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Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, what do they bring to Idol?

By April MacIntyre Sep 23, 2010, 6:44 GMT

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, US singer Jennifer Lopez US Music Producer Randy Jackson EPA/MATT CAMPBELL / PETER FOLEY

Fox's new team on "American Idol" features actress-singer Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, along with the returning "dawg" Randy Jackson.

The news broke months ago but was muffled and reigned in by rumors and negotiations of salary.

What can either newcomer bring to the table?

Tyler is a rocker, gritty and has been to the bottom of the well with addiction problems, yet reinvented himself in a large way later in his career.   He gets the work ethic and the perseverance part of the gig.

J-Lo understands packaging, presence and sex appeal. She arguably has taken what some critics have called mediocre singing ability and tarted it up with fantastic stage choreography, and stylized vocals that mask any issues with her voice. She is a genuine diva and knows how to work the real Idol making machine.

What the unplayed wildcard will reveal is chemistry and ego, will the loose lipped Boston rocker Tyler be able to play nice with a woman who tweets photos of her "bling" and brags about her ostentatious lifestyle incessantly?

Nigel Lythgoe tells reporters that the new Idol is a warmer, fuzzier affair. No meanies. Will it even be watchable then?

Simon Cowell possessed a laser sharp brevity of critical summation. He accurately assessed the fatal flaw or the genius of what was laid before him. Time is precious and people need to hear the truth.  At the recent press conference, it was noted by MTV that Tyler "seemed to have a tough time forming cohesive answers to simple questions, and Lopez possessed some of Paula Abdul's airiness."

The show's focus on talent will be enhanced too by Interscope/Geffen/A&M Records chairman Jimmy Iovine, joining the series as a mentor to the contestants. Throughout the season, "Idol" cameras will go behind the scenes to show Iovine helping singers improve their craft.

It will be interesting to see all these gargantuan egos mix it up.