Sources connected to "American Idol" have confirmed that Jennifer Lopez will joining the long-in-the-tooth singing competition as a judge, reports TMZ. The singer-actress-diva (who earned good buzz as a guest mentor in previous seasons) would replace Kara DioGuardi on the judge's panel, which has also lost both the iconically acerbic Simon Cowell and the underwhelming Ellen DeGeneres. Lopez is reportedly signing on for just one year in a deal worth "a little more than $12 million," TMZ says. Is J-Lo worth that much? (Watch a local report about the J-Lo rumor)
Yes, "Idol" needs Lopez's star power: "American Idol" is on the skids, says Gerrick D. Kennedy at the Los Angeles Times, and Jennifer Lopez has what it takes to "breathe life into the show" as it enters its 10th season. Lopez is a "bit more eloquent" than Paula Abdul, but like the longtime former "Idol" judge she's a singer with the "total package" — catchy hooks, edgy looks, and awesome videos. Plus, even if her own vocal talents are far from extraordinary, she is, "after all, a pop idol, the very thing the show is searching for."
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