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| Mariah Carey |
Mariah Carey will join "American Idol" as a judge next season, Fox announced Monday, bringing his star power for the show remains a ratings leader, but saw its audience and the state decrease of pop culture.
"I am so excited to be joining Idol," said Carey, speaking at the Television Critics Association by phone Fox entertainment Chief Kevin Reilly's, he has put on speaker for the meeting room hotel ballroom.
She could not t be on hand with the group because "it kind of all just happened very quickly," Carey said in his brief remarks. "I can not wait to start in the fall ... and I'll see you in January.”
The show, which saw the judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez out at the last of final season, will be aft on the air for the season in January 12.
Carey Reilly called "the greatest artist of record that one of them (the talent) shows has ever had," adding that she was the artist "that many of these candidates have tried to imitate, have tried some songs, tried to hit the notes.”
Play up the drama, Reilly placed a call to Carey and put it on speakerphone.
"Hi, Mariah. How are you? It's Kevin," he said. "We have an agreement, don t we? Yes!"
Reilly said he was "delighted" to confirm reports that Carey was courted by Fox and said the agreement was signed recently in the last hours. The pop star received a Grammy just under 18 million per year for a one-year contract with a renewal option, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person, not the authority to discuss the issue in public, spoke on check of anonymity.
The output of Tyler and Lopez left the original judge Randy Jackson and started a guessing game about potential replacements, with Carey at the top of the list.
As one of the best-selling singer’s s music, it could provide the weight "American Idol" needs to compete in a talent show field more and more crowded. Besides Fox sibling "The X Factor", which recently added Britney Spears and Demi Lovato as judges, it's NBC's "The Voice", which boasts Christina Aguilera among its biggest names.
"Do not be the only game in town now, we need to keep things fresh," said Reilly. Research is a third judge, and he promised another impressive choice. It could be a star or someone as music director and "Idol" mentor Jimmy Iovine, who was not the name of your household when he joined, Reilly said. But, he added, after 12 seasons "we need to have something to talk about it. "
"We have the biggest names in the business, like Mariah Carey, interested in doing that ... so for the next two weeks, it will be a matter of choosing the right one, with the right chemistry, which makes the case and finalizing this, "he said.
The value of Jackson to the show was reinforced by Carey's signature, although Fox has yet to say whether he'll try next season. Ryan Seacrest will come back as host.
"I can confirm t and t mean giving someone" else on the show, Reilly said. But he added that Jackson "has worked with Mariah and is in fact his co-manager, and Randy was very useful to do this. "
Simon Cowell, the founder"American Idol" judge who's adapted his UK hit "X Factor" for Fox, was asked about Carey's new gig at a critical session later Monday.
"I'm happy for her, actually. I love Mariah. I think she's going to find it difficult to say no. You have to say no to people, and it's sweet, "he said, then quickly backtracked, adding," No, I think it'll be great. "
Cowell had reason to be diplomatic: Carey's husband, Nick Cannon, is the judge of Cowell's "America's Got Talent" on NBC.
"American Idol" finished the 2011-12 season of the show leading entertainment and No. 2 overall, behind NBC's top-rated "Sunday Night Football."
But the show aired its final at-watched ever this season and the advertiser-favored young adult audience has steadily declined. The show's cachet has not been helped by a series of champions who have failed to achieve the career of sizzling past competitors Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson.
Earlier Monday, the veteran "Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said there's slim chance that Lopez could return. His reasoning: As she told Seacrest she was 99 percent sure she was leaving, that means there's a chance of 1 percent, she won t, Lythgoe said.
He told he desired that was the case, although Lythgoe also told critics summer meeting that he thinks the show should be refreshed each season with new judges.
But Lopez's representative confirmed again Monday that it has let S "American Idol". She originally made the announcement on July 13, a day after Tyler said he was leaving.
Reilly also questioned Lythgoe comment, saying, "it's 100 percent that Jennifer won t be back on the show."
"We came to a mutual decision with Jennifer and Steven," he said, calling it "a great experience with both. Creative, we were all happy."
But it was decided "it was time for a change," said Reilly.
Lythgoe said his own contract is under negotiation, refusing to comment further. Reilly later called Lythgoe "the best producer of the company."
