Fox: ‘American Idol’ panel set for season 10; but network isn’t revealing it yet
LOS ANGELES — Fox says the new “American Idol” panel of judges is set — but the network is keeping mum on who has been picked until next week.
The network said Thursday that the panel for season 10 has been confirmed and will be announced in Inglewood, Calif., next Wednesday. Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are the front-runners.
The incoming judges will fill at least some of the seats vacated by Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi and likely join original judge Randy Jackson.
Fox is making the announcement during the last of the national contestant auditions for next season, which starts in January. The tryouts are being held near Los Angeles at the Forum, former home to the L.A. Lakers.
“American Idol” is also holding online auditions.
To mark the Fox TV show’s 10th anniversary, hopeful pop stars have the chance to submit an audition video at MySpace through Oct. 6.
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The entries must be no longer than 40 seconds and chosen from a list of songs posted online, along with other audition guidelines, Fox said Wednesday. Contestants for the show must be between the ages of 15 and 28.
The song possibilities include Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Keith Urban’s “Kiss a Girl” and Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana.”
A “select number” of people will move on to a tryout in Los Angeles, the network said, but didn’t specify how many.
In 2007, “American Idol” staged its first online contest, this one for songwriters.
Auditions held this summer in cities including Nashville, Tenn., and Austin, Texas, drew tens of thousands of people. Another tryout was added for Sept. 22 in Los Angeles.
The show’s next season starts in January and will feature a revamped judging panel. Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are the front-runners to join Randy Jackson after the departures of Ellen DeGeneres, Simon Cowell and Kara DioGuardi.
Both Fox and MySpace are owned by media giant News Corp. Although “American Idol” hopes to stem a ratings dip to remain TV’s top-rated series, the crossover could be more valuable for the flagging social networking site: MySpace has seen its advertising revenues drop.
