American Idol: Goodbye Ellen, hello Jen?

It’s anybody’s guess what the judges panel on next season’s "American Idol"  will look like.

After Simon Cowell’s departure earlier this year, Ellen DeGeneres walked out of Fox TV's hit singing contest Thursday. “Dim the lights...I've voted myself off American Idol,” she posted on her Twitter page, directing fans to her website, where a larger statement awaited.

Now the Associated Press reports that Jennifer Lopez is poised to step into the breach and is close to signing on as a judge, quoting a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity. Actor-singer-dancer Lopez, whose films include "Selena" and "The Back-Up Plan," has appeared as a mentor on "American Idol."

Fox declined comment. Phone and e-mail messages for Lopez's representatives were not immediately returned.

Fox has yet to announce a replacement for Cowell. Cowell departed after the season finale in May to start an American version of the British show “X Factor” for the network. His exit sparked a celebrity gold rush for his seat at the judge's table. Websites in recent days have been filled with rumours of candidates for the gig, including Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Simpson, Harry Connick Jr, Chris Isaak, Jamie Foxx, Bret Michaels and Sean "Diddy" Combs.

New faces on the panel could help the show reinvent itself in season 10, as it tries to stem a ratings slide and bring in younger viewers. The "American Idol" audience has been gradually aging, and advertisers prefer to pitch to young adults.

With audition episodes featuring the judging panel set to begin filming in September for the show's return in January, the pressure is on to announce the new judges. On Monday, Fox is scheduled to present its 2010-11 programmes to a meeting of the Television Critics Association.

"A couple months ago, I let Fox and the “American Idol” producers know that this didn't feel like the right fit for me," DeGeneres said in a statement. The comedian-talk show host said she realized that while she "loved discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings."

DeGeneres said she told the network she would delay any action until it had time to "figure out where they wanted to take the panel next."

Judge Kara DioGuardi, who was added to the panel two years ago, is not under contract for next year and Fox has not announced whether she'll return. Original judge Randy Jackson is the fourth panel member.

"It was a joy to work with Ellen," said Mike Darnell, president of alternative entertainment for Fox. "She brought an incredible spirit to Idol." When DeGeneres joined the show as a replacement for Paula Abdul, proclaiming herself a fan of "American Idol" and a pop aficionado, observers noted she didn't bring music industry expertise to her role. Some observers complained she proved more of a cheerleader than an incisive critic in the mould of Cowell. She had a reported five-year contract.

Of this season's four judges, only Jackson and Kara DioGuardi remain. But how long their tenure will last seems an open question. The Los Angeles Times said in a related story that the producers of "Idol," Fremantle Media and 19 Entertainment, are said to be in talks with former "Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe — who left the show almost exactly two years ago after reportedly butting heads with Cowell — to return to oversee the show and possibly serve as a judge. Lythgoe, who declined several requests for an interview, is a judge on Fox's summer show "So You Think You Can Dance" and is said to favour a wholesale reinvention of "Idol."

The addition of Lopez — J-Lo to fans — would certainly move him toward that goal. However, it was unclear whether Fox would move back to a three-judge format — or add yet another name to make a panel of four.

"American Idol" was the USA’s favourite programme last season, the seventh time it's held that position. But it showed rare vulnerability, beaten in the weekly ratings several times by ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." A total of 24.2 million viewers watched the ninth season's final duel between Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox, compared to the nearly 29 million viewers who saw Kris Allen win over Adam Lambert last year.

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