Nigel Lythgoe Can’t Let Go of Jlo (Time to Move On)

By On 07/23/2012 · 34 Comments · In American Idol, Jennifer Lopez, Nigel Lythgoe

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I do not understand American Idol executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe’s pining for Jennifer Lopez. She hasn’t officially announced absolutely positively that she’s leaving the Idol judges’ panel yet, although I think, “It’s time for me to move on.” is pretty much an indication that she doesn’t plan to come back.

But until Jennifer explicitly announces that she’s not returning, Nigel is holding out hope for her return, he said at a So You Think You Can Dance panel at today’s FOX Television Critics Association Tour in Los Angeles.

“All I said to Ryan is I was really upset to hear of Steven [Tyler] leaving us and the possibility of Jennifer leaving us. She did say 99 percent. Strange thing to say, 99 percent. You’re either leaving or you’re not leaving. So I’m hoping that 1 percent may mean she’s not leaving.”

You’ll notice that FOX has not sent out a press release announcing Jennifer’s resignation like they did for Steven Tyler. It could be if her salary demands are met, she would come back after all.

Nigel. It’s time to move on. Mooning over Jlo is like begging an ex-girlfriend–who has made it clear she doesn’t want you anymore unless you can show her the bling–to give you the time of day. It’s pathetic. There’s nothing Jlo did on that panel that merits paying her an astronomical fee. 17 million dollars is too much.

But then, he contradicted himself when he said, “I would really like to see the judges change every year.”

On the current negotiations for new judges, Nigel says:

“It’s horrible to be in this position where [reporters are asking], ‘Who’s it going to be?’ There are thousands of names being thrown about.”I try to deflect [the questions] by saying the Three Stooges,” Lythgoe added. “You can’t negotiate with somebody in a public marketplace. Once you’ve negotiated with the one person you want, you have to balance that with who is around that person. It’s a bit like a jigsaw puzzle without a picture on the front of the box.”

As for Nigel, he’s still negotiating HIS return as executive producer to American Idol.

“I can’t make any comments about my future with ‘Idol’ at the moment. We’re in negotiations is all I can say there,” he said.

The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Li-Wright/100001622678180 Li Wright

     She and Mariah will not — repeat — will not sit at the same table.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Li-Wright/100001622678180 Li Wright

     Windmills, it’s about chemistry.  That panel of Judges — Steven, Jlo and Randy — had chemistry and they were probably the best people to work with (for Nigel)….do you remember all the “diva” reports that came out about Simon and how he was always late….always made his “entrance” after Randy & Paula were on set?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Li-Wright/100001622678180 Li Wright

     Nigel will probably move SYTYCD off of the Fox platform.  Sounds like bad blood between peeps.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Li-Wright/100001622678180 Li Wright

    Pam, you aint seen drama till you’ve seen Mariah. :)

  • http://twitter.com/eilonwya10 Eilonwy

     Nigel will probably move SYTYCD off of the Fox platform.

    He can’t. First, Lythgoe doesn’t own SYTYCD: Apollo Management Group (parent of CORE Media Group, which is parent of the properties that used to be CKx and 19) does. Second, Fox has a perpetual and exclusive license to broadcast SYTYCD, so the show leaves Fox only if Fox dumps it (official filing, go to page 7, second paragraph under SYTYCD).

    Anyway, I agree with the various people who’ve pointed out that all Lythgoe’s accomplished today is to make himself look out-of-the-loop.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PSHFTD4YV3QOE3INABJUXZSWMU hillstreetblooz

     He can take his narrow, whiney, out of touch, old no dancing ass on out the door. I used to like him, but he’s shown himself to be a petulant little bitch the last couple years.

  • http://twitter.com/KariannHart Kariann Hart

    When Nigel admitted that Clay Aiken was the top vote-getter each and every week of Season 2, I thought he was OK.  Idol admitting the phone lines were the major problem was a good move.  Maybe down the road he may explain what happened in Season 8.

  • Anonymous

    Um, I think Kris won in Season 8.

    Why is it if your special snowflake didn’t win it was all about some horrible dark thing that happened with the voting? Kris won.

    The voting system is flawed – I think we all know that. But it is the same voting system they have had, with a few tweaks, since the beginning. Maybe we think someone else should have won certain seasons, including Clay in Season 2, Daughtry in Season 5 etc. But the person who won – won. If the wrong person is winning, does that mean that Fantasia didn’t really win, it really should have been the runner-up or the third place finisher? Was Carrie Underwood the wrong winner her season? Was there some sort of conspiracy that led to Jordin Sparks winning, or to David Cook winning? Every season, when someone’s favorite doesn’t win, they think there is some vast conspiracy. Yes, the voting system is flawed. But the winner is the winner each year via that same flawed system. I know there is a theory about votes from Arkansas blah blah blah. Adam did not win – period. So what? The likelihood of a vast conspiracy is about as likely as Elvis still being alive. It’s fun to think about, it makes people who support the non-winner feel better or justified in their ~ whatever. But who really cares? I hope they change the voting system. But the same system for the last 11 years has produced the winners – and no matter who each of us thinks should have been the winner – the winner won! Jessica rocks, Phil won. It is what it is.

  • Anonymous

    I always thought that was a lie or at least an exaggeration. Or that Clay lost steam at the end. Final three votes were within a percentage point so even if Clay was atop tat 34 or 35 percent I don’t see how anyone could surprised that Ruben could pull more of Kim Locke’s voters. The closeness surprised only those that thought Clay superior to Ruben. Frankly watching that season I don’t believe Nigel. I also never believe any voting anomalies ever messed with results. Even in seasons that I disagreed with the voters.

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