jennifer lopez not leaving idol: reports

“Idol” Denies Plans to Replace Carey with J.Lo

Faltering ratings may have had the producers of “American Idol” considering some desperate measures.

Although producers are vehemently denying it, there is plenty of buzz on the street in Hollywood that there was serious consideration given to the idea to bump singer Mariah Carey as one of the show’s judges in favor of having Jennifer Lopez return in that same position.

Allegedly, Carey got wind that she was about to be unceremoniously dumped from the show and she used some considerable legal clout to get the producers to see the error of their ways.

Although officials at Fox deny that any plan to trade one celebrity judge for another was ever in place, they are hinting that J.Lo may be invited back to her old “Idol” stomping grounds to make a special appearance for the end of the season finale. A spokesman for the show said the dump Carey rumor likely got started when someone overheard that Lopez was being invited back to the show.

Now in its 12th season, “American Idol” has been getting stiff competition from “The Big Bang Theory” as well as “The Voice.” Many critics say that Mariah Carey isn’t a strong enough presence to draw additional viewers.

On The Web:

Fox denies ‘Idol’ scheme to dump Mariah Carey for Jennifer Lopez
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-fox-denies-idol-scheme-to-dump-mariah-carey-for-jennifer-lopez-20130424,0,4858125.story