American Idol producers still covet Elton John

Is American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe unhappy with who's going to be the show's next two judges? It sure sounds that way. I caught up with him at the 8th annual BAFTA/LA Tea Party in Century City today and asked him to confirm that Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez will replace Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres. “I must say, I really do love Elton John. He’s a huge favorite of mine,” Lythgoe replied to me.

The producer added that Elton's packed schedule is “always the problem”. Then Lythgoe revealed what strategy Idol is using on Elton to convince him to clear it and come on the show. Read the full article here.

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Tone-deaf 'terror suspect' auditions for Idol (VIDEO)

It's not everyday that the judges of the world's most popular talent quest get to see a Canadian tone-deaf terror-suspect audition for a spot on the show. Turns out, the judges of Canadian Idol (the Canadian equivalent of American Idol) were granted such an experience.

I wasn't actually joking about the terrorist part:

"Hiva Alizadeh, 30, and Misbahuddin Ahmed, 26, appeared in court after their arrests on Wednesday in Ottawa. They are to appear again, by video, next Wednesday. Dr. Khurram Syed Sher was taken into custody in London, Ontario, on Thursday. All three are Canadian." Reports the Associated Press. "Sher, 28, appeared on the reality show "Canadian Idol" in 2008 singing a comical version of Avril Lavigne's "Complicated," complete with dance moves that include a moonwalk."

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Kara DioGuardi only found out she was fired in the newspaper (VIDEO)

Recently ousted American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi only found out she was fired from the show when she read it in the news, her Republican father revealed in an interview on 'Capital Tonight'.

"Would you believe she did not hear, and still has not heard, anything?" Joe DioGuardi tells the interviewer. "She read it the way you did and I did. Her disappointment is that that's the way she's being treated and she feels that's not proper. I think they're trying to create a lot of buzz."


DioGuardi was part of a massive revamp of the show's judging panel after the producers decided that the general format needed a shake up. American Idol has been the subject of much attention within the television industry, with ratings falling and producers struggling to find their footing in the schedule of TV viewers. 


Watch the interview with DioGuardi's father below. We suggest that you watch from 4:15. 

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Discovery Channel plans "American Idol" like talent show for prisoners

It isn't the first time crazy ideas have taken off, but this one is certainly a first. Reports have now been released that suggest a new American Idol-like television show for prisoners is in development. Even as the original struggles, "Talent Behind Bars", as the TV show is rumored to be called, is being pursued as a concept for Investigation Discovery.

According to BroadcastingCable.com:

"The essence of the show is to highlight people who have been convicted of non-violent crimes and misdemeanors," Schleiff told B&C after the presentation. "Maybe there's somebody in a part of the country where they've never had a real chance to have a proper education, but they have a talent. Maybe it's singing, for example. So if we can give somebody like that, because of the use of the medium of our series, a break, they [might] get seen. And [if] someone sees that they have an extraordinary ability, it's a chance for maybe a little bit of a redemption."


Prizes for the winners of such a show are yet to be decided but, as many have already speculated, a range of rewards based around prisoner rehabilitation may be up for grabs. [Broadcasting Cable]

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POLL: 54% say they will not watch American Idol following judge panel shuffle

In the latest in a series of polls conducted by gossip websites and magazines alike, People Magazine ran a poll that shows 53% of respondents would not watch American Idol when it returns with fresh faces on the judging panel.

Of the 15,000 people who did respond to the poll - which is unscientific and being conducted on the website of the magazine - just over 8,000 said that they would not watch the show now that Ellen DeGeneres, Kara Dioguardi and Simon Cowell have left or been fired with Jennifer Lopez taking a spot on the panel. [People]

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Ellen wants out of Idol, to be replaced by Jennifer Lopez; Kara Dioguardi fired (update)

We recently reported in this post that daytime talk-show host Ellen Degeneres was leaving American Idol. We can now also report, based on a number of sources, that fellow judge Kara Dioguardi will also be departing the show. See more in the "update" section.

Could this be the true sign that the future of American Idol is bleak? Many critics believe so - with the replacement of popular television star Ellen DeGeneres with Jennifer Lopez.

After a recent movie failed at the box office and the dropping from her record label, it seems perfect that Lopez should have the chance to star on one of America's biggest television enterprises - even if it is going down the drain.

Her manager, according to Deadline.com, had been negotiating in what was originally thought to be talks about replacing recently departed judge Simon Cowell - who may be replaced by Elton John, according to Idol insiders (that is, of course, if he isn't asking for too much).

As for Ellen, many sources report that the comedian had wanted to leave the show for months, citing tensions between her and the producers who, she says, were unable to control Cowell.

The daytime talk show host, however, was never entirely accepted by longtime fans of the show because of her poor musical background.

The appointment of JLo to the judging table almost makes the relationship between Idol producers and the star interdependent; Lopez needs the high-profile Idol gig to revive her career, and American Idol needs Lopez to raise the musical profile of the show.

Degeneres originally signed a deal that penned her in for a two year stint as a judge on the talent show, only to leave after just twelve months. "It's not been fun", she's reported to have said. [Deadline]

UPDATE: Kara Dioguardi has been fired from her position as a judge on American Idol. As it stands at the moment, the judges on the show will be Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. It would appear - assuming the deal with Lopez stays intact - that the show is returning to a three-judge format. [TMZ]

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Cowell reveals he suffered from depression

American Idol's infamous straight-talking judge, Simon Cowell, has revealed in an interview with talk show queen Oprah Winfrey that he suffered from depression and that he had "made some horrific mistakes in the past".

"I get very, very down", Cowell told Winfrey on her show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, also recalling his experience of losing his job, car and home after a business deal turned sour.

You should never put on a fake smile, Cowell noted, "when you're feeling down, you're feeling down."

Although he is often seen as being the most arrogant and abrasive judge on the show, it is clear that he is aware of his reputation, while admitting that he has a big ego.  "I thought that I was absolutely untouchable".

Cowell's interview with Winfrey was broadcast one week before the finale of American Idol.

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