Fox, Howard Stern Talking Idol

Comic blames bad fit; show now has 2 judging vacancies

(AP) - Ellen DeGeneres is dancing off American Idol after one season, leaving Fox's hit show with two vacancies on its judging panel. If the singing contest intends to revamp itself to stem a ratings slide, it has the opportunity to bring in two new faces for Season 10, which starts in January. Fox has yet to announce a replacement for Simon Cowell, who left after the season finale in May to start a new talent show for the network. More»

But O'Brien still keeping his options open

(NEWSER) - After stalling for two weeks, Conan O’Brien’s talks with Fox have resumed, and certain details make it look as if a deal is imminent. Updates, from the Hollywood Reporter :

• Conveniently enough, O’Brien’s comedy tour has a performance scheduled every day between May 13 and 20—except May 17, which just so happens to be the date of Fox’s upfront presentation.
• O’Brien was invited to participate in Fox’s American Idol special “Idol Gives Back” on April 21, but NBC shot that idea down since O’Brien’s settlement does not allow for any TV appearances until May 1.

Cowell writes off Howard Stern, endorses blogger Hilton

(NEWSER) - If you were hoping to hear Howard Stern’s bleep-filled tirades on American Idol next season, sorry: Simon Cowell says the shock jock is an unlikely pick to replace him as a judge. He also calls Madonna (who knew she was in the running?) a “pipe dream,” saying she wouldn’t have enough time for the gig. Who could potentially handle the job, though? Get excited: Cowell says Perez Hilton “could work.” More»

New judge DeGeneres doesn't hold back on American Idol

(NEWSER) - Ellen DeGeneres flashed the humor many expected of her in tonight’s screen debut as an American Idol judge—and beforehand got off a shot at departing fellow judge Simon Cowell, saying the acerbic Brit is “actually meaner than I thought.” That tidbit comes via a video on the Fox show’s site ; the daytime talk-show host succeeded in “establishing what seems like a good-natured, jokey tension between the two new co-workers,” Gil Kaufman writes for MTV . More»

Senator-elect appeals to Simon Cowell on daughter's behalf

(NEWSER) - Scott Brown thought Simon Cowell's 2006 critique of daughter Ayla's performance on American Idol was "kind of harsh," but he'd still like the Fox impresario to give his offspring another chance. "Ayla actually respects Simon greatly about his critiquing," the senator-elect from Massachusetts told Barbara Walters in an interview that aired today on ABC 's This Week. "If you actually listen to what he says" about the then-17-year-old, whom Cowell called "robotic," says her dad, "it was right" More»