facepalm....

Lopez, clad in a sparkling jumpsuit, came out next from underneath the stage in a cloud of swirling dry ice. "You have to just concentrate on the moment as best you can. Just live. It's your moment," Lopez said, adding she's "looking for the next Michael Jackson."

bitch should go looking for decent material for her next album first.

Well at least Steven Tyler has a job where he can sit his tail down somewhere and stop falling off of stages.

missfee said:

Well at least Steven Tyler has a job where he can sit his tail down somewhere and stop falling off of stages.

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MajesticOne89 said:

Your article is missing a quote by Jlo that made me ultimate facepalm....

Lopez, clad in a sparkling jumpsuit, came out next from underneath the stage in a cloud of swirling dry ice. "You have to just concentrate on the moment as best you can. Just live. It's your moment," Lopez said, adding she's "looking for the next Michael Jackson."

[Edited 9/22/10 17:16pm]

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UptownCitizen said:

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WTF @ Tyra...

scorp84 said:

MajesticOne89 said:

Your article is missing a quote by Jlo that made me ultimate facepalm....

[Edited 9/22/10 17:16pm]

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well, it was a nice run i suppose.

which one's Jennifer and which one's Steven?

btw I totally read that as Fox confirms "Idiot" Judging Panel.....