THR: Secret Plan To Replace Mariah Carey w/ J-Lo on "Idol" Fails

[JamesG]

"Idol" Panic: Secret Plot to Replace Mariah Carey With Jennifer Lopez Fails (Exclusive)
4/23/2013
by Kim Masters , Shirley Halperin


With ratings in a steep slide, "American Idol" producers and Fox executives in recent weeks hatched a dramatic plan to jumpstart the show: replace judge Mariah Carey with Jennifer Lopez, according to knowledgeable sources.

These sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Carey, who was touted as the big new addition to the judge’s panel this year, responded with a threat of litigation. With that, the plan was dropped, though "Idol's" producers still are negotiating with Lopez, who served as a popular judge during the past two seasons, to appear on the show’s finale in May.

And insiders say a search already has begun to replace Carey, most likely Nicki Minaj and possibly the entire judge’s panel for next season.





"This is just another ridiculous Idol judge rumor, likely started by talks of Jennifer performing on the finale," a Fox spokeswoman tells THR in a statement.

Producer Fremantle NorthAmerica decline to comment.

A rep for Carey denies these allegations.

"Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe tells THR: "I have not been included in any conversation regarding replacing Mariah with Jen this season."





Sources say Fox reality chief Mike Darnell and Fremantle’s Cecile Frot-Coutaz have been especially concerned about the "Idol" ratings trajectory, and they hoped that a surprise shake-up on the judges' panel would help.

Carey, a multi-platinum and Grammy-winning singer, is perhaps "Idol's" most pedigreed judge ever. But despite her eight-figure salary, she has seemed passive and disengaged in her comments on the show, failing to generate the kind of fan following that Lopez had when she judged.



By contrast, Minaj has turned into "Idol's" sharp-tongued firebrand, especially seated next to more vanilla judge Keith Urban and stalwart Randy Jackson. Nonetheless, internal Fox research is said to show that Minaj is not a hit with some of the show's audience.

"The core viewer is a midwestern, Southern, older woman who is threatened by Nicki’s aggressiveness," says one knowledgeable source.





Producers are said to have pushed for the pairing of Carey and Minaj, thinking it would provide for a panel of diverse opinions and make for good TV if they were in conflict. But "Idol" insiders fear the dynamic has turned off some loyal fans.

Since producers backed off their plan to shake up the show mid-season, attention is said to have already turned to next season. A source who has been approached as a possible judge replacement tells THR that "Idol" producers are looking for “not necessarily a star” to join the show.

That might include a music professional with strong credentials.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...replace-444869