Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler fired

By Tribute on July 19, 2012 | 59 Comments


When Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler announced last week they were leaving American Idol, they sure made it seem like it was their choice. However, TheWrap.com reports that Idol executives Peter Rice and Kevin Reilly actually pulled the plug on Lopez after she asked for a $2 million raise, while Tyler’s contract simply wasn’t renewed. When they announced their departure, Tyler claimed to be leaving in order to concentrate on his band Aerosmith, while Lopez said it was so she could focus more on her film career and her children. Their departure comes at the same time American Idol is undergoing some drastic changes. Both Rice and Reilly want to revamp the show by aiming for an all-new “Idol 2.0” style. While Ryan Seacrest will remain the host of the show, it is not yet known what will become of Randy Jackson, who currently seems to be weighing his options. ~Isabelle Khoo



Comments & Discussion

  1. Germain • July 19, 2012 @ 10:01 AM

    Cancel the show, that’s the best option I can think of.

  2. BB • July 19, 2012 @ 10:28 AM

    Cancel the show, that’s the best option I can think of.

    Best idea I’ve heard!!

  3. Dianne McGlade • July 19, 2012 @ 10:44 AM

    I thought that the last 2 yrs. was the best combination of judges ever!!!!!! Give your heads a shake. You will never be able to measure up, no matter who you bring on. I certainly hope Charlie Sheen is not coming on as a judge or I’m finished watching.

  4. Vayne • July 19, 2012 @ 10:55 AM

    LOL – “LAST 2 YRS WAS THE BEST COMBINATION OF JUDGES EVER!!! ????????

    I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinions. I enjoy the talent (of the contestants) on American Ido. That being said, I think the show/judges are so FAKE.

    Ie. when Sanchez was voted off the show and the judges used their only “save” for her… J.Lo walked up to the stage and stopped Sanchez from singing for her life… can that be anymore horribly scripted??

    The only thing I find accurate about this is that if AI does not revamp to a 2.0 version… they’re going to be FINISHED.

  5. Mark • July 19, 2012 @ 11:35 AM

    This cow has been milked… enough already!

  6. maggie levack • July 19, 2012 @ 11:40 AM

    What is wrong with you Americans?? There is an old saying which is ” if something isn’t broken, don’t fix it” These 3 Judges have been the most enjoyable HOWEVER — GREED — MORE MONEY – THAT IS BULLCHIT.

    cHARLIE sHEEN ISN’T AN ASSET – GET DAVID fOSTER OR A REAL MUSICIAN WHO HAS STUDIED HISTORY, HARMONY, SOLFEGE, EYE SIGHT, EAT TEST, COMPOSITION, AND THEN PRODUCE A STAR. THIS CRAP OF MUSIC THAT IS OUT THERE NOW IS GARBAGE.

  7. janet • July 19, 2012 @ 11:41 AM

    I agree… the last 2 years were the best judges ever! They will be hard to replace for sure. I love the show and the talent they find is amazing… Phillip Phillips is amazing and I love him.

    One show that should get canned is America’s Got Talent… OMG this year there is NO talent at all…..it’s really sad ……

  8. DR@AlphabetsforKids • July 19, 2012 @ 11:50 AM

    It’s time to pull the plug on the show-It’s horrible now. I never watched the last 2 years because JLO and Steven TYler were judging.

    Every year its the same thing-it’s boring…I don’t know how it is still on tv. (Obviously some people are watching it $$)

    But they need to seriously change it up and they need another Simon Cowell type in there.

    I’ll be watching X Factor its more interesting from a judges and performance standpoint.

    🙂

  9. Gracie • July 19, 2012 @ 12:30 PM

    “Dianne McGlade on July 19, 2012 10:44 AM I thought that the last 2 yrs. was the best combination of judges ever!!!!!! Give your heads a shake. You will never be able to measure up, no matter who you bring on. I certainly hope Charlie Sheen is not coming on as a judge or I’m finished watching.”

    That would be “Sleeping with American Idols!” LOL

  10. Nurse Kathy • July 19, 2012 @ 12:34 PM

    What if David Foster (musician/composer who wrote a huge amount of songs for people), Janet Jackson and keep Randy Jackson, would that make a selection of good judges?

  11. j.evans • July 19, 2012 @ 12:42 PM

    I have watched am. Idol since day 1, I love the show with all the talent. Eveyone thought that when Simon left that would be the end. But JLO & Tyler were the best. Change always makes it interesting. No Charlie Sheen please.

  12. lionne • July 19, 2012 @ 12:52 PM

    I agree the last 2 years with Jennifer and Steven were the best..they are stupid not to keep them on

  13. Ed • July 19, 2012 @ 12:53 PM

    “American Idol”…..BORING. Time to cancel the show.

  14. GG • July 19, 2012 @ 12:54 PM

    Thank goodness the bickering and flirting years between Simon and Paula had ended; that had become unbearable. I’ve enjoyed the last couple of years more, although I like Steven’s judging, he is a bit of an ol’letch. I also got pretty tired of Jennifer and her performances. I want to see the young and new fresh talent compete. Yes, JLO, you have a nice body, do you have to flaunt it all the time? I’m not watching American Idol to watch the judges acting way younger than they truly are. Please bring someone who is youthful, but mature. If Charlie Sheen is a consideration for a judge…PLEASE!!! The show is going downhill is that is the case…quickly!

  15. Lou • July 19, 2012 @ 1:00 PM

    I have never watched American Idol but would start if Charlie Sheen was a judge. But I can’t see him judging a music show.

  16. Jon • July 19, 2012 @ 1:24 PM

    He would if they paid him with crack and whores

  17. Tammy • July 19, 2012 @ 1:51 PM

    I enjoyed Steve Tyler, Jennifer was a little better than Paula. You know what I’m saying baby? haha

  18. Amanda • July 19, 2012 @ 2:23 PM

    I didn’t watch last season because I thought J.Lo and Tyler were SO fake. And I couldn’t stand X Factor, it was so slow and boring. I love America’s Got Talent though. Not the judges, but the array of talent is amazing.

  19. Barb • July 19, 2012 @ 2:28 PM

    I stopped watching the show after the 2nd season when Clay lost to Ruben. Too boring!! Time to cancel the show!!!

  20. Lola • July 19, 2012 @ 2:34 PM

    Agreed…..Get David Foster and judges who know their music. J. Lo can’t sing and actually started her career dancing. We don’t need cougars. Get this show to the professional level it should be.

  21. Laura • July 19, 2012 @ 2:35 PM

    Never watched American Idol before Steven Tyler. Tried but Simon was/is a major AH, Paula OMG … I think the past couple of years they were trying to make it more mainstream but I think the show would be way more interesting if artists were allowed to keep to their roots .. rock, rap, country, jazz and people could vote but judges had final say based on vocals, creativity and stage performance. Charlie Sheen is a hasbeen or should I say horebore .. cokejoke.. Hard jail time is the only thing that will work for him now!

  22. Kathy • July 19, 2012 @ 2:40 PM

    Time to put the show to rest. Same for Survivor.

  23. AT • July 19, 2012 @ 3:20 PM

    Ya, Steven and Jlo were the only reason I tuned in. Oh well, more time to workout, bake and clean my house.

  24. tudat • July 19, 2012 @ 3:20 PM

    NEVER LIKED J-LO!!!
    THE SHOW HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME ONCE SIMON LEFT, NOR WILL IT!
    ITS TIME IS UP!!!

  25. www.fun2work4.ca • July 19, 2012 @ 3:31 PM

    I admit that I have mixed feelings on this one.

    The show has gotten stale and there are too many winners that are one hit wonders and then disappear. I wonder how many are working as waiters/waitress staff.

    I have enjoyed the judging but really I think it is time to let it die a good death.

  26. Debra • July 19, 2012 @ 3:39 PM

    Borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrringggggggggggggg!!!!!
    Cancel it!!!
    Too much of a once good thing!!!!

  27. C-Dub • July 19, 2012 @ 3:43 PM

    It’s over. Move on, make way for new singing/reality shows.

  28. Frank • July 19, 2012 @ 3:46 PM

    I’ll due it for half of what you pay them

  29. Debbie • July 19, 2012 @ 3:49 PM

    Steven Tyler & Jennifer Lopez were the best thing to happen to American Idol
    I won’t watch it anymore

  30. musicfan • July 19, 2012 @ 4:03 PM

    I’m sure Steven Tyler did the show because it’s a joke and he was paid for it! He left because he made quick easy money but that was long enough as he wouldn’t want to tarnish his integrity as a respected musician with satying on a show because it truly is bogus, and certainly nothing to do with being a real musician!

  31. marla • July 19, 2012 @ 4:31 PM

    This once enjoyable and entertaining show is no more.
    It has become boring and the same old thing each week. Definitely the time to cancel the show. Boring…Boring…Boring.
    America Got Talent – a lot more fun to watch and the judges are great.

  32. Juliana • July 19, 2012 @ 4:33 PM

    I’ve read the comments and 98% of them are way off the mark. American Idol is a great show, Ryan Seacrest is a terrific host, and all we need are great judges; judges who know their music. Once Simon left, the judging went downhill. Steven was ok, JLo talked WAY too much, and Randy seemed to always be looking at his fellow judges for approval of his comments. Simon was the best judge, and he and Randy were great judges while Paula was a flake from Day 1 … I still don’t know how she got to be on the show. For judges, I would suggest Jimmy Iovine, David Foster, Adam Lambert, people along those lines. Also, please have the category of COUNTRY or TRADITIONAL COUNTRY music on the show. It’s been missing the last couple years.

  33. karla • July 19, 2012 @ 4:34 PM

    they should have guest judges every week and screw the same ones all season… now that would make it interesting… new musical judges every show…

  34. peg • July 19, 2012 @ 5:27 PM

    About time she didn’t get what she wanted guess she needed the money for her boy toy

  35. Val King • July 19, 2012 @ 6:13 PM

    if it wasn’t for Ryler and Lopez there would be no reason any longer to watch the shw…

    I watch for those 2….
    so my eyes won’t be on it anymore anyway

    Whomever made THAT judgement call can’t have very good judgement…

    OH WELL

  36. Gracie • July 19, 2012 @ 6:44 PM

    Whoever said David Foster would be a good judge is absolutley right! He would be so truthful and he knows talent when he hears it and sees it!! Jimmy Iovine would be good too as a judge instead of the mentor. But someone who I think would be the best of the best is Barry Manilow!

  37. Susie • July 19, 2012 @ 6:50 PM

    What is an idol 2.0 style?

  38. Pam • July 19, 2012 @ 8:03 PM

    Steven Tyler is the only reason I watched the show and it was disappointing to see that they put the band aid on his mouth so to speak…if you want judges who know their music and talent u bet ur bottom dollar u put a front man like that of a LONG lasting money making band like Aerosmith up there…i didnt mind JLO and love Randy…they are all big names in the music industry and know their stuff…maybe allowing the judges a little less scripting would make the show a little more interesting and not hearing the same comments that seem to be ‘permissable” would do the show wonders

  39. Dawn • July 19, 2012 @ 8:06 PM

    I honestly am sick of J Lo using the show to boost her own ratings – the grinding on half naked men while wearing next to nothing on stage during her self indulgent perfomance was disgusting considering that A I is supposed to be a family show – not what I would want my young daughter watching!! The judges also offered very little in constructive criticism – Simon was a bit of an a-hole but at least he did offer some valid points to work on for auditioners! Either get real judges or lose the show altogeather the point of the show is to offer americas hidden talent a chance not to give the judges a chance!! Just sayin!!

  40. LuvMyVamps! • July 19, 2012 @ 9:28 PM

    LOL! Lopez and Tyler…
    Frankly my dears, I don’t give a damn.

    Callin’ on Adam Lambert!!!

  41. Lindy H • July 19, 2012 @ 10:08 PM

    Are you kidding me? Get David Foster? He’s the biggest snob there ever was? I know a few people in my city that tried out in front of him in our City who were very good singers and he just snubbed them! Since then one has come out with a few albums that he could have had made money on!

  42. L • July 20, 2012 @ 12:12 AM

    Time to cancel the show, boring, Jennifer L ruined it for everyone, she has no talent, she is a slut, and who the hell cares
    get a life Lopez you ugly bitch go back to your block I am sure you will make your money there!!!!

  43. D • July 20, 2012 @ 1:38 AM

    this show has gone sooo old! just end it, its so boring now

  44. sheila H • July 20, 2012 @ 1:45 AM

    American Idol was a real hit at one time, but I think the show is very boring now and has reached the end of its road. I really like Steven Tyler but he is a candyass judge with no guts to call it like it is. Randy is the only Judge that has any credibility in fairness of finding real talent. The show is old dull and the same always new faces but the same dull action time to replace it with something else it is all the same every season and very boring. I never watch it anymore I find it very boring and as with all reality shows they are being taken to the maximum limit with no taste or class. I would rather watch Criminal Minds reruns.

  45. alli • July 20, 2012 @ 9:59 AM

    I read that Jennifer Lopez was planning to leave American Idol long before this because the show conflicted with her schedule for touring but whatever, I don’t know.

  46. Donna • July 20, 2012 @ 1:29 PM

    I feel having different judges every show would make it a lot more interesting and each and every one would have their own style in it. Maybe you will find another Simon, Paula, JL, etc. or even more. Everything however, comes to an end unfortunately, even the good.

  47. Catherine • July 20, 2012 @ 6:25 PM

    I love or loved the show and have watched it since its
    inception BUT … enough is enough – the show has
    definitely run its course – its getting stale and
    I personally feel it should just be cancelled. As
    far as I’m concerned Simon was a top notch Judge and
    no one can ever replace him. He definitely knows his
    stuff – sarcasm or not.

  48. Kiddy Grade • July 21, 2012 @ 11:46 AM

    That is good news 4 Jennifer and Steven who got fired from the show hooray 4 them good 4 them

  49. pj • July 22, 2012 @ 12:42 AM

    Jay-lo and Tyler made it so I wanted to watch the show; hated it when any of the previous judges were on with their cruel set downs. I won’t even watch shows that had your prevention judges on other than Ellen nut I enjoy watching both Tyler and Jay Lo with their combination of compassion and humor. To me, you might as well cancel the show!

  50. Greg • July 22, 2012 @ 2:06 AM

    I think that the producers are on the right track. Last year it was embarrassing when the judges used their save and the blond contestant was overheard saying “The fix is in” before the save was used. She took the words right out of my mouth. Maybe they should hire a member of the general public, with not attachments to the music industry to be a judge. Someone who just likes music and has no baggage. Hey fellas, I am available and I work cheap. Two million dollar raises are way out of my league!!!!!!

  51. Laurette Ginglo • July 22, 2012 @ 10:50 AM

    America Idol has been the best yet these past few years. Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler were the best Judges as well as Randy Jackson…you could not find a better combination then these three fine artists as the judges of American Idol. They found the most interesting talent and gave everyone a chance…in the end it was America who voted the “WINNER…” Jennifer and Tyler provided entertainment on the show as well and it does’t get better then that. Think if you make a decision like this the veiwers will not watch American Idol and take a quick turn to “The Voice.” You need to pay them the money they deserve…look at what Simon Cowell was making annually $25 million and am sure he is making more. He never found the real talent on American Idol…he never gave people a chance. He also is not good for peoples self-esteem or helping them with their confidence as upcoming entertainers. Simon needs to look at his self-esteem and get in touch with reality. I’ll only watch X-Factor this year because of Britney Spears…Simon was very rude to “Nicole” last year but it just showed again what type of person he is. As a Psychatric Nurse Simon…you really do need help…cause money never brings with it happiness.

  52. Ken • July 22, 2012 @ 12:31 PM

    judges on idol.. hmmm.. do we even really need them.. well let’s look at the old versus the new..

    randy knows music, but get dialogue dawg.. or are you just in it to earn it..

    tyler, not much of an orator himself, but he sure could pull a gem of a mouthful out of his bag of on the road to rock anecodotes.. where he came up with all that shit I could never guess.. but after the first season when he stopped swearing it really wasn’t as priceless.. still at his age, i’d rather watch him share his knowledge than pretend he is still a rocker.. god waht a bad idea!! I wish he’d let his real accomplishments do the talking for his performing career.. he’s a little too old to be playing the “hope I die before I get old” part.. and yes I know that is from a Who song not Aerosmith, but I grew up in that age and I’m sure he knows what I mean.

    regardless he was never a real replacement for simon, who could be brutally cruel and indifferent about how it affected the performers, but face it.. even though he can’t sing or play a lick he knows the business and obviously has more savvy for spotting the real gems than the rest of the lot put together.. after all he was right on the money 99.9% of the time.

    ellen was the joke judge with absolutely nothing to add to the show other than a spot on her own show for a post interview with the losers.

    then there was good old paula.. what a waste of human tissue.. sure she can dance better than j lo now.. she obviously works at it significantly more, but neither of them would last the opening auditions on ‘so you think you could dance’.. she certainly isn’t a threat to j lo as a vocalist, because she could never sing (can you say pathetic) and her judging was even worse.. what a ****ing pushover and she came out with these bullshit comments that went on forever and had nothing to do with anything.. AT ALL!!!! she seemed like a drug addled dummy almost continuously.

    kara was a sad replacement though. she was an accomplished composer with a string of successes, but was not well enough known, nor had she scored the litany of successful talent discoveries that either simon or randy had.. so it just didn’t sit well when she got all in your face like she knew the business better than the others.. some sing, some dance, some write, others know.. she never came off as one of the latter to me.

    they should have gone straight to someone like j lo. at least she is 1000 times better looking than paula and far more recognizable than kara, not a complete train wreck as a singer, though not a spectacular talent either, but she can act and is as articulate as hell.. and though she tended to the too nice side like paula, she could handle dishing the negative criticisms from time to time, all with wit and charm and a twinkle in her eyes that makes me wish..

    overall I think the most recent cast was the best.. and the producers are mad for letting them go, but there are other old time musicians and producers who have been there and know the industry that could step up.. my guess it that the producers will **** it up though.. usually what happens when ratings slide, they go cheap. I only wish they’d get rid of seacrest.. now there is a real waste of tissue.. sure he is popular with some demographic, obviously people I’d rather not know, but to me he is nothing more than a self agrandizing sack of ****, that should be selling toothpaste and other than s smile he really contributes nothing to the show or the radio or anything else. you can like him all you want, but face it, everything he knows is on someone else’s album jacket.

    bottom line though, I think idol is suffering from too many years of the same old, same old, and also from total market saturation with all the competing shows. people are just getting bored, it happens with every good show, especially when the knock offs start competing and drawing down the core viewership.

    that said, idol still brings out great talent, but so does the voice and x-factor.. truth is they are all good and none are going to set viewing records year in and out, especially in competition with each other for the same market. as for america’s got talent, it does have talent, and stern is funny though much more serious and palatable to the general viewership than he is commonly known for, but other than the goth opera guy who choked on his second audition, they had nothing for vocal talent on that show and none of the judges even noticed the difference.. I guess being married to ozzy doesn’t really set you up to be the judge of real vocal talent.. must be a metal thing, maybe he hit her on the head with a cast iron pan before letting her judge vocalists.

    still I do hope idol continues and I’ll watch it despite crappy new judges and stupid producers, because they draw talented vocalists.. I’ll just keep PVRing and skipping all the drama bullshit, and now probably the judgments as well.. I’m in it for performances and because I’m all grown up I can judge for myself.

  53. Rose • July 22, 2012 @ 2:10 PM

    Time to let the show go…
    It’s been flailing for years.
    The only way I’d ever watch it again, would be if they had someone really interesting, as a judge. Ozzie, maybe? Haha! Give it some comic relief!

  54. Francie • July 22, 2012 @ 8:20 PM

    since Adam Lambert got voted off, the show has never been the same. Its not a talent show, its a popularity contest !

  55. Linda L • July 24, 2012 @ 12:05 PM

    Hi
    l am not happy That Jennifer and Steven will not be on the show . L Just love American Ldol have watch from the Frist time it came on. Hope it stay on l also love Randy Jackson hope he does not go. as for other like the x Factor l would not care if it came on again . saw it and would not watch it again.
    as for Charlie Sheen and Adam Lambert it would not be good at all l would not watch it.But Please Kept on American Ldol l can not wait for it to come back on. will real miss Steven and Jennifer you had a real good show with them on. hope you can kept it going. because l do not watch much on TV. But l love Ldol. Real love Ldol . Linda

  56. Jax • July 24, 2012 @ 9:03 PM

    To Laurette from July 22/12 at 10:50 AM: Please go back to school and learn how to spell. Im disgusted with people like you who cant spell. Didnt you go to school? Dont you check what youve typed before you click the Submit Comment button? Im always amazed by how many people who send in comments cannot spell.

    You may also be a psychiatric nurse, but you sure as heck are wrong about Simon. He is the best judge that American Idol ever had, hands down! Have you not noticed how he tells contestants exactly how it is? He doesnt sugarcoat his comments which would be a waste of constructive time.

    I was so glad when he fired Paula and Nicole, two worthless judges on X Factor.

    I hope Mariah Carey works out as a tell-it-like-it-is judge on American Idol this upcoming season.

  57. Wendy • July 24, 2012 @ 11:30 PM

    I agree, American idol is boring and it needs to find something better to do, like hang up the mic.

  58. Lyvia L Smith • July 26, 2012 @ 11:31 PM

    Adam Lambert should definitely be the next judge on American Idol !!! He has the experience of being an excellent contestant(who should have won), has an amazing voice and great personality and would recognize talent when he hears it .

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