J.Lo reportedly is all but set to get $12 million to be on the judging panel for “American Idol” for one year.
The single-year deal raises questions about whether TV’s most popular show will end after the upcoming 10th season, according to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Bill Zwecker.
And, despite reports to the contrary, Jennifer Lopez is not making divalike demands with “Idol,” a source told Zwecker.
It had been reported Lopez was insisting a top interior designer be hired to create her office and dressing room spaces and demanded a huge wardrobe allowance and a large entourage to include a hairdresser and makeup artist on call 2-4/7 — plus various PR people and assistants assigned only to her needs, but the source says those reports were false.
Ryan Seacrest and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe reportedly were big supporters of J.Lo as a judge. Both of them see Lopez’s star power and edgy, no-nonsense personality, tinged with a frequently “wacky” sense of humor reminiscent of Paula Abdul, as making her a perfect choice for the judging panel, according to Zwecker.
“In addition, Jennifer is expected to not feel the least bit uncomfortable — unlike Ellen (DeGeneres)– when strong criticism of a contestant’s performance is warranted,” added the “Idol” insider.
Jessica Simpson is teaming up with some heavy hitters for her upcoming Christmas album.
She’s recording with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and country legend Willie Nelson, an insider told Life & Style.
“Plus, one lucky U.S. soldier in Afghanistan will get to sing a duet with her,” adds the insider. “They’ll sing ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas.'”
Jessica has hired producers The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, who produced “Umbrella” and “Single Ladies” for the album.
If fans want to leave gifts inside the King of Pop’s mausoleum because the cemetery is now charging a special $3 Michael Jackson delivery fee.
According to sources at the infamous burial space, Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, Calif., has decided to take down the stage where fans were previously allowed to place gifts and are now enacting a new gifting policy, TMZ reports.
Effective immediately, cemetery staff will take gifts for MJ inside the mausoleum, where fans are still forbidden from setting foot, for a $3 fee, but only if the gifts are flowers.
Anything else — teddy bears, posters, picture frames, candles — will get dumped … and if they run out of space inside, excess gifts will have to brave the elements outside.
Political satirist Bill Maher has been immortalized in Hollywood.
With Larry King and “Family Guy” producer Seth MacFarlane standing nearby, HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” talk show host unveiled his Walk of Fame star Tuesday outside the W Hotel at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street.
Maher, who once hosted the late-night talk show “Politically Incorrect,” said he wanted to thank “George Bush, Sarah Palin and the pope.” It was the 2,417th star dedicated on the famous sidewalk.
— The Associated Press also contributed to this report
lsmith@denverpost.com
