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LOS ANGELES – If you ask former “American Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, there’s only one candidate who can replace Simon Cowell after the longtime judge’s departure – Elton John.

“He’s absolutely it,” Nigel told The Hollywood Reporter’s Showbiz 411 blog of the legendary British rock pianist.

Nigel left “Idol” prior to Season 8. The show is now in the midst of its ninth season, with Simon due to leave the show upon its conclusion and his replacement still up in the air.

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(CNN) — Even before Ellen DeGeneres took her seat on “American Idol,” the roar began.

Cries of “What does she know about music” and “Bring back Paula Abdul” lit up blogs and message boards. Then the next shoe dropped — anchor judge Simon Cowell announced that the ninth season would be his last.

Fans had barely adjusted to the addition of a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, the season before. Once it was announced that DeGeneres was coming onboard, the naysayers were even more perturbed.

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Will she be there? If so, will she be able to give a decent performance? Those were the questions hanging over tonight’s “American Idol,” thanks to yesterday’s hospitalization of Crystal Bowersox. As a result, the Top 10 Girls performance show carried a dramatic thrust that it usually doesn’t have.

So was it self-defeating incompetence, a pressing urge to reassure viewers that Bowersox was OK or a helpful assist to an ailing singer who might have been waiting to hop back into bed that she was the first of the evening? Probably all three.

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This one was predictable: Kate Gosselin’s decision to join the cast of “Dancing With the Stars” has reportedly made her ex-husband, Jon Gosselin, very unhappy. According to Us Weekly, he thinks he should be able to see the kids more than his current visitation because his ex-wife will be travelling to Los Angeles where “Dancing With the Stars” is taped.

“Jon’s angry because doing ‘Dancing With the Stars’ will keep her away from the kids for days, and she still won’t let him have any extra custody,” a source close to Jon Gosselin told Us Weekly. “Nannies will watch them instead of Jon.”

Full Story at Marquee.Blogs.CNN.com

I’m not sure what happened tonight, but it was not a great way to kick off the season.

Overall the performances for the most part were just so-so. Katie Stevens – loved. Siobhan Magnus – I’m a new fan. But so many of the others really failed to deliver. I thought this was the year of the woman in music. Guess the Top 12 didn’t get the memo.

I so hope the guys step it up Wednesday night. Seriously.

So who do you think is going home? Who stays?

Full Story at CNN.com

Los Angeles, California (CNN) — Family tragedy, bad timing and tough competition kept Angela Martin from moving past “American Idol’s” Hollywood Week in three separate seasons.

The 28-year-old mother of a special needs child learned Friday that, despite not making the top 24 again, two “Idol” judges will help get her singing career cranked up.

Ellen DeGeneres, who is in her first season as a judge, invited Martin onto her talk show to discuss her struggles and to sing. And, DeGeneres said, fellow judge Kara DioGuardi will pen a song for her.

Full Story atMarquee.Blog.CNN.com

We once again have a Lambert on “American Idol.”

The remaining top 24 were revealed on Wednesday night and Alex Lambert (apparently no relation to Adam) made it through along with Lacey Brown, Crystal Bowersox, Janell Wheeler, Katie Stevens, Michelle Delamore, Siobhan Magnus, Lilly Scott, John Park, Joe Munoz, Ashley Rodriguez, Haeley Vaughn, Paige Miles, Tyler Grady, Jermaine Sellers, and Andrew Garcia.

And since “Idol” wouldn’t be “Idol” without some controversy, contestant Chris Golightly, who made it into the Top 24, was replaced at the last minute by contestant Tim Urban (who I’m going to go out on a limb here and say is not related to Keith). According to a press release from Fox, it was determined that Golightly was ineligible to continue in the competition.

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There are compelling reasons to watch “American Idol” this season — the talent pool is deep, Ellen DeGeneres has changed the chemistry around the judges’ table and the production value of the show has even improved substantially.

When Tuesday night’s show airs, there will be another reason to watch: Fox is straying from it’s previous plan to wait for Wednesday’s show to announce the top 24 contestants. Instead, part of the final two dozen will be revealed on Tuesday.

Full Story at msnbc.com

NEW YORK – Television ratings show a strong initial appetite for the Vancouver Olympics on NBC.

The Nielsen Co. said an estimated 32.6 million people watched Friday’s opening ceremony. That’s up 48 percent from the 22.2 million people who watched the first night of the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

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Sources close to “American Idol” continue to dispel rumors that Howard Stern will be joining the show, and some have gone so far as to say no formal offer was ever made to the radio host.

“Could he have talked to someone at 19 Entertainment (the production company behind ‘Idol’)? Sure. Did he get an offer? No. No way,” said one source.