Former American Idol contestant, Haley Reinhart parades her style in Los Angeles, California.

What do you guys think? Hot or not?

Photos: Fame

As if there was actually any doubt!

“American Idol” Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe is way too smart to play coy with the judges who helped resurrect the show — Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson have all re-signed.

Nigel made the announcement on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show this AM, saying, “I am delighted to say that all three judges, along with the brilliant host of ‘American Idol’ are back for the next season.”

The buzz is … Jennifer got a huge pay bump — from $12 million last season to $20 mil next season. Steven Tyler still has a year to go before his contract is up, but we’re hearing he got an increase as well.

So I’m dying to know…. how many of you guys still watch American Idol? I gave up years ago, although I do watch the auditions every year. I just honestly don’t care anymore….

Do you?

TMZ

It seems like the judges from American Idol or in a competition of their own. It’s to see who can rake in the biggest paycheck.

Jennifer Lopez is currently in negotiations to bring home a 20 million dollar paycheck to join the cast for another season. Her fellow judge Steven Tyler wants to make sure he is getting a piece of the pie too.

“J.Lo’s management is close to brokering her a huge deal to come back to the panel for at least one more season, and but the side effect is that it means her follow judges also want more money,” a source told the NY Post.

Steven Tyler has a two-year deal worth $10 million, but his management has asked for more money. “They argue he was just as sensational and as popular on the panel as Jennifer. But, on the other side, show bosses argue he’s tied into a deal and has to stick to it. However, it’s hoped they can come to a compromise to keep Steven happy, because the producers love him,” the source told the paper.

Jennifer and Tyler were added to the panel when Simon Cowell left the hit show. Randy Jackson still remains as the only original judge.

American Idol will return to Fox for another season in January.

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Jennifer Lopez only signed a one year contract with American Idol, which was probably an incredibly smart thing to do. After being paid a reported $12 million for the first season, Jennifer may be holding out for more money for her second season. “I don’t know. I haven’t been forced to make a decision and I’m glad about that because honestly I’m very on the fence about it.” She told BBC Radio 1.

She went on, “You get to know [the contestants]. You get to know their hopes and their dreams on camera, off camera. You’re helping them off camera, you’re helping them on camera and it’s this crazy ride you go on together. You definitely get involved, I definitely get involved. I am very emotional as you can see from the show. That’s just how I am.

I had an amazing time doing it and I loved it but I have a lot other things happening, and it’s going to come down to me making a choice of what I want to do for the next year and we’re not really at the breaking point of “You have to make a decision right now!” I’m just really enjoying the time of just waiting and seeing.”

Hmm could “waiting and seeing” mean – “see what Fox will pay me for season 2″? Of course it does.

After all – Fox paid Simon Cowell a shocking $35 million per season. PER SEASON!

Lopez’s current salary: a reported $12 million. How high could her demand ultimately go? Another $23 million, if the Simon Cowell budget is your barometer.

That’s right, Idol’s top-earning judge for eight years running commanded $35 million per season at the end of his tenure, or about $642,201 per hour, using season 9’s total airtime. And while Lopez is a proven entity with some box office cachet and a current hit on the Billboard charts (thanks, in large part, to its premiere and multiple plugs on Idol), is her contribution to the show really worth that much?

Let’s consider: The Bronx beauty has the crabby Brit beat in the looks department, as viewers tuned in just to see what Lopez was wearing or how her hair was done, but when it came to commenting on the performances, it took all season for her to work up the courage to be anything less than fawning. Were it not for Casey Abrams’s surprise peck and the occasional cooing “baby” that she would bestow on a contestant, and, dare we say, J Lo sometimes bordered on dull.

With that in mind, who’s really getting more out of this relationship? True, Fox was able to avert a season 10 ratings disaster by enlisting Lopez for a year on the panel (judge Steven Tyler is signed on through season 11), and the numbers stayed flat, but after nine months of work plus that hefty paycheck, J Lo also walked away with a resurrected career and a radio smash (”On the Floor”) on her hands – her first in nearly a decade.

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Nikki Reed showed up tonight on the red carpet at the MTV Movie Awards with a new boyfriend! Who’s her new man? ‘American Idol’ castoff Paul McDonald. The ‘Twilight’ actress looks awfully cozy with her new man!

Photos: INF

Country singer Scotty McCreery was named the winner of ‘American Idol’ season 10 last night! The 17-year-old beat out runner-up, Lauren Alaina, 16.

After Scotty was named winner – he wasted no times locking lips with Lauren, prompting many to suspect the pair is an item.

Doesn’t it seem like we just welcomed Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler to the American Idol judges table? That Randy Jackson just said that Jacob Lusk gave one of the best-ever performances on the Idol stage? That they just saved Casey Abrams from Top 11 obscurity? That J.Lo just wept over Pia Toscano?

But heading into Wednesday’s Idol finale, the only opinion that mattered belonged to “America,” which was tasked with choosing between Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery, both cutie-pie teens with country roots and aw-shucks charm.

We can’t speak for the passage of time, but we can say that a record 122.4 million votes were cast last night in favor of…

Scotty McCreery, 17, became the fourth fellow in a row to win American Idol. Upon hearing the news, the teen from Garner, N.C., burst into an ear-to-ear grin that wouldn’t quit and was immediately enveloped in a bear hug from his runner-up. (And did they share a quick smooch on the mouth? Cute!)

“It’s been a year since Lauren and I tried out,” Scotty said in disbelief. “We’ve been together since day one and we’re going to stay together. Never in my wildest dreams…I’ve got to thank the Lord first, he got me here.”

That, and millions of fans who were probably won over by his booming voice and baby face from the get-go.

I usually only watch the ‘American Idol’ episodes through the auditions. After auditions, I just lose interest. I thought the kid was ok during his audition – which – was the only time I saw him perform. Are you glad he won?

Source, Photos: Fame

Beyonce debuted her new single, “1+1″ on last night’s ‘American Idol’ finale. The song, thankfully, doesn’t sound much like the first song she released of the album “Run the World (Girls)”.

The juxtaposing songs are the first shreds of evidence that she’s keeping her promise that a whole new array of sounds will make their way into “4,” which drew inspiration from an abundance of sources.

Along with the band of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, Beyonce said she, “found a lot of inspiration in ’90s R&B; Earth, Wind & Fire; DeBarge; Lionel Richie; Teena Marie.” In addition, she said, “I listened to a lot of Jackson 5 and New Edition, but also Adele, Florence + the Machine, and Prince. Add in my hip-hop influences, and you can hear how broad it is. I also gave myself more freedom to really belt out some songs, and bring soul singing back.”

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