industry fokery

J. Lo may take over the panel spot vacated by Ellen DeGeneres, according to Deadline.com.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Jennifer Lopez
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

With two open seats now on the "American Idol" judging panel, all types of celebrity names have been bandied about as possible replacements. Elton John and Justin Timberlake were reportedly thrown out as names on an "Idol" wish list. Pop starlet Jessica Simpson has also popped up as a potential name ready to sign on. And with Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres no longer doling out critiques to "Idol" hopefuls, singer and actress Jennifer Lopez has emerged as the latest potential new judge.

Deadline.com reports that Lopez has officially inked a deal to join "Idol" and that the announcement was being kept under wraps until DeGeneres' exit was made public. According to the site, Lopez's manager Benny Medina set up a meeting with "Idol" producers and the singer's camp has been negotiating the deal for about a month. Entertainment website Gossip Cop also reported that a source close to the show confirms that both Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler have been offered spots on the judging panel.

A rep for "American Idol" declined to confirm or deny the rumor to MTV News and only offered "no comment." A representative for Lopez did not respond to MTV News' request for comment at press time.

If Lopez joins the amateur talent behemoth, she would follow in the footsteps of fellow pop diva and dancer Paula Abdul, who brought her experience as a chart-topping recording artist to her critiques for eight seasons.

A gig on the weekly ratings magnet might be a beneficial move for Lopez, who has weathered a few professional setbacks recently. The singer parted ways with her longtime record label, Sony, in February and a tumble at the American Music Awards in 2009 has arguably eclipsed the attention paid to her music. Lopez may also face a $40 million lawsuit after pulling out of a concert in Cyprus.

Would J. Lo make a good "Idol" judge? Tell us what you think in the comments!

• Ellen DeGeneres Leaves 'American Idol'

• Ellen DeGeneres' 'Idol' Run
• The Evolution Of: Jennifer Lopez

• Jennifer Lopez
• Ellen Degeneres

Levine's PSA promotes 'Countdown to Zero' anti-nuclear documentary from the producers of 'An Inconvenient Truth.'
By James Montgomery

Maroon 5's Adam Levine and Michael Madden
Photo: MTV News

Maroon 5's Adam Levine never thought he'd be talking about a topic like nuclear proliferation, because, well, he's the lead singer of a world-famous rock band. Discussing the finer points of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty wasn't exactly on the job description.

And yet, when he was approached by the folks behind "Countdown to Zero" — the harrowing new documentary from the producers of "An Inconvenient Truth" that investigates the perilous state of global politics and the spread of nuclear weapons — about helping promote the film, he said yes.

"It's one of those issues where it's really easy to establish a stance on," Levine said. "It's more of a human issue, and it makes no sense whatsoever to me. I mean, I'm pretty certain it was a terrible idea to invent nuclear weapons in the first place."

So along with M5 bassist Mickey Madden, Levine shot a PSA that urges people to read — and, hopefully, sign — an anti-nuclear weapons petition co-sponsored by Take Part, an online community aimed at engaging members with social issues (find it here). The petition asks the U.S. Senate to ratify the recently-signed START agreement, which will remove a significant number of nuclear weapons from the arsenals of both the U.S. and Russia. And, in doing so, it may be the first step towards accomplishing what the "Countdown to Zero" film dares to ask: Why does any country need nuclear weapons in this day and age?

"The best way to do things with a delicate issue like this is just to present the facts, and that's what this film does," Levine said. "There are 'X' amount of weapons, and 'Y' amount of people have died because of them, and, oh, by the way, 'Z' amount of those nuclear weapons have gone missing over the years. To me, that was the most staggering stat. I mean, these are not cherry bombs! So while I'm not going to get on the soapbox, I do think that most people will admit that missing nuclear weapons is a bad thing — so why bother having them at all?"

And though he sounds like a well-trained expert now, things didn't quite go as smoothly in the Take Part PSA — which, by the way, is making its world premiere right here — as you can probably tell from the end result. Because unlike some other musicians who lent a hand (a list that includes Pearl Jam, Trent Reznor, R.E.M., Tom Morello and OK Go), Levine is still getting the hang of this whole "spokesperson" thing.

"Oh man, when we shot [the PSA], it was early and I wasn't really good at reading scripts, so I cursed a lot," he laughed.

"Countdown to Zero" opens in theaters nationwide on Friday (July 30).

• Maroon 5

'It symbolizes how I've had to remove myself from society,' Em says of 'glass-cube' cover.
By James Montgomery

Eminem (file)
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage

It was, to say the very least, unseasonably cold in Detroit back in April — like, 33 degrees cold — but that didn't stop Eminem from ditching his down coat to shoot the cover for his Recovery album.

Of course, he wasn't exactly happy about doing it, but at the request of photographer Nigel Parry, he shed his coat and sat in a makeshift living room in Detroit's Hart Plaza, joking, "Oh man, listen, take your time, listen, I am enjoying the weather so f---ing much!" while Parry snapped away.

All of this occurs within the first minute of a brand-new, behind-the-scenes video posted late Thursday on Em's official site. The video gives fans an exclusive look at the creation of Recovery's two iconic covers. In part one, we watch him shoot the so-called "glass-cube" cover, which, as Em explains, has a lot more symbolism than you'd think.

"It symbolizes, like, what my life is like right now because of the fame, but also kind of how I've had to remove myself from society a little bit, pull back to conquer my demons, my addiction and that whole thing," he says in the video. "It also symbolizes me never leaving Detroit, you know? I'm kinda just sitting in the middle of Detroit, watching TV. And it's kind of my living room, where people are just walking by."

The first clip ends with Eminem, Parry and a team of art directors piling into vans to go shoot the second album cover, which Em describes as "the road to Recovery." And then, in an extended gag — designed to make the rest of his crew as cold and miserable as he is — Em goes on a lengthy rant where he spouts self-help mantras ("You gotta take it one day at a time," etc.) while everyone huddles by a van, laughing.

At the end of the video, we see a quick scene of Eminem wandering down a deserted stretch of highway, and a title card promises that episode two of the Recovery behind-the-scenes footage will be coming soon.

• The Evolution Of: Eminem

• Eminem

'She's always been in control of her own destiny,' Cowell says.
By James Dinh

Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell
Photo: Kevin Parry/ WireImage

Fans and bloggers aren't the only ones sharing their reactions to the news that Ellen DeGeneres is leaving "American Idol" after just one season. Fellow departed judge Simon Cowell and current host Ryan Seacrest have also revealed their feelings about the news.

Cowell, who left the show after last season, seemed to imply that he thinks DeGeneres is making the right move. "As I got to know Ellen, I grew to really, really like her," Cowell said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. "I have huge respect for her because she's always been in control of her own destiny."

Ryan Seacrest also dished his two cents on the comedian's unexpected exit. The host took to Twitter on Thursday night with nothing but kind words for his colleague. "Spoke with ellen d tonight aka @theellenshow‬. I will miss her on Idol. She's one of the kindest and most talented people in Hollywood," he tweeted.

On Thursday, Ellen announced her departure from the show in a statement she posted on her website. "It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for," she wrote. "I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings. I loved the experience working on 'Idol' and I am very grateful for the year I had. I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be."

What do you think about Ellen's departure from "Idol"? Will you miss her? Let us know in the comments!

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

• Ellen DeGeneres Leaves 'American Idol'

• Ellen DeGeneres' 'Idol' Run

'She'd be new and fresh,' fan says of 'Jersey Shore' star joining 'American Idol.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Ignacio Guzman

"Jersey Shore" star Angelina
Photo: Emily Shur

After news broke late Thursday that Ellen DeGeneres will not be returning as one of the judges on "American Idol" next season, "Jersey Shore" fans were partying and celebrating the premiere of the show's second season at a viewing party held by "Jersey Shore" star Angelina in Staten Island. And, while the chatter was all about the action-filled season premiere, they also had a ton of opinions on who should fill DeGeneres' now vacant seat.

"Ellen [is my favorite]! No, Ellen, no!!!" Linda told MTV News after learning that DeGeneres would not be returning. "I would recommend Christina Aguilera! I love Jessica [Simpson]!"

Her pal Alana agreed that Simpson could make a great judge on the show. "If I were a lesbian, Ellen would be mine! She'd get the business! She would be mine!" she laughed. "Jessica is an all-American, Southern chick. She can sing."

However, Amanda made the case to bring a little "Jersey Shore" to the judges' table. "My favorite judge on 'American Idol' is actually Simon because he tells the truth, and most of the time he's usually right. I did hear that Ellen DeGeneres was leaving. [I thought] she was a guest judge [anyway]. I thought she was only going to be there for a season," she said. "You know what? I think Angelina would be the perfect replacement for her. She'd be new and fresh."

Someone who has been vying for a spot on "Idol" for quite some time now is Perez Hilton, who was not at the viewing party, but did send MTV News an e-mail reacting to DeGeneres' departure. "She knew — and the audience knew — that 'Idol' was not the right fit for her, so she wisely extricated herself from the show," he wrote. "Obviously I think I'd be great in that role. Plus, if they hire Jessica Simpson too, there'd definitely be lots of fireworks between us! She'd be my Paula!"

Who do you think should be a new judge on "American Idol"? Sound off in the comments below!

"Jersey Shore" airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Be there!

• Ellen DeGeneres Leaves 'American Idol'

• Ellen DeGeneres' 'Idol' Run

Paul Rudd and Steve Carell make the most of a very light comedy.

Steve Carell and Jemaine Clement in "Dinner for Schmucks"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

"Dinner for Schmucks" is as light as a fistful of feathers — as a comedy in the age of Apatow, it's barely there. But the sharp cast is smart enough not to weigh down the airy tale with heavy shtick (which might have been a temptation), and director Jay Roach lays out the story with straightforward simplicity. The movie becomes funnier than you might expect at the beginning; as summer comedies go, it's a small surprise.

Paul Rudd plays Tim, an upwardly mobile finance hotshot at an L.A. investment firm. After he reels in a wealthy new client, an enormously snooty Swiss moneybags named Mueller (David Walliams, of "Little Britain"), Tim's boss (Bruce Greenwood) tantalizes him with the prospect of a big promotion — but on one condition: Tim will have to attend an annual company dinner to which each top executive is expected to bring an idiot — the most pathetic specimen of humanity he can find. The exec with the biggest idiot wins.

Tim's girlfriend, a gallery owner named Julie (Stephanie Szostak), is so appalled by this idea that he promises her he won't take part. For one thing, he's starting to worry that Julie might fall into the clutches of her hottest new artist, the egomaniacal Kieran (Jemaine Clement), whose outsize paintings all feature him in dementedly heroic poses. Finally, though, Tim is overcome by ambition and decides to attend the dinner. Now he just has to find an idiot.

Fortuitously, while driving down the street in his pricey sports car, Tim accidentally runs into Barry (Steve Carell), who turns out to be a perfect goofus. ("I've been hit by a Datsun before," he says excitedly, "but never a Porsche.") Barry is an IRS drone by day, but his real passion is creative taxidermy: collecting dead mice, stuffing them, outfitting them with handmade clothing and then arranging them in elaborate tableaux. (One of these, meticulously housed in a display case, is an all-rodent restaging of the Last Supper.)

Here, unfortunately, the movie, which is a remake of a 1998 French film, hits an unpleasant bump. Barry is supposed to be a complete moron (Carell seems to have derived this toothy nutcake from the Jerry Lewis canon, minus Lewis' abrasive whininess), but his "mouster-pieces," as he calls them, really are inspired. When Tim fails to realize this at first, and pushes ahead with his dinner plan, we begin to question his character in an unsmiling way. He'll eventually have a change of heart — that's the preordained point of the story — but a sour taste lingers.

The movie is naturally pointed like an arrow toward the concluding idiot dinner. Along the way to it, though, we meet some fine daffy characters, among them Barry's IRS boss, Therman (Zach Galifianakis), who has a private passion of his own for mind control (he's written a book called "Your Mind Is My Puppet"); and a lunatic party girl named Darla (Lucy Punch), who has been stalking Tim ever since he drunkenly went to bed with her three years earlier. (She comes on to men tongue-first.)

Additional oddballs turn up at the idiot dinner itself, of course: a blind fencing enthusiast, a lonely ventriloquist with his wooden-headed "wife," and a dead-pet psychic who disrupts the feast when she starts receiving messages from the main course (broiled lobster). It's no surprise that the dinner collapses into a slapstick fiasco (which goes on a little too long), or that in the end the sleazy guys all get their comeuppance and the idiots emerge as misunderstood sweethearts whose obsessions make sense in the context of their eccentric lives. As Barry puts it, more or less quoting John Lennon: "You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not."

("Dinner for Schmucks" is a Paramount Pictures presentation. Paramount and MTV are both subsidiaries of Viacom.)

Check out everything we've got on "Dinner for Schmucks."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• MTV Rough Cut: 'Dinner For Schmucks'

• 'Dinner For Schmucks' Exclusive Images Are Here!

'She makes the show a lot better, and I don't think she should leave,' one fan says.
By Kyle Anderson, with reporting by Kara Warner and James Lacsina

Ellen DeGeneres
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/ WireImage

With Simon Cowell's exit from "American Idol," there were already a lot of questions surrounding the future of the show before Ellen DeGeneres announced on Thursday that she would not be returning for the coming season. "This didn't feel like the right fit for me," DeGeneres wrote in a statement on her official website. "It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for."

The DeGeneres experiment was considered problematic by many fans, as she was often seen as too ambivalent about performances and was sometimes swallowed up by fellow judges Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi, who is also reportedly leaving the show. Still, there are fans who will miss Ellen.

"No!" fan Tiffany Chung told MTV News. "I think she has become one of the best parts of 'American Idol,' but that's because I love her to death. Anything she is a part of is that much greater."

"I really like Ellen, because she's really funny," Los Angeles' Montana Yao chimed in. "She makes the show a lot better, and I don't think she should leave."

Other fans supported DeGeneres but didn't think that "Idol" was right for her. "I liked her and I'm sad that she's leaving because she brought a sense of humor to the show, but I think that she picked favorites and that she didn't know enough about music," said Ryan Hines of Charlotte, North Carolina.

"It wasn't a good fit for her," Justin Mathew Denis of San Bernardino, California, said. "All she ever said was 'Good job.' Just like Paula. Or worse than Paula!"

No matter what fans thought of Ellen as a judge, most agreed that her departure would hurt the show as a whole. "She brought so much hype to the show," Asante Williams of Dallas, Texas, said. "I wish she would stay, but if she gotta go, then she should do her. Ellen, if you're watching this, you did a great job on the show and we're going to miss you."

Do you think Ellen DeGeneres' exit on "American Idol" will help or hurt the show? Let us know in the comments!

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

• Ellen DeGeneres Leaves 'American Idol'

• Ellen DeGeneres' 'Idol' Run

Zac Efron in ghost world.

Zac Efron in "Charlie St. Cloud"
Photo: Universal Pictures

Charlie St. Cloud sees dead people. Possibly filing in to watch this movie. Although the storyline of "Charlie St. Cloud" has some nice love-after-death twists, and the imagery — gleaming harbor-town nightscapes and sleek sailboats skudding across the water — has been beautifully rendered, the picture is becalmed by the star performance at its center.

Charlie (Zac Efron) lives for sailing, and as the movie opens, in his briny hometown on the Washington coast, he's preparing to leave for Stanford University in the fall on a sailing scholarship. Despite his resemblance to Zac Efron, Charlie doesn't have a girlfriend. He's entirely devoted to his mother (a minimal appearance by Kim Basinger) and especially his little brother, Sam (Charlie Tahan, talented beyond the call of cuteness). Sam lives for baseball, and Charlie coaches him with daily pitching practice in a clearing in some nearby woods. Charlie tells Sam he'll always be there for him. But then there's a car crash; Sam is killed, but Charlie, although briefly flatlined, survives.

Five years later, we find Charlie working as a caretaker at the local cemetery. He canceled his Stanford plans because ... well, because he told Sam he'd always be there for him. And Sam is still there, turning up in the woods every evening for their regular pitching sessions. Presumably Charlie has decided to spend the rest of his life as an undead-baseball coach. But then he meets the beautiful Tess (Amanda Crew), an avid sailor herself, who's gearing up for an around-the-world race in her elegant yacht. As Charlie and Tess fall in love, Sam, with no other earthly hobbies to occupy his time, watches them with growing unease (possibly even observing the movie's lone sex scene, a coupling so discreet it barely rises to the level of PG-13). "I could feel you forgetting me," he tells Charlie. "Without you, I feel myself start to disappear."

This basic plot conflict grows even slushier following a second tragedy, which introduces another level of lovelorn ambiguity. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of Tahan and Crew (who injects some liveliness into the otherwise turgid proceedings), the real love story at the heart of the picture is the sultry union of Zac Efron and director Burr Steers' camera. Efron, such a charmer in last year's "17 Again," is a hopeless mope here, acting mainly with his burnished tan and his bioluminescent blue eyes, which we all too often see welling with tears. Charlie stares out to sea. He stares into his soul. He suffers and suffers, and his muffled torment, even when backgrounded by glorious coastal sunsets, grows oppressive. We want Efron to jack this character up to another emotional level, to manifest some personality, but he just keeps wallowing in heartbreak. So while Charlie keeps seeing dead people (there's also a deceased buddy on hand), we're left watching a dead movie.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• 'Charlie St. Cloud' Clips

• Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, More At 'Charlie St. Cloud' Premiere

As season two begins, tensions run high between exes Ronnie and Sammi.
By Amy Wilkinson

Angelina and The Situation in Thursday's episode of "Jersey Shore"
Photo: MTV

Grab those pickles from the fridge and practice your creepin' because the cast of "Jersey Shore" is back. On Thursday night's season-two premiere, the gang traded their beloved Seaside Heights share for digs in Miami's hot, hot South Beach, proving you can take the juiceheads out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of the juiceheads.

With "Snowmageddon 2010" ravaging the Northeast, the "Jersey Shore" cast readied for their trips to the warmer climes of South Florida. A fortuitous trip, actually, because "you can't creep in this weather," as Pauly D informed us on his way to pick up Mike "The Situation." The two besties decided they'd road-trip down to the Sunshine State. Snooki and JWoww had the same idea, but not before Snooki could put the finishing touches on her look — an extra layer of self tanner.

"I don't go tanning-tanning anymore," Snooki explained. "Because Obama put a 10 percent tax on tanning."

Pauly D and Mike's plan was to make it to the house first so they could have their pick of rooms, and as they wended their way south, conversation turned to Angelina, who left the house last season after the third episode. She's been talking to Mike and Pauly D, and the two weren't sure whether she'd make an appearance in Miami. Oh, and Pauly D let it slip that the two hooked up.

Unbeknownst to her former roommates, Angelina was indeed planning a trip to Florida. How do we know? She's getting a Brazilian wax, of course!

"I'm happy I got a second shot," she said, "because everyone in the world deserves a second shot."

Somewhere in South Carolina, Pauly D and Mike decided to buy fireworks. But then their car got stuck in the muddy field and they had to call AAA. So what are two guys with a trunk full of fireworks to do while waiting for a tow in the middle of the night? Set off the fireworks, naturally. When AAA finally arrived, wouldn't you know, they got stuck too. Finally, a second AAA truck came to pull both vehicles out of the mud, and the boys were back on the road, albeit having sullied their pristine sneaks.

Meanwhile, the girls were having their own bonding time in Savannah, Georgia, where Snooki had what she dubbed a "life-changing experience." "This takes pickles to a whole 'nother level," she purred, as she and JWoww chowed down on a batch of friend pickles.

Vinny's goal for Miami was arguably more lofty than a simple epicurean awakening. He plans on getting with 60 girls in 60 days. And if a day goes by without one, well, he'll just double up the next. You've gotta love his chutzpah.

Having broken up after the first season of "Jersey Shore," Ronnie and Sammi were both apprehensive about living with one another in Miami. While Ronnie's friends warned him not to get into the same mess he got into last summer, Sammi clearly still had feelings for Ronnie. "I'm nervous about seeing Ron," she said. "I feel like I'm still in love with him."

As planned, Mike and Pauly arrived to the house first to claim their rooms. They weren't there long, though, before Angelina sauntered in. With bewildered looks and gaping mouths, the boys welcomed her with hugs. "I thought I saw a ghost," Pauly joked. Angelina then promptly plunked her stuff down in the boys' room declaring she was bunking with them.

It was obvious no love was lost between Sammi and Angelina as the two shared a cool reception when Sammi arrived. Angelina asked if they were OK, but Sammi just couldn't shake the rumors that Angelina had been talking about her behind her back. Angelina got an even icier welcome from Snooki and JWoww when they finally walked in (after an apparent wardrobe change). Surprisingly, Ronnie and Sammi shared a warmer welcome, a cordial hug and kiss on the cheek.

With the gang all assembled, the boys made short order of firing up the hot tub while the girls finished unpacking. In an unfortunate shelving accident, drinks fell all over Sammi's white pants, allowing Snooki to deliver one of her best lines from the episode. As she stood over the sink scrubbing Sammi's stained shorts she exclaimed, "I feel like a pilgrim from the freakin' '20s right now." We bet you do, Snooki.

Hours later, the gang finally did what they came to do: hit the clubs and get their creep on. The girls and boys took separate cabs, and while the guys' ride was peachy keen, the girls got off to a rough start when Angelina tried to interject herself into Snooki, Sammi and JWoww's conversation. Having none of it, JWoww challenged her to a fight then and there, but it didn't happen.

Ronnie and Sammi got into a heated argument at the club, which sent Ronnie into a downward spiral of booze and not-so-cute girls.

"Ronnie is at the club hooking up with grenades (that's a fat ugly chick) and landmines (that's a skinny ugly chick)," Mike explained. "His name is Ronnie but you might as well call him Sloppy Joe."

Meanwhile, poor Sammi was at home wondering if she'd made a mistake in coming. Snooki assured her that she hadn't. "It's like a fairytale ends," Sammi lamented in the confessional as Ronnie sucked face with two girls simultaneously. Fairytale, indeed.

"Jersey Shore" airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Be there!

What did you think of the "Jersey Shore" season premiere? Share your reviews in the comments.

• Jersey Shore (Season 2) | Ep. 1 | Goin' South

• Jersey Shore (Season 2) | Ep. 1 | Flipbook
• Jersey Shore (Season 2) | Cast

On the heels of news that Ellen DeGeneres is leaving, 'Idol' rumors fly.
By Gil Kaufman

Kara DioGuardi
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

The revolving door on the "American Idol" judges' table may be starting to spin out of control. On the heels of Thursday's shocking news that Ellen DeGeneres would be leaving "Idol" after just one year on the panel, TMZ reported later in the day that two-season veteran Kara DioGuardi had been fired from the show.

While a spokesperson for "Idol" could not be reached for comment at press time, TMZ reported that after two seasons with a four-judge look, which some critics said bogged the show down and took precious time away from the contestants, "Idol" will return to a three-judge look for the upcoming 10th season, which will kick off in January. DioGuardi struggled to find a groove in her first year on "Idol" and faced criticism from fans and critics, but appeared to have settled into a comfort zone last season and stepped up with more coherent and helpful advice for the contestants.

Unlike DeGeneres and remaining judge Randy Jackson, DioGuardi reportedly had a year-to-year deal, so it's assumed that her option for a third year was not picked up. The DioGuardi news came amid further unconfirmed reports that one-time "Idol" mentor Jennifer Lopez would be joining the show as a judge. TMZ also claimed that Lopez would take her seat alongside Jackson and another newcomer to the "Idol" table, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler.

Reps for Lopez and Tyler could not be reached for comment. Fox is widely expected to announce the makeup of the new "Idol" judges' panel on Monday at the Television Critics Association event.

Lopez and Tyler are just the latest names to surface in connection with the vacancies on the "Idol" panel in the wake of the departure of original lead judge Simon Cowell at the end of season nine and DeGeneres' unexpected bailout. Among the other musicians reportedly in the mix are Justin Timberlake and Elton John (whose reps both denied they were considering the move), Harry Connick Jr., Chris Isaak and, most unlikely, loquacious grunge godmother Courtney Love.

A spokesperson for "Idol" has offered no comment on all the casting rumors to date. The nearly wholesale panel shakeup could also be tied to the reported return of former executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, who is rumored to be looking to clean house after what he has described as a pair of lackluster seasons.

Do you think Lopez and Tyler would make good "Idol" judges? Leave your comments below.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

• Ellen DeGeneres Leaves 'American Idol'