American Idol

One Brit is out and another is in.

With Simon Cowell out of the American Idol fold, former producer Nigel Lythgoe - who left this post in 2008 - has returned to the show he helped make famous. He released the following statement today:

"Working as executive producer on American Idol for its first seven years not only was an inspirational journey into the heart of American pop culture, it opened my eyes to the untapped potential of the incredibly dynamic young people in this world... I am elated and honored to be rejoining childhood friend and fellow executive producer Ken Warwick, and look forward to creating more magic.”

Will that magic include Lythgoe as a judge? No.

What about Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler? Lythgoe would not confirm those rumors, but is on record as saying he "loves" Paula Abdul and would love to have her back on Idol.

That wacky judge is under contract with CBS for a new dance show, however. No word yet on whether or not her pharmacist is changing networks with her.

American Idol is apparently cleaning house.

Talk of who will fill Simon Cowell's vacant seat on the hit show's panel now shifts to who will replace the other two departing judges: Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi will not be returning next season either, according to reports.

DeGeneres, who joined the show in its ninth season earlier this year, confirmed in a statement that she told Fox it "didn’t feel like the right fit for me.”

“I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and would hold off until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next," she said. "It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for.”

The class act added: “I loved the experience working on Idol, am very grateful for the year I had, am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be.”

In the same statement, American Idol creator and executive producer Simon Fuller says, “I loved Ellen’s passion for the artists and her nurturing skills. She brought honesty and optimism to our judging panel and I will miss her greatly."

Next year's American Idol roster will look a lot different.

But here's where it gets interesting: TMZ reports that Kara DioGuardi has been fired from the program, which will return to a three-judge format.

Fox has not acknowledged Kara's departure in a statement, but it appears it's all but official. That leaves Randy Jackson as the last man standing.

The show will reportedly be going back to a three-judge panel of Randy and a couple of high-profile newcomers: Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.

This so-called "nuclear option" of blowing up nearly the entire panel has been kicked around for months, but nevertheless comes as a surprise.

Stars ranging from Harry Connick, Jr., to Bret Michaels, Chris Isaak and even Jessica Simpson have been rumored to be negotiating for the job.

Looks like J. Lo and the Aerosmith frontman won out.

The only way Kara could be asked back would be if the Lopez deal fell apart, but TMZ's sources claim it is already a done deal. Crazy stuff!

What do you think of the new panel? With Simon gone, will a Randy-Steven-J.Lo tandem usher in stronger ratings in Season 10?

Will Jessica Simpson replace Simon Cowell on American Idol?

It's possible, according to Life & Style!

So is Mel Gibson winning Humanitarian of the Year honors, but hey. Anything's possible! Why not run with it for some quick hits if you're a third-rate magazine?

According to the celebrity gossip rag, Jessica is in negotiations to become the newest judge on American Idol! Sources say that she has already met with the producers and everyone really "likes" her. Now, it's just a matter of fitting her in.

Riiiiight.

BAG IT: Whatever "source" planted this story must be closely tied to Jessica, whose career loses relevancy by the month. [Photo: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

Had this news surfaced a year ago, with Jessica's name thrown around as a possible replacement Paula Abdul, that would at least make some sense.

They have similar a "temperament," you could say.

Jessica replacing Simon Cowell, though? We don't see it happening, although maybe we're wrong. Compare her to some of the other rumored replacements whose names have surfaced in recent weeks and vote in our survey below ...

We seem to be down to three.

With American Idol auditions about to start up again around the nation, the show is anxious to name a replacement for Simon Cowell. With Bret Michaels already campaigning for the gig, and Harry Connick Jr. remaining a candidate, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed a third name for the job:

Chris Isaak.

According to that publication, the singer has been brought in twice for an interview with Idol producers.

Isaak has guest-starred on a couple TV shows and is probably best known for his 1991 hit, "Wicked Game."

But it seems hard to believe many in Idol's core audience have heard of him. Michaels would be the best choice if the show is going after pop culture relevance, while Connick - an actor, singer and composer - would deliver the most versatility.

Who do you think should take Simon's spot?

Led by champion Lee DeWyze and formerly gap-toothed runner-up Crystal Bowersox, last season's American Idol finalists are currently touring the nation.

They stopped in New York City this morning and performed on Good Morning America.

Click on the photos below for a closer look at Lee, Crystal, Big Mike and other favorites season season nine:

Bret Michaels has laid out the reasons why he should be the next judge on American Idol.

But there's one person he doesn't need to convince, and she's someone who knows a lot about the gig: Paula Abdul.

"If he were to take that position I think he would be awesome at it because you've got to have a passion and love for music," Abdul told Us Weekly. "It takes somebody who really, really understands young people to try to make the magic happen in those 30 seconds. [Bret] would fit the mold perfectly."

That said, Paula says no one will ever be able to truly replace Simon Cowell.

"Honestly, the word replacement to me does not apply because, as we all know, they broke the mold after Simon. I don't think he could ever be replaced," she said. "There should be no comparison."

It's true, but it's still an important question: Should Bret Michaels be the next American Idol judge?

American Idol experienced a decrease in ratings this season. New judge Ellen DeGeneres is a lesbian.

Clearly, says Gary McCullough, the director of the Christian Newswire, these two facts are related. In a press release today, he wrote:

I am confident that the producers of American Idol will... find a dozen other reasons for the drop in ratings. After all, what successful television producer could have a clue what wholesomeness is as long as they see promoting homosexuality as a virtue.

If one of the judges was an abortion activist, or a political right winger and continued to insert comments in line with their activism, the same criticism would be true, and the show would suffer.

What a great point. Ellen once joked on air about having loved a woman - that's the exact same thing as a pro-choice judge telling a contestant: "You really killed that song, the same way women across the country should be free to kill their unborn babies."

McCullough added: Network television producers may or may not stop promoting homosexuality; but for certain they will learn to keep homosexual activism separate from the cash-cow of "family entertainment."

There is of course the insane possibility that Hollywood will forsake ratings... and continue down the path of change. Perhaps next we will see the pro-pedophilia group NAMBLA use its influence in Hollywood to have Dancing with the Stars seat Roman Polanski as a judge.

Yes, he just compared homosexuality to pedophilia and statutory rape.

This genius makes unassailable arguments. There's no way season nine ratings were down because the contestants were boring, and the key demographic for Idol - a singing competition whose main, highly-rated season eight attraction was Adam Lambert - is clearly people that have a problem with gays.

What do you think? Did Ellen's sexuality contribute to the show's lackluster ratings?

Just five weeks after suffering a brain hemorrhage, Bret Michaels returned to the stage last night in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Incredibly, this event itself was NOT the most surprising development of the evening! But, first, a quick recap of the concert:

Limping slighty, Bret told the 1,400-person crowd at the Hard Rock Casino:  "I've got a little bitty hitch in my left giddy up, but I think we'll be all right. It's an awesome feeling. I'm glad to be here."

He then played a set that included former Poison hits such as "Talk Dirty to Me, "Unskinny Bop" and "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," the same single he sang with Casey James on the American Idol finale.

For Bret Michaels: First, Celebrity Apprentice. Next, American Idol?!?

Prior to one song, he shocked the crowd and announced: "I can't say this is true yet, cause I don't know. Next year they asked me to possibly be the judge on American Idol."

A source close to Michael confirmed Bret is "in the running to replace Simon," while an audience member said "I figured he'd be wobbly and sitting on a stool. But he was energetic, running around the stage with his guitar."

So if the singer really is on his way to recovery, that begs the question: Would he be a good replacement for Simon Cowell?

A two-year old singing Justin Bieber? Adorable.

A middle-aged, overweight woman crying and cursing and screaming at the results of American Idol? Less than adorable.

This is the best part of the video below: While his wife yells, bawls and says her life is ruined forever by the fact that Lee DeWyze won last night, the dude on the couch simply says: I told you so.

We love it... and hate it. Seriously, what does this say about the state of the country?

HUGE Idol Fan

Simon Cowell said goodbye.

Bret Michaels said hello.

And Lee DeWyze was crowned champion.

It was a long, entertaining, emotional night on American Idol, capped when Ryan Seacrest announced DeWyze as the winner, a conclusion Lee later summed up thusly:

"It just all happened so fast. It was amazing, it felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and now that this big step is done, it's on to the next step, which is to make an album and go on tour and do all the things I wanted to do for a long time."

Below, we've gathered a slew of photos from the evening. There's Paula Abdul waving to fans; Carrie Underwood on the red carpet; Crystal Bowersox backstage; and so much more.

Click on each photo to enlarge it...

[Photos: Fox, Splash News]