A few months ago "American Idol" announced that the singing competition show was having a complete makeover. Three of the four judges from last season left and the show also lost its mentor Jimmy Lovine.
Following the announcement the show has been on a massive hunt to fill the vacant spots. It has already been confirmed that Keith Urban would be returning and it was accidentally revealed that former judge Jennifer Lopez would be back for the new season.
Fox is currently on the hunt for someone to fill the third and final spot at the judging table but they are reportedly having a very difficult time, Entertainment Weekly reports. At one point it was rumored that a former "Idol" contestant would fill the spot. Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood were among the names mentioned.
For unspecified reasons that idea fell through. According to Entertainment Weekly, Fox producers wanted to keep one African-American judge on the panel and reportedly approached Diddy, Kanye West and will.i.am but all three turned down the offer.
Now, the show is looking for a "Simon-Cowell-type-of-judge" and have been considering Dr. Luke to fill the final spot. This also fell through because of a "contractual conflict of interest that scuttled the deal," EW reports.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the deal with Luke fell through because his camp initially said that it would interfere with his work for his label, Sony Music. A source told the website that the real reason they didn't want him to do it was because the music rights to "American Idol" recordings go to Universal Music Group, which is Sony's rival.
Luke was reportedly very interested in being a judge and offered Sony half of his pay from the show - which is said to have been around $12 million - but they wouldn't change their minds. Now Fox is said to be talking to Harry Connick Jr. about becoming a judge.
A source revealed that he was not a first choice and they really don't want to go with another celebrity but they are running out of time. The new season was supposed to begin filming next Tuesday but might be postponed if another judge isn't signed on in time, THR reports.
