Jessica Simpson is making headlines again, but not for her athlete boyfriends or questionable choice in gowns. Entertainment Weekly reports that she’s one of the celebs being considered to replace Simon Cowell as a judge on American Idol.
“I’m not sure whether her people approached Idol, or if it was the other way around,” said a source, who added that Simpson is just one of “dozens” of candidates who have been considered for an Idol gig when it returns to the air in January 2011. Justin Timberlake and Elton John have also been rumored to be up for the position.
Former Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is expected to return to the show for its tenth season, and he went on the record last spring saying he wanted a whole new panel of judges for the next season of the talent showcase. Simon Cowell left the show at the end of last season to launch a U.S.-based version of his popular British series The X Factor. (How that’s any different from American Idol, I have no idea.) But all new faces at the judges’ table would cost some extra cash, considering that Randy Jackson is reportedly signed through next year, and new judge Ellen DeGeneres in only one season into a multi-year deal.
“The network’s dream scenario would be to make a splashy announcement at TCA on Monday morning,” said the source, referring to Fox’s presentation at the 2010 Television Critics Association Press Tour that is scheduled for August 2. “They’d be the talk of TCA, and the message to other networks would essentially be, ‘Follow that!’”
Who is your pick? Justin Timberlake would be great, but I almost feel like he has better things to do. Jessica Simpson would likely be another Paula Abdul type, super nice and sweet with occasional nonsensical comments.
If Jessica replaces Simon it will be the end of the show. She has no talent whatsoever.