Everyone and their mother is reporting that Jennifer Lopez has signed on to a one-year deal to judge American Idol at the price of $12 million.
If you want anything to do with Jenny from the block these days, you better be willing to pay up.
While Fox and JLo’s camp have kept mum on the subject so far, chances are they’re just delaying the announcement to drum up some hype before the season starts. The New York Post reported that Lopez wanted the announcement delayed to coincide with the release of her new single from Island Def Jam.
According to deadline.com, 41-year-old Lopez signed the deal as early as July, but has been negotiating a television pilot and Fox motion picture deal as well. Because $12 million wasn’t enough.
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The other supposed new judge is Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler, who hasn’t been confirmed either.
There were already reports that Lopez was hired and then fired from the show due to her diva antics, and also that she was holding up production.
After a bunch of shake ups in the past year, including Simon Cowell’s departure, and his replacement, Ellen DeGeneres’ departure, and Kara DioGuardi’s official announcement that she’s leaving the show, American Idol has quite a few gaps to fill. The Idol judge’s table is more of a revolving door as of late.
Good news: Ryan Seacrest and Randy Jackson are still on board! Whew.