The Hollywood Reporter made waves in entertainment circles Tuesday with a report that “American Idol” considered replacing judge Mariah Carey with Jennifer Lopez for a midseason surprise.
Faced with fading ratings that have placed the show at a distant second place behind NBC’s “The Voice,” “Idol” was reportedly considering a “dramatic plan to jumpstart the show.”
Though Lopez and fellow panelists Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson could not help “Idol” avoid a ratings decline last year, they guided “Idol” to success in their inaugural season and the show’s tenth. That year’s finale, which featured Scotty McCreery winning over Lauren Alaina, achieved the significant feat of building on the prior year’s ratings.
THR sources allege that a threat of litigation from Carey’s camp nixed thoughts of booking Lopez as a replacement.
FOX sources vehemently deny THR’s story, noting, “This is just another ridiculous Idol judge rumor, likely started by talks of Jennifer performing on the finale.” A source close to Carey also denies the report, while executive producer Nigel Lythgoe says, “I have not been included in any conversation regarding replacing Mariah with Jen this season.”
Still, “Idol” is faced with vastly declining ratings and buzz, and sources say the entire panel–notably Carey and Nicki Minaj–could face the ax in the offseason. Since getting off to a respectable start, “Idol”‘s twelfth season ratings have quickly fallen to series lows.
While rumors of “Idol” planning to replace Carey remain unsubstantiated, there was clearly some backstage dialogue about Carey’s performance on the show. During a recent episode, Carey referenced feedback that she was being too soft on contestants before launching into an aggressive critique of Lazaro Arbos.
Fellow new judge Nicki Minaj brought a combination of Simon Cowell’s brutal honesty and Paula Abdul’s eccentricity to the panel, but she has failed to resonate remotely as well as either “Idol” original. According to one THR insider, members of the show’s core demographic, which includes older, southern and midwestern women, are put off by Minaj’s aggressive personality.
Keith Urban, the third of the new judges, brings an innocuous, unremarkable perspective to the table, while holdover Randy Jackson represents a link to “Idol”‘s beginnings but no longer generates any independent buzz for his critiques.
With major music stars like Britney Spears and Mariah Carey failing to generate special interest in “The X Factor” and “American Idol,” respectively, THR notes that “Idol” will not necessarily focus only on superstars for next year’s judging panel.
they should finally bring Paula back.
they should finally bring Paula back.