$30 million dollars!!

Ryan Seacrest will be back as the American Idol host for two-more years, after signing a contract worth a reported $30 million!

The deal cements Ryan’s place for seasons 12 and 13.

While the judges seem to come and go, Seacrest has been with the show since it’s 2002 debut.

“It’s been a wild ride, and I’m excited for my journey with ‘American Idol’ to continue,” said Seacrest in a statement, calling it a “dream job.”

I think Ryan Seacrest is the only watchable part of ‘American Idol’ especially during the auditions!

American Idol is down to 13 contestants!

In Thursday’s episode, a dozen singers where sent home singing the blues in the first elimination episode of season 11.

Following two evenings of performances — one for guys, another for girls — 33 million votes determined the surviving top 10 singers. Then, the remain six singers on the bubble performed live, with judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler making their “wild card” choices.

Once all that was over, Idol’s final top 13 was revealed. Read the list below to find out who made it:

Hollie Cavanagh, Colton Dixon, Heejun Han, Jermaine Jones, Skylar Laine, Joshua Ledet, Shannon Magrane, Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez and Elise Testone; Jeremy Rosado was a tearful Lopez’s wild card pick, with Ericka Van Pelt and Deandre Brackensick rounding out the baker’s dozen.

I have to admit that I actually have not been watching American Idol this season.  I have started watching The Voice instead.  Now that Simon is gone, it’s just not the same.

What do you think of Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler as judges?  Are you happy with the top 13?

Source Photos by Fame/Flynet

A source close to American Idol has told E! that producers are in talks with Chris Brown and Rihanna about performing together on the show this season.

“They want Chris and Rihanna to reunite on the show,” the insider says.

If the rumor is true, it will be their first public appearance together since 2009, when Brown was arrested for assaulting Rihanna.

The last time they appeared onstage together was in 2008—and, judging by the controversy kicked up by Brown’s performance (and win) at the Grammys this month, plenty of critics would react harshly to the pair collaborating on stage.

But if this did happen, which song would they do—assuming that the pair’s two just-released remixes would be the likely choices? It’s unlikely they could perform Rihanna’s sexually charged “Birthday Cake,” which may be too risqué for prime time, so maybe they’d do Brown’s “Turn Up the Music”? Or something else entirely?

Rihanna’s rep denied the rumor, saying, “It’s not true.”

But in any case, Fox has not yet approved the pairing, our source tells us, adding that the idea is still in the very early stages of discussion.
The network had no comment.

I will be so upset if the rumors are true. I know a lot of you think I just need to get over this – and move on – but I do not think it’s appropriate for them to be on stage together again. Especially on a family-friendly show like American Idol. Idol is obviously hurting for ratings, and know that this would put a spike of interest in the show.

What do you think about the two of them performing together again?

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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.

Source Fame

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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