With pomp rivaling that of a US Supreme Court appointment, Fox finally
assembled the new pieces of the "Idol" panel that will be returned to
its original three-member format for season 10. Actress-singer-dancer Lopez and
Aerosmith frontman Tyler will have the job of trying to match the offbeat
chemistry of former judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. "This is
'American Idol'!" host Ryan Seacrest said after the new judges joined him
on stage at the Forum arena, where the final national audition for next
season's singing contest was held Wednesday. The announcement was made before a
crowd of several thousand who had gathered to try out, some cheering loudly for
the cameras and all hoping to make it to the next round, when they'll be judged
by the revamped panel. The mini-show was streamed live online by Fox. Tyler
said he wanted to join the show because "it's being a part of something
much bigger than yourself. ... I want to bring some rock to this rollercoaster
and show if you've got the heart, the talent, the feeling to do this you could
be the next American Idol." "I'm so excited," said Lopez, who
scored a reported $12 million to join the show. "I'm looking for the next
Michael Jackson." The likely Lopez-Tyler pairing had been reported so
frequently that Fox would have had to produce Betty White and 50 Cent instead
to generate any surprise.
