Fox reins in 'Idol' speculation; 10 tidbits about
'Glee'
12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 3,
2010
tmaurstad@dallasnews.com
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.
American Idol, American Idol, American
Idol.
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.
"As I said, we have no signed deals with anybody."
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."
Let the speculations game continue.
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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