True story: none of us, neither Kaiser, Bedhead nor I, really wanted to cover this story and we passed it back and forth a little until I landed on it. I don’t mind too much, it’s just tiring and predictable to listen to two divas argue. Plus I don’t like to parse out arguments, which is why we’re kind of ignoring all the Real Housewives stuff lately. There’s a point when it gets personal and nasty and no longer seems scripted or fun. That’s where I’m at with this Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey feud on the set of Idol and the show hasn’t even started yet!

Apparently Nicki and Mariah got into during the auditions in Charlotte, North Carolina yesterday and there’s video. (Above) Mariah must have said something to piss off Nicki, because Nicki really goes off on her, while Mariah just goes “why?” and kind of groans.

Here’s the story, thanks to TMZ:

Nicki Minaj derailed the “American Idol” auditions in Charlotte, North Carolina Tuesday, after swearing at Mariah Carey and threatening, “I’m gonna knock you out” … sources tell TMZ.

In the footage, obtained by TMZ, Nicki is clearly furious … shouting, “I told them I’m not f*ckin’ putting up with her f**kin’ highness over there.”

Sources say Nicki later threatened to “knock out” Mariah … but she said it before the video starts.

It all went down while the two were sitting at the judge’s table … with Keith Urban sitting in between them and Randy Jackson sitting on the far end, next to Mariah.

We’re told the whole thing exploded over a disagreement over a contestant’s performance.

Listen closely as you play the video … you’ll hear

Nicki Get this s**t in self control. Get in control. Get in control.
Randy Settle down, settle down
Nicki Don’t lose your head. Don’t lose your head (inaudible). Don’t tell me I’m a gangster.
Nicki (inaudible) every 5 minutes. So every time you patronize me, I’m-ma take it back, and if you’ve got a f**king problem, handle it.
Nicki I told them I’m not f**kin’ putting up with her f**king highness over there. Figure it the f**k out. Figure it out.
Nicki I’m not gonna sit here every f**king minute to have you come down and harass me every minute everyday.

[From TMZ]

Last week, US Weekly reported that the whole “feud” between Mariah and Nicki on Idol was planted by producers for ratings. A source told US that “The whole Mariah and Nicki beef is completely untrue. It’s just a desperate attempt to boost ratings.” I’m believing that this happened, and that Nicki flew off the handle at Mariah. Mariah did tweet “whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy” around that time, and then deleted it. This could be a put-on, although TMZ is reporting that “Big wigs on the show seem uncharacteristically upset by the blow up.” They’re also said to have suspended filming for the day, which must have been very expensive. They wouldn’t do that if the argument was fake. Maybe their master plan to stir up controversy between Nicki and Mariah just blew up in their faces. These two egos can’t exist in the same room and while it might be good for ratings it’s probably going to end up a disaster behind the scenes.

It’s also strange to me that they have four judges again. The last time they did that was with Kara DioGuardi, and then Ellen Degeneres in 2010, right? It always seemed awkward with four judges on the panel. I can’t believe they’re holding on to Randy Jackson, but maybe he’s insurance in case something like this happens.

Nicki Minaj is shown on 9-24-12. Credit: FameFlynet. Mariah Carey is shown on 9-7 and 9-8-12. Credit: WENN.com

Janet Jackson has issued a statement on her website from lawyers for the faction of Michael Jackson’s siblings who are still working to have his will declared invalid. For those of you keeping score at home, that’s Janet, Randy and Rebbie. Jermaine and Tito used to be on their side, but both have since joined the “this is crazy” camp for whatever reasons. Their lawyers claim that Michael’s siblings are just concerned about the current executors and want to make sure that the guardianship and will are settled “in a manner that is in the best interests of the children.” This is what Randy tried to claim a couple of weeks ago, but he’s of course half a million in debt and tried to get the estate to pay his child support. Here’s part of the statement:

Since the loss of Michael, Janet, Randy, and Rebbie’s principal concern has been and continues to be for the safety and well-being of Michael’s children, their mother Katherine Jackson, and the entire family. Unfortunately, those people have been harmed by the actions of the executors of Michael’s estate…

The negative media campaign generated by the executors and their agents has been relentless. In recent weeks, the media has received preposterous reports – all now proven to be false – of a purported kidnapping of Katherine Jackson and of physical and verbal abuse of a child. The executors and their agents also recently issued a notice barring Janet, Randy, and Rebbie from visiting their 82 year old mother and Michael’s children. The effect of that notice not only is to damage fundamental family relationships, it is also to isolate Katherine Jackson from anyone questioning the validity of Michael’s will.

It is important to stress that Janet, Randy and Rebbie have questioned the validity of the will with no financial motive whatsoever – they stand to gain nothing financially by a finding that the will is invalid… Michael’s children will be the beneficiaries of Michael’s estate. What will be gained by a finding of invalidity is that the executors will be replaced and the estate and the guardianship will be managed in a manner that is in the best interests of the children, which is what Michael wanted. The individuals who have the most to lose by a finding that the will is invalid are, of course, the executors and those on the executors’ payroll.

Janet, Randy and Rebbie will continue to press forward in their search for the truth in order to carry out the wishes of their brother Michael.

[From JanetJackson.com via Starpulse]

I have a feeling these three are going to be wholly unsuccessful. And if they just have the best interests of the children at heart, why did they try to ambush them at home, and why has Janet only seen them a handful of times since their father died? Janet may not have slapped or “verbally abused” Paris, but there’s video of her trying to swipe Paris’ cell phone. That’s not “best interests,” that’s damage control for Paris’ tweets. Also, it might be true that Katherine wasn’t “kidnapped” per se, but she admitted in court that her cell phone and iPad were taken away and that the phone and television in her hotel room were both disabled.

Meanwhile TMZ reports that Katherine isn’t going to press charges against her children for the little vacation they forced her on without allowing her to contact the grandchildren she was supposed to be caring for. Her lawyer issued a statement suggesting that Katherine wasn’t too pleased about it, though. He told TMZ “This chapter of chaos is closed and we are supportive of family unity in spite of recent events and arguably poor decisions.” Decisions that Janet, Randy and Rebbie are sticking with come hell or high water.

Paris recently posted a photo on Istagram of a mural of Michael Jackson pictures behind her bed. She tweeted that it took her three hours. That’s sweet.

Rebbie Jackson:

Janet is shown at the Amfar Gala on 5-24-12. Rebbie is shown on 11-12-11.

As you know, Tito’s son TJ Jackson, 34, was appointed temporary guardian of Michael’s three children after their grandmother Katherine disappeared for a week while under the care of some of her adult children. Katherine eventually returned, and she reportedly plans to file paperwork, in cooperation with TJ, for shared custody. (Along with presumably some of the massive cash that comes from Michael Jackson’s estate to provide for his children. A reported $86k a month.)

During Katherine’s “vacation,” there was an altercation between Janet, Randy and Micheal’s kids when Janet and Randy came to pick up the kids and bring them to Arizona to be with Katherine. The kids refused to go, their security team backed them up, and the whole incident showed just how far some members of the Jackson family were willing to go to control Micheal’s money. Well now Janet, Randy, Rebbie and Jermaine – the whole faction of Jacksons who are questioning the validity of Michael’s will and want to overthrow the estate’s executors – have been banned from the property, at TJ’s request. Here’s more, thanks to ETOnline:

Attorneys for the estate of Michael Jackson have confirmed to ET that Janet, Randy, Rebbie and Jermaine Jackson are currently prohibited from entering the Calabasas home shared by Paris, Prince, Blanket and Katherine Jackson.

Charles Shultz, an attorney for TJ Jackson, Jr. (who is temporarily sharing guardianship of Michael Jackson’s children with Katherine) helped to compile the list of persons no longer allowed on the Jackson family property in Calabasas– namely Janet, Randy, Rebbie and Jermaine Jackson.

In a statement to ET, attorneys for Michael Jackson’s estate write:

“Following the events of July 23 in which certain members of the Jackson family showed up unannounced at the Calabasas residence of Michael Jackson’s mother and children, causing a very public disturbance, the attorneys for the Estate of Michael Jackson as lessees of the house were requested by Charles Schultz, attorney for TJ Jackson, Jr., the newly appointed Temporary Guardian for Michael Jackson’s children, to send a list to the security gate of people neither TJ or the children wanted allowed on the premises in view of the incidents that had just taken place. The list may be amended and managed by TJ Jackson Jr. or the Estate when appropriate. It is imperative to the Estate that from this point forward a safe and appropriate environment be provided for Michael Jackson’s children and his mother.”

This comes just weeks after a relative reported Katherine Jackson missing, which heightened the ongoing dispute over the validity of Michael Jackson’s will — which leaves everything in the pop star’s lucrative estate to Katherine and his children. Five of Michael’s siblings recently claimed that Michael’s will was fake and they have demanded that the executors of his estate should resign.

The estate denies the allegations, which first emerged shortly after Michael Jackson died in June 2009 from an overdose of a powerful anesthetic.

[From ETOnline]

This is far from over. This isn’t just TMZ reporting that some Jacksons are barred from the home, as per an insider source, this is an official statement from the estate sending a clear message: back off.

Did you hear what Gladys Knight said about the incident in which Paris Jackson refused to let aunt Janet take away her cell phone? She said “I would think it’s a good thing [Janet] lets Paris know who she is. If [Paris] called me that, she would have no teeth. That’s how we were brought up. You respect your elders.” So she’s advocating hitting a 14 year-old girl in response to the girl swearing? I hope Gladys is basing her opinion on press reports and isn’t a close friend of Janet’s or anything. That’s despicable.

Meanwhile, Katherine is said to be “furious” with Randy for orchestrating the challenge of the will and trying to overthrow the executors. Randy is said to be the ringleader, and to have convinced Janet to join him along with Rebbie and Jermaine. (It’s allegedly not about money for Janet, but I doubt it.) Katherine didn’t realize what Randy and company were up to while she was holed up in Arizona, and is very upset that they tried to do it without her knowledge. She also is said to have told Randy to make sure this drama stays out of the press. Good luck with that. It’s not Paris’ fault for tweeting at all, someone else is putting this out there.

Oh and the judge presiding over the guardianship case for the Jackson children has called for an investigation into their care. It’s uncertain whether TJ and Katherine will be allowed to share custody, although they plan to request it.

Janet and Randy are shown outside court last fall. Janet is shown alone on 5-24-12. Credit: PCNPhotos, FameFlynet and WENN.com

Another day, more countless stories in the latest Jackson family saga. As you know, matriarch Katherine Jackson, 82, went ‘missing’ and was separated from her grandchildren for over a week. Four of Michael’s siblings are challenging his will, the same four who took Katherine to Arizona for a ‘rest.’ MJ’s children are upset that their grandmother is gone, and they refused to leave their home after a confrontation with aunt Janet, and uncles Jermaine and Randy on Monday.

The latest news is that Katherine has spoken out to the press to deny that she was missing. (video is above) She claimed, unconvincingly, that it was her idea to give up her phone for a week. She’s also been stripped of guardianship of the children, and the $86,000 a month that the MJ estate pays her for that, after a judge issued a temporary order to appoint Tito’s 34 year-old son, TJ, guardian. Here’s a breakdown of the major developments.

Katherine says she’s fine and that the trip was her choice
Katherine made a prepared statement to ABC news from the Miraval spa in Arizona where she’s been staying. She was flanked by her daughters Rebbie and Janet, her son Jermaine, Rebbie’s daughter, and a spa employee. The ABC journalist was not allowed to ask a single question. Katherine said that she’s not being held against her will, that she willingly gave up her phone, and that her assistant kept in touch with the children while she was away.

Katherine claims that the handover of guardianship is “based on lies”
Katherine is of course upset to lose guardianship, and claims the handover is “based on lies.” She seems to think it’s some kind of plot against her, and given all that’s going on with this family it may well be. She also said that someone fired the cook, the housekeepers, and the nanny while she was away. You can read her full statement here, and a video is here and above. She says she’s returning to be with her grandchildren. Radar claims Katherine won’t be returning to the rental home where she was living with her grandchildren and will be staying at “The Jackson family compound in Encino.”

According to Paris’ most recent tweets, Katherine has returned to the rental home in Calabasas where she was previously living with the children. It’s unclear if she will be staying there.

Katherine called grandchildren yesterday, sounded “drunk,” tried to replace their security team with Janet’s staff
Katherine placed a call to her grandchildren yesterday. TMZ has her calling twice, at 2am and 4am Wednesday morning. Radar doesn’t have a time frame, but also claims that Katherine sounded drugged or drunk, which is concerning since she’s a Jehovah’s Witness and they don’t drink alcohol. (At least they’re not supposed to get drunk or something.)

Radar’s source says that “When Paris spoke to Katherine last night she sounded like she was drunk. Paris repeatedly asked her, are you ok, and Mrs. Jackson was slurring her words. I was told that it appears that Katherine was given alcohol during the time she was staying at Miraval, and remember, it was stated in court today that she had recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Katherine is extremely upset and distraught to learn that she lost custody of the children, but is hopeful she will be re-instated as their legal guardian very shortly.”

TMZ claims Katherine called the house and tried to replace the children’s security team with Janet’s staff. Ridiculous. Here’s their story. (Update: Trent is Katherine’s nephew.)

Sources involved in the situation tell TMZ … people in the house were “alarmed and nervous” after hearing Katherine sounding heavily drugged.

In addition to attempting to 86 the security team, Katherine ordered Trent Jackson off the property. You may recall, Jackson’s security — and Trent in particular — thwarted Monday’s attempt by Randy, Jermaine and Janet to take the kids to Arizona.

Our sources say the prevailing view is that Randy and company have drugged their mom.

[From TMZ]

MJ’s kids and his three brothers who aren’t in on the scheme aren’t buying it
As we heard yesterday, Tito, Marlon and Jackie do not agree with the way that Jermaine, Randy, Janet and Rebbie have contested the will. They’re extremely concerned that they’ve been blocked from contacting their mother while she’s been in the care of their siblings. Paris recently retweeted a message from her uncle Marlon:
“I’m tired of not knowing where my mom is. I did speak with her last night but she didn’t sound like herself. I was told by Janet, Randy and Jermaine that I could not see my mom. Doctor’s order. But I see them on television with her. How come they could not call me so I could be with her as well.”

Katherine is back with her grandchildren, but may not earn guardianship back
Paris tweeted at about 11:50 pm PST that her grandmother was back. So I guess we can assume she’s returning to the rental home with her grandchildren, although it’s hard to tell what’s going on.

As for what’s next now that a temporary guardian has been appointed in Katherine’s place, TMZ claims that this whole plot to gain control of Katherine and contest the will may have backfired, because Katherine stands to lose all the perks she was getting from the estate for caring for the kids. (E! has child support at $86k a month, but TMZ claims she doesn’t get that money directly, just the ‘perks,’) Here’s their story:

The judge is now in position to strip Katherine of guardianship altogether. If that happens, the executors will almost certainly petition the court to funnel the money in TJ’s direction, since he would be caring for the children.

Katherine never had control of the money for the kids, but she enjoys a lot of the perks the kids get, and that goes away if she loses guardianship. She would still, of course, retain the allowance he personally receives from the Estate.

Short story … Randy, Jermaine, Janet and Rebbie set out to turn Katherine against the estate so she could get more money during her lifetime — money she could dole out to them — but the plot may have actually screwed Katherine.

[From TMZ]

Also, 84 year-old Joe is back! He came in from Vegas to stay in the Encino compound, not the home where the kids are living in Calabasas. I can’t with this family. This is outrageous. Janet, Rebbie, Jermaine and Randy should be ashamed of themselves. This is all about money, and it’s hard to see otherwise at all.

These photos are from April, 2012, and July and November, 2011. Credit: WENN.com

We haven’t covered this story yet as it’s complicated, there are a lot of different versions floating around, and I was hoping it would be resolved without incident. Not so much. As you may have heard over the weekend, Michael Jackson’s mom Katherine, 82, went “missing” for over a week. Katherine is the primary caregiver for Michael’s three children: Prince, 15, Paris, 14, and Blanket, 10. A missing person’s report was filed on Katherine, an investigation ensued and has since been closed. Jermaine issued a statement that Katherine was resting in Arizona with her daughter, Rebbie, “following doctor’s orders to rest-up and de-stress, away from phones and computers.” Paris tweeted late Monday that she hadn’t spoken to her grandmother in 8 days and that “something is really off , this isn’t like her at all.”

Radar claims that the idea to whisk Katherine off for a week at “a spa” was Janet’s idea, who felt that the situation at home was too stressful for Katherine. TMZ confirms that the “chaos” at the house led to Katherine’s removal, but more than that Michael’s siblings want to challenge his will, which leaves 20% to Katherine and virtually nothing to them. E! has an article outlining all that’s at stake in this, and what would happen if Katherine was removed as the children’s guardian.

Meanwhile Michael’s children have a security team and are being cared for by a nanny. On Monday Jermaine, Randy and Janet went to Katherine’s Calabasas home in an attempt to remove the children, but security guards blocked them, Prince refused to go and the cops were called. The kids still haven’t spoken to their grandmother, according to Paris’ most recent tweets. However, paparazzi agency X17 claims that the children knew Katherine was leaving. They also have a photo of her playing Uno with family. Here’s more on the latest, thanks to Radar:

Jermaine, Randy and Janet Jackson have been barred from their mother Katherine’s Calabasas home after attempting to remove their brother Michael’s three children from the house on Monday, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.

The situation adds to the ongoing drama with the Jackson family, as Katherine has been in Arizona for more than a week and hasn’t spoken to her grandchildren, of whom she is the legal guardian. “It was just total chaos when Jermaine, Randy and Janet descended on the house.

“Randy was telling Prince Michael he had to leave with them and that he had a private jet chartered to take them all to Arizona to see Katherine. Prince firmly held his ground and told Randy he wasn’t going anywhere with them. The security detail prevented the three of them from taking the kids out of state. The cops had to be called and Janet kept saying they had a legal right to be at the house when in fact they don’t. The rental house is in the name of Michael Jackson’s estate, so they were told to leave immediately. For the time being, they won’t be allowed to come back to the rental house and guards at the security gate have been told under no circumstances are they to allow them in. Paris was absolutely hysterical and kept telling her uncles to just bring her grandmother home,” a source close to the situation tells RadarOnline.com.

“The plan to take the kids out of the house was going to be a publicity stunt. The kids were going to be paraded into the house in Arizona where Katherine is staying and those photos would be published on a website favored by Randy Jackson.”

As previously reported Janet was behind Katherine’s removal from her home to Arizona, after becoming adamant that her mom needed bed rest and to be checked out by an independent doctor. And a source has revealed that Katherine is doing just fine.

“Katherine is very well,” a family member told RadarOnline.com. “Janet was behind the whole thing – she felt that Katherine needed medical help and was desperate for her to get some bed rest.”

“Michael’s children are being cared for by their nanny and legal options are being explored about ensuring their safety. The children are very, very smart and they are surrounded by excellent bodyguards that won’t allow anything unsavory to happen to them. The kids just want their grandmother back, and want the family drama to end. Now that Paris and Prince are old enough, they understand why Michael didn’t have much of a relationship with anyone in the family except for Katherine,” the source says.

[From Radar Online]

What a mess this is, and how unfair it is to the kids. They lost their dad, and now their aunts and uncles are trying to take their grandmother from them in order to get their mitts on their late dad’s money. They’ve been placed in a very tough spot, and good for them for standing their ground. From the interviews I’ve seen with Paris, she comes across as very mature and even humble. I hope those kids stick together and refuse to be manipulated. They should inherit their dad’s money as he intended, but obviously their relatives want it for themselves.

As for Katherine’s health, she was at “a spa” not a hospital. Paris tweeted some insight about her grandmother’s condition. “the same doctor that testified on behalf of dr murray saying my father was a drug addict (a lie) is caring for my grandmother… just saying.” What kind of doctor cuts their patient off from a phone or Internet for over a week? Who prevents their own mother from contacting the kids she’s supposed to be caring for? Maybe I’m wrong, maybe there’s more going on behind the scenes than we know, but it looks like a money grab from here.

These photos are from 1-26-12. Credit: WENN.com and FameFlynet

Just minutes ago, Ryan Seacrest announced the final three judges of this next season of American Idol. The line-up is what everyone expected: Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, and Randy Jackson. You know what? With those three, I’m going to call it: someone is going to end up pregnant, someone is going to end up overdosing, and someone is going to end up eating a sandwich. Seriously, though, J.Lo will get pegged as “the bitch” or “The Simon” but something tells me Steven Tyler has an inner bitch just dying to get out, and might give J.Lo a run for her money. We’ll see…

It’s official! Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler will be joining Randy Jackson at the judges’ table when American Idol kicks off season 10 in January.

“I’m looking for the next Michael Jackson,” Lopez said before a screaming crowd at the Los Angeles Forum after Ryan Seacrest introduced her. “We’re looking for the best American Idol ever.”

The announcement was made during a live press conference Wednesday. Seacrest hosted the event, telling the crowd, “We are looking for the next star in music. We usually ask, who will be the next American Idol? We never asked this question, who will be the next judges on American Idol?”

Seacrest then introduced Randy Jackson, who told the crowd, “We found some unbelievable talent and I am calling season 10 the remix, baby!”

Up next, Tyler was introduced as a “rock legend.” The Aerosmith frontman said joining the Idol family feels “fabulous.”

“[It] feels like the perfect feathered nest,” he said. “It’s being a part of something much bigger than yourself. I want to bring some rock to this roller coaster.”

Lopez, who dressed in a silver pant suit, was the last to be introduced.

“I love you guys. I am so excited,” she told the crowd that included Idol hopefuls, there to try out for the show. “It is about concentrating in the moment, do the best you can. Just live! Just live, it’s your moment.”

The announcement comes with little surprise. In weeks leading up to the decision, sources told PEOPLE Lopez signed the deal worth $12 million. And Tyler himself said he would “probably” be a judge when the show returned in the winter.

[From People]

Well, that’s done. Now we don’t have to listen to any more bitchy tabloid stories about Jennifer right? Oh, wait. That’s the only reason she got hired – so that she’ll create scandals and give Idol more press, because even bad press is good press. I hope the battle royale comes down between Jennifer and La Seacrest. Wouldn’t that be amazing? I think Jennifer would win, hands down. She would slap the sh-t out of him and then sit on him, crushing his tiny body. *fingers crossed*

Now that we’ve heard that Jennifer Lopez probably won’t be joining the judges on Idol, allegedly due to her ever-increasing and hard to meet demands, there’s speculation on who will take that spot on the panel. Shania Twain’s name is being mentioned, with Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson rumored to be filling the other two seats. I remember Shania on the show last year and she was great with the contestants and was even brought to tears by an emotional performance of one her songs. (Video of that is below.) She would be a great choice for an empathic, caring judge. Here’s more:

“American Idol” sources tell TMZ … the Jennifer Lopez deal isn’t dead yet, but if it does flatline … “Idol’s” next choice is country star Shania Twain.

Shania was a hit on “Idol” this past season when she served as guest judge and mentor.

We’re told Shania is Plan B.

[From TMZ]

I have a suggestion for a new judge on Idol – Usher! I was impressed with how much he knew about music during his guest mentoring gig and he gave some very good advice. They should ditch Randy and get a whole new panel of well known and established musicians.

There’s a lot of other AI gossip and we’ll report some of it here, but first I’d like to cover this photo that Kaiser pointed me to that Jennifer Lopez recently posted on Twitter. She wrote “Hmmm… what should I wear today?” to go along with this picture. Is she making a joke and/or trying to show us that she’s rolling in it and doesn’t need make more demands? I think the answer is “a little of A, a little of B.”

Lopez also posted this photo last week, and wrote “Everyone on set tonight is calling me “Bronx Barbie”!” Yes, she’s full of herself.

Meanwhile Kara DioGuardi’s dad, a Republican candidate for a US Senate seat in NY, is telling outlets that his daughter was never officially fired from Idol. He said “Would you believe, that she did not hear, and still has not heard anything? She read it the way you did and I did… Her disappointment is that’s the way she’s been treated, and she feels that’s not proper… I think what they’re trying to do is create buzz.” He added that his daughter is an executive VP at Warner Brothers and will be fine even if she’s not asked to stay on AI, as she’s hoping.

And Mike Walker reports in the National Enquirer this week that Ellen DeGeneres didn’t resign from Idol as she claimed, but was fired and given permission to issue a statement making it seem like she left on her own accord. Walker even claims that Ellen “agreed to lower her salary,” but quotes a source who says “they hated her on the show and simply wanted her gone. She begged them to let her handle the announcement her way, and they agreed.” There is so much damn drama over this show!

Here’s Shania on Idol last season. Big Mike’s performance of her song brings her to tears.

And Usher on Idol:

In the wake of Simon Cowell’s departure from Fox’s monster hit, “American Idol,” the show’s producers seem to be scrambling to make the show relevant. Last season’s Ellen Degeneres experiment was an epic fail, and no one seems to be more aware of this than Ellen herself. Ellen announced yesterday that she is not coming back as a judge on the show, citing work conflicts and her inability to say negative things about any of the contestants.

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who became a full-time judge on the show during its ninth season, is bowing out of the series, PEOPLE has learned.

“A couple months ago, I let FOX and the American Idol producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” she says in a statement. “I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for.”

DeGeneres adds, “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.”
In the same statement, Idol creator and executive producer Simon Fuller says, “I loved Ellen’s passion for the artists and her nurturing skills. She brought honesty and optimism to our judging panel and I will miss her greatly.”

Peter Rice, the FOX entertainment chairman, says, “We love Ellen and understand and support her decision to bow out of Idol. We were fortunate to receive the humor, energy and love for talent that she brought to the show.”

A longtime fan of Idol, DeGeneres signed on to replace Paula Abdul after Abdul Tweeted about her departure in August 2009. “I’m going to have a day job and a night job,” DeGeneres said at the time. “This is exciting for me.”

In January, Cowell announced he was leaving to concentrate on bringing his U.K. hit The X Factor to the U.S

Well, that didn’t last long. I have to applaud Ellen for realizing that she’s not really cut out for the job. Her presence on the show did nothing for the ratings, and even when the contestants sucked really bad, she couldn’t bring herself to tell them the truth. It also looks like much-hated judge Kara DioGuardi won’t be back at the judge’s table next season, either- but in her case, she didn’t bow out voluntarily. Both TMZ and Deadline Hollywood are reporting that the songwriter has been fired, and that the show is returning to a three-judge format. Rumored to be replacing Kara and Ellen? Jennifer Lopez and…wait for it… Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler!

We’ve just learned the backstory of how Ellen DeGeneres bowed out of American Idol and who will be the new judge taking her place. It’s Jennifer Lopez, whose singing and acting career has been on the skids after her recent movie failed at the box office in the spring and she was dropped by her record company Sony Music Epic Records this past winter. We hear her manager Benny Medina (whom she once fired) orchestrated the meeting with the American Idol producers a month ago, and negotiations have been ongoing ever since. We’ve learned a deal was closed earlier this week under the utmost secrecy. Today’s news came shortly after Nigel Lythgoe returned to Idol as an executive producer. He has vowed to shake up the show’s team of judges in the wake of the departure of Simon Cowell, publicly stating that he always thought a panel of three and not 4 made the most sense.

Still to be decided is who will replace Simon Cowell. Everyone associated with the show wants Elton John, but we hear he’s asking for too much money and has too many touring commitments he can’t get out of.

2ND UPDATE: Tonight, unconfirmed reports say Idol has offered Cowell’s judge seat to Steven Tyler. 3RD UPDATE: And another unconfirmed report claimed judge Kara DioGuardi has been fired to bring the panel count down to just 3, not 4.

As for Ellen Degeneres, we’re told she wanted off the show two months ago and complained that Idol producers “couldn’t control Cowell”, one insider tells us. Least of all Cecile Frot-Coutaz, the CEO of FremantleMedia North America. “Cecile is doing X Factor with Simon, so she’s in his back pocket.” DeGeneres and her reps went in to to see Fox Broadcasting’s Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice and Alternative TV President Mike Darnell and asked to be let out of the year left on her contract. “She’s not comfortable. She’s not happy. It’s not been fun,” Fox was told. But Rice and Darnell responded that, with Cowell leaving, “We can’t let you out now because it would be bad for our franchise. Give us a chance to figure out who we could get.” In the end, all the show’s producers — Fox, Fremantle, and 19 Entertainment — worked it out. “Peter Rice was awesome,” an insider tells us. “Ellen is thrilled and relieved.” We’ve learned that serious conversations took place between Idol and Jessica Simpson to replace Ellen. But once Jennifer Lopez was locked in this week, the DeGeneres announcement went out.

…Her replacement JLo badly needs this high-profile boost to her flagging career. The actress had many hits with Sony Music Epic Records, so it was a shock within the recording industry when her longtime label dumped her.

[From Deadline Hollywood]

The J.Lo story doesn’t surprise me all that much – she’s just desperate enough to take this gig in hopes of reviving her music career. But Steven Tyler? Really? Not only does the guy not need the money, but last time I checked, he was kind of a hot mess and is barely out of rehab. But he would probably be a lot of fun to watch. The big question is, can either of them fill the “mean judge” shoes left empty by Simon? The show won’t work without a judge who tells the contestants the brutal truth. I don’t think surviving judge Randy Jackson is up for the job- dawg can barely string more than two or three words together. The big rumor in Hollywood is that J.Lo is a raving bitch, but will she be willing to bare the claws on national TV? I don’t think so. But at least the addition of two people who actually have experience in the music industry is a step up.

Update: This story originated with GossipCop.

Header: Jennifer Lopez on June 15, 2010. Credit: WENN.

It looks like those rumors last month that British judge Simon Cowell might be leaving “American Idol” are true. Reports are coming in that the show’s producers are already making plans for Cowell’s departure after this season. Idol producers are supposedly downplaying Simon’s presence on the show this season, opting instead to focus more on the contestants and new judge Ellen Degeneres.

‘Idol’ Is Downsizing Simon

Sources tell me that producers of ‘American Idol’ have a plan on how to make sure the show survives if Mr. Simon Cowell does in fact leave at the end of this upcoming season.

“Expect to see less and less of Simon this season. The focus is going to be back on the contestants and less on Simon’s harsh criticisms of them,” an insider tells me. “They also will be spending more time focusing on Ellen once she gets through her first few weeks live from Hollywood.”

That might not be such a bad idea. Watching millionaires make fun of kids’ appearances and laughing when they leave the room feels is so last century to me. After all, many shows have not only survived hosts leaving — they have thrived. (Katie Couric, anyone?)

FOX, never one to beat around the bush, tells me: “FOX has no comment.”

The brilliant Adam Hanft, CEO of marketing firm Hanft Projects, agrees. “Ideas outlast their hosts. It was and is true for the ‘Tonight Show’ and ‘The Today Show’ and it’s proved true for ’60 Minutes.’

[From PopEater]

Randy Jackson spilled some beans on the upcoming season in an interview with Billboard magazine. But the “Dawg” remains skeptical on Simon’s departure. Yeah, like anyone tells Randy what’s going on.

Though DeGeneres won’t be part of the “Idol” judging process until the Jan. 12 premiere on Fox, Jackson expects her to be a “fun” addition to the show. He adds that he and returning judges Simon Cowell and Kara DioGuardi enjoyed having guest judges for the regional auditions in June and July and call-backs in August and September, a corps that included Mary J. Blige, Joe Jonas, Shania Twain, Katy Perry, Avril Lavigne, the Spice Girls’ Victoria Beckham, Neil Patrick Harris and Kristin Chenoweth.

“They all really did their thing,” Jackson recalls. “Of course, Mary J. Blige was really amazing. I was impressed with Joe Jonas; I didn’t really know how he would be, but he was great. Shania was brilliant…Even Neil Patrick Harris and Kristin Chenoweth, who were both from the theater world, were really amazing and had great things to say.”

Jackson was also surprised by what he heard in front of the judges table during the audition process. “I think generally what happens is whoever wins that season, you get more and more of that. But this season’s a little different. I would’ve thought you’d have a trillion Adam Lamberts show up, or a trillion Kris Allens. But that’s not what happened. It was very interesting. This is a whole different bunch.”

Jackson says he’ll miss Paula Abdul this year — “She started this thing with us. It’s a sad thing…not to have her there.” — but noted that DioGuardi seems more comfortable after having an “Idol” year under her belt. “I think she’s got a different grasp on understanding what it is and what happens and how to do it,” he says. “It’s one of those things, like golf or tennis; it looks easy on the outside, then when you try and actually hit the ball you go, ‘Whoa, OK, it’s a little different than what I thought.’ But, yeah, she’s having a good time.”

As for rumors about Cowell leaving “Idol” to bring his British “X-Factor” to the U.S., Jackson says that “I won’t believe it ’til I see it. I haven’t spoken to him about it. You just never really know; there are a lot of alleged things going on, but who knows, right? We’ll see what happens.”

[From Billboard]

I think we’re witnessing the beginning of the end of American Idol. While the departure of Paula Abdul was probably a good thing- the woman was strung out on some kind of chemical and could barely utter a sentence half the time – the addition of Kara DioGuardi and the loss of Simon might be too much for the show to recover. At the end of the day, the show should be all about finding the best talent, but even that aspect is becoming increasingly mediocre. Isn’t last year’s winner, Kriss Allen, pretty much a watered-down version of John Mayer? I predict that this year’s ratings will be high, at first, and then plummet as the season goes on. People will tune in to see Ellen Degeneres debut as a judge, but quickly lose interest.

Simon Cowell in London on December 13, 2009. Credit: WENN.

Former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice is enjoying quite the media blitz post-job. She’s taken a turn as a sports writer, and appeared on several talk shows- even proclaimed her love for rock music, saying her favorite band is Led Zeppelin. For years, she rubbed elbows with the most powerful leaders in the world, and now, she’s holding court with pop culture icons all over Hollywood. One of those is “American Idol” judge, Randy “Dawg” Jackson. The former Journey bass player and Rice had a secret meeting back in March, at Rice’s request, to discuss music.

Former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice thinks Randy Jackson is top dawg!

When the classically trained pianist, 54, was in L.A. for her March 24 appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, she arranged to meet the American Idol judge, 52, for a private sit-down at the Beverly Wilshire hotel.

Rice’s spokesman tells the new issue of Us Weekly (on newsstands today): “She’s a longtime admirer of Randy and enjoyed the opportunity to meet him in person and talk about their common passion for music.”

When Jackson (who’s been married since 1995) learned Rice wanted to meet him, “he was sort of mystified,” a source tells Us, “but he went.”

And they had plenty to talk about during their 90-minute meeting.

Says an insider, “She found him to be absolutely intriguing.”

[From Us Weekly]

There are many adjectives I’d use to describe Randy Jackson – intriguing is not one of them. The guy has about a 5-word vocabulary. What on earth could he have talked about for 90 minutes? Maybe she played some piano for him? I can hear it now: “Yo, Condi, dawg, that was pitchy, but you worked it out, you did yo’ thing, yo!”

I have a theory that Randy’s entire “dawg” persona it 100% fake. In private, the guy probably speaks like Tom Brokaw. I mean, come on- he played for Journey! No street cred there, Dawg. Anyway, I have to say, Condi has really surprised me since leaving office with her cool attitude and many hidden talents. Do you think she’ll ever go back to public office?