EXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that Jennifer Lopez had been negotiating for a guaranteed “go” motion picture and TV pilots at Fox to accompany an asked-for $15 million American Idol judging paycheck. But the powers-that-be who produce Idol — Fox, Fremantle, and 19 Entertainment — balked. It was her manager Benny Medina (whom she once fired) who first orchestrated the meeting with the Idol producers in June, and, by the end of July, J-Lo accepted the offer to be a new Idol judge. Since then, she, Medina and her producing partner Simon Fields have been trying to milk the gig for all they could get from the movie studio and broadcast network/television programmer to further her stalled career in the film/TV area. One bargaining chip they had, I can report, is that Simon Cowell already asked JLo to be a judge on the U.S. version of his The X Factor when it debuts on Fox in Fall 2011.
Among JLo’s demands, “she was angling for an overall deal at Fox, including a put picture, to keep the movie career going. But Fox said no,” one insider tells me. “In the old days, these were called a ‘vanity deal’ for good reason. They simply don’t exist today. Will Smith doesn’t have put pictures.” Another informant says she also was angling for TV development projects to replace the ones that had gone by the wayside when her career grew cold. Also, Team JLo was pissed that the Idol producers never discussed ahead of time their decision to offer a judging job to Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. Though Team JLo kept threatening she’d bail if she didn’t get what she wanted, Fox called her bluff several times. That’s when real or imagined “Plan B” feelers put out to other talent would wind up in the media. It was left to returning Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe to deny these unconfirmed reports circulating that J-Lo was losing the job because of her diva demands.
I’m told that JLo and Fields did receive the overall Fox deal but with no film/TV commitments. Medina and JLo tried to hold out for the $15M Idol paycheck but couldn’t get it and wound up settling for $12M. “I think it was just positioning,” a source tells me. “In the end, she didn’t turn up her nose up at $12 million. I would have been very surprised if she had walked away. She needs the money. She lives very very well. It comes at a cost.” Amazing, since she was listed as the richest person of Latin American descent in Hollywood according to Forbes magazine, and parlayed the heyday of her media fame from 1999-2002 into fashion and perfume celebrity licensing ventures.
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I’ve also learned that one reason the announcement of American Idol‘s new judges has been delayed is that JLo asked that it coincide with Island Def Jam’s dropping her first single in mid-September. She signed with that label on March 19th and is reportedly working on new material for Love? with RedZone Entertainment (Kuk Harrell, The-Dream and Tricky Stewart). It’s no secret that JLo’s singing and acting career has been on the skids after her 2010 movie The Back-Up Plan failed at the box office in the spring and she was dropped by her record company Sony Music Epic Records this past winter. The actress had many hits with Sony Music Epic Records, so it was a shock within the recording industry when her longtime label dumped her. The contract period had ended, and Lopez had fulfilled it with her last two singles. But in February Sony then cancelled her 7th studio album titled “Love?”, which was supposed to come out in April and has yet to be released and featured production from Danja, Jim Jonsin, Darkchild, Chris n Teeb from Dropzone, and The Neptunes among others.
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- Geffen Coulda (Shoulda) Been ‘Idol’ Judge
- TCA: Fox Addresses ‘American Idol’ Rumors
- EXCLUSIVE: Jennifer Lopez Is New ‘Idol’ Judge
- EXCLUSIVE: JLo And Sony Music Epic Records Part Ways
I’d judge it for 1M a year…with or without JLo
I’d rather watch Ted than her. She sucks. They just torpedoed the show.
JLO on board?….ratings SUNK…A BAD CHOICE TO REPLACE SIMON AND RATINGS WILL IMMEDIATELY REFLECT SOMEONE’S VERY POOR JUDGEMENT…how is she supposed to judge talent of others when she has trouble stepping out from behind that monstrous EGO…the only way I’ll watch?…is she’s standing with back side to camera showing her only “talent”
i would not even watch american idol if she is there.
12 milliion reasons to tax the rich.
Rich people like her spend their money and stimulate the economy. Tax her and the government will spend the money. Think of all the hanger-ons that will lose out if the goverment get the loot.
Not really. They go into retail stores expecting huge discounts and things for free. JLo is one of them.
Typical ignorance here. She is the reason you don’t tax the rich anymore than you would anyone else. She will spend her 12 mil all day long, helping to stimulate the economy. Your boy Obama will give it away to friends, which include foreign countries, which don’t stimulate the economy.
The other point is clear. Your ignorance and lack of drive keeps you from being rich, so you think the hard workers with extra drive should help keep you afloat. What a loser…Chris
You lack basic knowledge of economic and sociological fundamentals… it is you who is stupid. You have been brainwashed by the right, and their pretend agenda. Ah well, you will just help to destroy the US as we know it.
I think the rich have a right to their own money. Being rich shouldn’t mean less rights.
My god! You’re giving this woman $12 Million dollars!? Why so she can indirectly unleash more awful music into this world. When are these Kool-aid drinkers going to wake up and realize the industry is packaging the same turd over and over, selling it to you, and then laughing at your stupidity! Here’s essentially what will happen this season. 1) Everyone laughs at all the awful singers 2)We get to the final few, and everyone watches like their message will bring world peace. 3) Some ugly, snaggle toothed, zit faced twit will win and get a record deal. he will then get plastic surgery so he will look like one of the durecell people. Then after all that the 3rd or 4th place person will be more successful. They will all be forgotten about by the time the next season rolls around. STOP THIS SHOW, THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE DESERVING OF A RECORD DEAL!
Amen! Note to JLo–times are tough. Be glad you HAVE a job!
Wow! There are some bitter and angry people on these post. Its like they truly have a stake in it LOL. I’d like to point out that a judge or a mentor brings more than singing abilities to a contest. There’s showmanship, business sauve and personality. You don’t have to be a singer to judge singers. You can’t hit a note but you sure as Hell know a good one when you hear it. Like her or not JLo has marketed herself well. You all agree she has no talent but she has had sucess. Now think about it, do you wanna learn from someone that has no talent but has convinced millions of fans otherwise? Hell yeah!! Don’t hat eso much people. All the mean comments are unnecessary to plead your case. You don’t persnally know her so stop speaking as if you do. STick to the subject and your point is heard.
Norris,
You are so right! She has absolutely no talent at all – can not sing, remedial acting skills, and fell on her ass when she danced. Yet here she “still” is – willing (with all her might) her way (using marketing, gimmicks, tricks, ploys, and trickery)into the headlines again. Trying to make everyone think she is relevant and she is not.
This is what will happen. Ratings will fall even further for Idol. Just might be the death of the show. This will hurt her career even further – if that is possible. That awful CD – Love? will do just as awful as her last releases ‘Como Ama Una Mujer’ and ‘Brave’ combined. She will continue to make stupid moves just like Jennifer Aniston. However, she will not get the 28 million per movie deal like Aniston – she will instead get the 4 to 5 million that she got for The Back-up Plan.
This article is true to fact. She does need the money. She is all about image and no substance and she has to keep up the appearance that she is doing well – but she is not. She had to close her restaurant. Her perfume sales are way way way down. Her poor movie career has affected sales for peddling junk like perfume and clothing. She had to close two not just one (like they are reporting)of her clothing lines. This latest and inevitable flop of an album Love? she only got a million dollars and not the normal 10 million dollars she use to get when she was the flavor of the moment.
This is going to be so funny to watch – lots of missteps will be made and people will continue to laugh at her. This will be horrible to watch but like a train wreck!
Your comment is very true. What people need to realize that even though they don’t like her or think she can sing many love her and her singing. So lets stop hating because I bet you are not making her kind of money. She is far from broke people he husband is Mack Anthony. Jlo is beautiful smart and a go getter Latina learn from her and maybe you wont be so upset when someone else makes it n your still making sh–n living ur unhappy life. Remember people be happy with what you have and stay out of others affairs……..God Bless
How can she be a judge on a singing show when her singing abilities are minimal at best. Only in America I guess.
How did Simon and Paula do it?
Cartman’s hand does a better JLo than JLo. “Hennifer Whopez”
That’s a great comment!!!!
I’d rather watch South Park than JLo anyday…and I’m darn near retirement age!
Why not MAKE Cartman the judge? He’d outdo Simon, guaranteed. It wouldn’t be too difficult to animate and key him in… surely they could make it seamless. You’d get brutal, funny comments out of Trey Parker, and the show would have something interesting to watch. That’s the first idea that made me actually want to watch that godforsaken show.
The judges should be Cartman, Moe from The Simpsons, and for the Paula Abdul role, Lois from Family Guy! (Hey, she does teach piano…)
Looking at past AI judges, I’d say sing ability isn’t a requirement.
Once she looked hot. She was lucky also. Now times runs out.
Your right. Simon, Paula, Ellen and Randy have proven over the years that they are much better singers. Did you even try to think before you commented?
Randy is an outstanding musician and producer, he does not need to know how to sing, just how to hear. He is the only legit judge on the show.
Check out his credits at Allmusic.com.
THE TOP POSTER WROTE: “How can she be a judge on a singing show when her singing abilities are minimal at best”
RANDY CAN’T SING. THAT SHOULD DISQUALIFY HIM, ACCORDING TO THE TOP POSTER.
That’s because people who can sing are too busy singing to spend time judging other people who may or may not can sing.
American Idol [AI], is in a position of gaining more than 15.3 Million viewers in its opening day with JLo. If this show and JLo, can re-invent and simplify its purpose and presentation for the average person,(reguardless of race or age),the sky is the new “Limit” in terms of ratings…my best guess is 18.7 Million viewers,(Super Bowl Numbers). Now about JLo, if you know the term JLo…you who she is…what she does,(Singer/Dancer/Actress…Megs Star). If JLo can come down to Earth, put her feet on the ground, and relate to hard working everyday people,…American Idol and JLo’s singing career, may indeed reach a new and higher orbit. “Don’t Hate”…Just go with it.
What’s amazing is that you always have the first and best scoops before anyone. I read about JLO here first, and once again it turns out you’re right. For all the haters our there, this is why you’re you! Congrats Nikki!
At least Fox is playing it smart. J LO just isn’t that marketable anymore and FOX knows this. Then what celebrity is, its all about the quality of the product.
So why even hire her in the FIRST place? There are WAY better candidates out there.
I’m glad that Fox stood their ground to her. Jlo’s ship sailed along time ago and if she ever makes it back to port it’ll have to be on Idol’s steam as she doesn’t have it anymore and it’s utter ego stupidity on her part to even THINK she has Diva rights to anything.
The Party is over for AI. These two new “judges” won’t replace the personalities Paula and Simon brought to the table. Stick a fork in it- It’s Done.
JZ
J-Lo. 12 million clams? What a howl!
You people are pathetic.
Who cares?
Who the hell are YOU to say that? Crawl back under your rock.
I agree. The show has ran its course already, and adding egomaniac judges won’t help AI gain one more viewer. I will not watch J-Lo on AI. Her attitude makes me physically sick.
How appropriate. Someone who can’t sing to judge a bunch of others who can’t sing.
Roger that. There is a reason she doesn’t tour. It’s because she can’t.
I would love to see her as a judge on IDOL! Hope they can work out the deal!
If she is on the show, I will stop watching. She is a bad has been
So Paula being a has-been didn’t bother you but Jennifer does?
Why? What the hell is wrong with you people?
Well, I think Paula clearly had more talent than Hennifer at comparble points in their career. Truth is Hey-ho is a never was, manufactured pseudo diva.
Nothing against JLo but she is over. She will not add much to the new Idol line-up. If people don’t want to see her movies or buy her music, why will they want to see her on Idol? they should have found someone more exciting.
Good grief. If no-talent Lopez will be a judge on AI then I will not watch. Her stint as a guest “mentor” was abysmal. She has no insight, isn’t an artist, can’t act, and most damning of all, is uninteresting. How someone with her lack of talent rose so high in the entertainment world speaks volumes for the drones who purchase her “music” and attend her movies. Ugh.
Well, I cant understand why she is bought either but I can understand how she ‘got’ where she is. Even record execs like the wee wee kisses.
“How someone with her lack of talent rose so high in the entertainment world speaks volumes for the drones who purchase her “music” and attend her movies.”
…So nobody?
Haven’t watched it yet.
Won’t start now.
Here, Here!!!!!
J Lo a dirty, talentless, fat-assed old ho. No thanks.
You kiss your mother with that mouth?
All divas get humanized eventually…
Okay, somebody explain to me please why in the hell she is considered worth 12 million dollars to sit in judgment in front of a bunch of other amateur singers.
JLO got a great deal considering she’s a manufactured non talent. 12M for someone who no one wants to see or hear is not exactly the greatest move by the AI producers because no one really cares what JHO has to say.
Heck, you said it, Critic! Where does this even add up? Satalled career MEANS no one wants to see your movies or hear you….you had your shot, you failed. The brainiac who forked out the 12mil for this needs his head examined. Lopez is a media created, computer voiced enhanced nobody! I watched Idol for about a season, it took me that long to realize that the real talent on the show never makes it.
FOX is notoriously cheap when it comes to talent and the only person who gets a put picture commitment is Peter Chernin. One guess as to why.
What’s a Peter Chernin?
She doesn’t need a put picture, she needs an amazing script. One hit and she’s back.
Ugh, I knew this was probably a foregone conclusion, but just a shame. I think she is a talentless individual and can’t imagine what this woman will contribute…her and Steven Tyler??? RIP,American Idol.
It’s nice to see the little people doing well.
That’s $12 million A YEAR!!!!!! A WHOPPING $36million for three years. Yeah baby. Benny Medina sure knows what he’s doing. Tell me, does he get a percentage of that?
she’s a hasbeen
To be a has been, you had to have been someone. JHo is more like a never was. I’ve just been handed 12 million reasons to not watch AI. Not like I needed even one…
Can we all say….. JUMP THE SHARK??? I sure can.
I can! JUMP THE SHARK! See?