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Aerosmith lead, J-Lo and the Dawg are 'Idol's' chairs, some thoughts

By April MacIntyre Jul 30, 2010, 21:21 GMT

US singer Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, performs on stage at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain, 27 June 2010. EPA/MARTA PEREZ

American Idol has had a flushing (save for Randy Jackson) of the original talent aligned as judges for the long running FOX reality competition.

Cowell got bored and moved on, Abdul was edged out and now Ellen quit and Kara was "not renewed."

FOX Business news anchor Liz Claman, citing Broadcasting & Cable as a source, announced today that Areosmith's Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are the official picks from producers to lead the charge, with resident dawg Randy Jackson holding the fort for the old guard.

Kara DioGuardi has been fired, according to TMZ and Ellen Degeneres has handed in her resignation.

The format now reverts to the three judge panel, and for streamlining the show this is a good thing. It also frees up Ryan Seacrest to flex more of his command of the show muscle, not hindered by a Simon Cowell personality sniping at him.

J-Lo for me is the wild card. She has the music biz experience, but many view her more a self-absorbed dancer and actress than a proper singer. She can be mixed and produced to sound slick, but when you think of great vocalists, it isn't her.

Tyler can croak and rock out with the best of them, but he's been battling demons and recently took a header off a stage while on tour.  His Aerosmith bandmates were not pleased.

Jessica Simpson would have been a disaster.  Brett Michaels would have been cool; he's honest, kind and a straight forward personality, and the contestants on this stressful show deserve that kind of judge to tell them like it is.

What do you make of the new line up? Talk back and tell us who would have made it special for you, or if this line up rocks your world.