Jennifer Lopez

The incredible journey of American Idol kicks off again on January 17, and contestant should be warned: there will be no more Mr. Nice Judges.

"It was hard for me in the beginning to say 'no' at all," Jennifer Lopez tells TV Guide Magazine. "[This year] we're just as honest and just as compassionate, but maybe a tiny bit more blunt about it... it has to be tough love. Maybe we're a little tougher on the tough-love part."

What about the presence of The X Factor and The Voice? Is the team worried about singing competition overkill?

"There's only one Coca-Cola," Randy Jackson said in response. "There may be many different variations made, but this is the original one. That's why I still call this the greatest talent show of its kind."

Jackson adds that there's a big difference between Idol and Simon Cowell's British important: the former is a "more intimate show," he says, elaborating:

"I think that's what really helps these kids. It's focused on us, yes, but not so much that you lose focus on the kids' talent. We never want to overshadow that."

Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart got down and dirty with each other on New Year's Eve.

The American Idol judge and the 24-year backup dancer spent the weekend in Miami Beach, according to People, starting the party on Thursday night at nightclub Amnesia.

"They were very sexy with each other, dancing and bouncing around and making out," a witness says, adding that the pair hung out until 3 a.m. "They couldn't help but attract attention, although Jennifer was trying to lie low from onlookers."

Marc Anthony is reportedly steamed over J. Lo's romance with Smart, even threatening to take away custody of her children, but another source says Lopez looked "very happy" at the hot spot.

She and Smart are hotter than ever, in fact, as insiders confirm they went out on a yacht Friday afternoon, while J. Lo went shopping with her daughter on Saturday afternoon.

The couple stayed at a private residence all weekend and rang in 2012 at the Soho Beach House with friends.

Take that, Marc!

[Photos: Pacific Coast News]

The divorce between Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony may have started off amicably enough... but the former's relationship with backup dancer Casper Smart has thrown a contentious wrench into the couple's split.

Following reports that Anthony was throwing tantrums over J. Lo moving on so quickly, the latest issue of Us Weekly states that Anthony is set to cause major problems between the pair.

After initially ceding primary custody to the American Idol judge, Anthony is now "going back on his word and saying his wants joint custody," an insider tells the tabloid.

Why would Anthony use the former couple's twins in such a manner? The answer is simple, says this source: "He wants to make Jennifer suffer because she's having fun with someone new, and he knows this will hurt her on the deepest level."

Overall, the divorce is "getting vicious," the magazine reports.

With the relationship between Casper Smart and Jennifer Lopez heating up, source say the latter's ex-husband is boiling over.

Us Weekly reports that Anthony is "going nuts" over J. Lo moving on so quickly with her 24-year old backup dancer, "throwing fits and tantrums" and losing "a lot of weight" over the last few weeks.

But apparently Anthony isn't the only one taking issue with Smart.

The tabloid has also talked to friends of  Lopez who aren't sure if Casper is the right man for her, either. Says one insider of these pals, and of the star with three marriages on her record:

"They don't feel Casper is good enough for her. They are worried because she really puts her heart out there for love."

[Photos: WENN.com]

It's that time of the year again.

With 2011 drawing to a close, THG is here to present our 5th annual Celebrity of the Year Award. Before we arrive at the top spot, however, we're counting down from number-10, honoring those that delivered the best scandals, most raunchy sex tapes and most ridiculous shenanigans of the past 12 months.

The rankings kicked off last week with everyone's favorite trainwreck, Lindsay Lohan. Now, it's on to number-9 and the bootylicious artist who returned to national consciousness after years out of the spotlight... Jennifer Lopez!

J. Lo was named a new American Idol judge in late 2010 and didn't waste any time using TV's top-rated show to get her wayward career back on track. She released a new single as soon as season 10 premiered; she quickly established herself as a panelist who, like Paula Abdul, grew emotionally-invested in contestants - remember this crying clip? - but, unlike Paula Abdul, was not insane.

Lopez offered sharp commentary and critiques without the snark of Simon or the repetitiveness of Randy. She also took full advantage of high-definition televisions to remind the world: I AM GORGEOUS.

After rising to prominence once again via Idol, Jennifer took a couple of strategic steps to ensure she'd remain in the headlines even after season 10 concluded:

1. She dragged out contract negotiations.
2. She was involved in a potential sex tape scandal.

Even Kris Jenner had to be impressed by these savvy moves.

Then, July hit - and J. Lo morphed back into a tabloid favorite due to her divorce from Marc Anthony. How was she dealing with the split? Did Anthony really cheat on her with a stewardess? With Jada Pinkett Smith?!? The chatter kept coming, but Lopez remained mostly quiet, staying above it all in interviews and simply saying she still believed in love.

Has she found it now with 24-year old backup dancer Casper Smart? Probably not. But these two appear to be having a good time and, after the year we just described, can you blame Lopez for wanting to have some naked fun with a guy nearly half her age?

Neither can we. We've missed Jennifer Lopez, we're glad 2011 brought her back into our lives and, like Pitbull in the image above, we're anxious to stand back and watch to see what 2012 brings for this beauty.

Casper Smart is currently hanging in Morocco with one of the best looking celebrities on the planet, chilling in North Africa with new girlfriend Jennifer Lopez as she prepares to perform at the Morocco Mall in Casablanca this week.

But the 24-year old backup dancer - who has an unusual connection with John McCain - can't fully relax. Why? Because he has a question for all the haters out there: What the heck, yo?!?

"I don't understand how people can speak on other people or things they know nothing of??!!! #CRAZY Off to Morocco!!!!" Smart Tweeted before taking the trip.

He was responding to criticism about how quickly he and J. Lo became an item after she filed for divorce from Marc Anthony, following this message with a Re-Tweet of a follower's that reads:

"Why are ppl judging @Caspersmart no 1 knows how long @JLo was separated be4 she announced the divorce ppl need 2 stop being so quick 2 judge."

Yeah. We couldn't have said it better ourselves. We likely could have written it better, however, using proper punctuation and all.

Just how serious are things getting between Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart? The pair vacationed together this week in Hawaii... along with J. Lo's three-year old twins!

The 24-year old backup dancer was "great" with the children, an insider tells Us Weekly, detailing how he "was twirling them around and doing flips with Emme and she seemed very comfortable with him," while "Jennifer got a chance to sit back and relax while Casper took over and played."

Lopez came under pretty heavy fire this week by shilling so hard for Fiat during her American Music Awards that even Kim Kardashian referred to it "too much." Okay, not really. But John Legend called out his fellow artist.

But Jennifer's personal life is going a lot smoother. Following the AMAs, witnesses spotted Lopez "grinding in Smart's lap, giving him a kiss and rubbing his head" at Greystone Manor in West Hollywood. He's a lucky fella.

Casper Smart who?!?

Despite rumors that link Jennifer Lopez to her back-up dancer, sources tell Us Weekly this singer spent a night alone with ex-husband Marc Anthony on November 8, as J. Lo touched down in Puerto Rico in honor of the former couple's talent competition Q'Viva! The Chosen.

Anthony picked Lopez at the airport and "Marc never stayed in his hotel room," an insider says... if we know what he or she means!

Describing the divorce as an emotional "roller coaster" for both parties, the mole says future hook-ups are also "inevitable" because Anthony "has this hold" over his ex. Still, another friend wants to make it clear:

"They may sleep together, but they're over!"

Sure. And sometimes they're under. And sometimes they're side-by-side or upside down. We get it.

Jennifer Lopez grabbed the attention of American Music Awards viewers last night by wearing very little clothing... and by shilling a whole lot for Fiat.

The singer danced and gyrated to a medley of songs during her six-minute set, while also making prominent use of the same car you've undoubtedly seen her endorse in countless commercials over the past few weeks. See for yourself:

Jennifer Lopez Medley (American Music Awards)

The overt, Kim Kardashian-like shill has raised the ire of many celebrities. John Legend, for example, Tweeted in response to the advertisement-based performance: "That had to be the most shameless thing I've ever seen in a performance. I was genuinely shocked."

What do you make of this routine? J. Lo's Fiat plug was...

Jennifer Lopez made like Britney Spears at last night's American Music Awards, donning a revealing, nude-colored outfit during a performance that combined hits "Until It Beats No More," "Papi" and "On the Floor" into a single fun medley.

The look resembled Britney's buzzed-about costume at the 2000 MTV VMAs, but the sound and the movements were 100% J. Lo.

Upon accepting the trophy for Favorite Latin Artist, Lopez told the crowd that "it's been a really amazing year in so many ways. It's been up and down and just exciting and overwhelming."

Sounds a lot like her performance. Take it in now:

Jennifer Lopez Medley (American Music Awards)