Those who enjoyed the new judging panel on “American Idol” this year need not sound the panic alarm yet–sources say Jennifer Lopez is close to signing for next season.
While Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson had already been locked into season eleven of the FOX reality juggernaut, Lopez’ status remained up in the air. Multiple sources presumed that the singer-actress, whose celebrity hardly shrank during the “Idol” season, was looking for a sizable raise from her estimated $12 million salary for this past season.
The Wall Street Journal, however, credits people “familiar with the talks” for insight that the parties are close on a deal for next season.
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, by way of his quirky one-liners, became an instant hit during the audition phase of the tenth “American Idol” season. Once the live competition started, however, Lopez’ enthusiasm and poise shined through, and she was viewed as the star of the panel for much of the season.
The debut season was not flawless, however. Lopez received flack late in the season for what fans and critics perceived as a bias against Haley Reinhart. Some who had initially praised the panel as a significant improvement from that of previous seasons in fact reversed their stances when the Reinhart controversy developed.
I watched American Idol this year for the first time since Season 6 because of the curiosity re Steven Tyler as judge. Casey Abrams and James Durbin initially had me interested once the live shows started. But it was Haley Reinhart who really had me hooked after she sang Bennie And The Jets. Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez were sometimes savage towards Haley near the end of the season with their unjust and disproportionate criticism. I have zero interest in watching American Idol next year as a result. J. Lo has a most annoying speaking voice, and why American Idol would want to pay her more money then she got for Season 10 to return is beyond me. I suspect that the Haley Reinhart controversy will have legs and will be felt in a significant dip in the ratings for Season 11.