It sounded a bit too good to be true — and it sounds like it was. News broke on Tuesday that season 10 of "American Idol" might bring
the return of former executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, as well as some major changes to the show's judging panel.
Along with the possibility of a wholesale replacement of current judges Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres, the Hollywood Reporter suggested that pop icons Elton John and Justin Timberlake were high on the list of candidates to fill the seat left empty following the departure last season of lead musical adjudicator, Simon Cowell.
But later on Tuesday, Deadline Hollywood reported that representatives for both John and Timberlake threw cold water on the rumors, denying that there's any possibility that either would consider the gig. An unnamed source close to Timberlake reportedly told the site that the story was "just silly" because the former 'NSYNC singer has no time for that kind of job.
Timberlake, who has given no timetable for recording his follow-up to 2006's FutureSex/LoveSounds, will be in theaters soon in the films "The Social Network," "Bad Teacher" and "Friends With Benefits" and has been offered the lead in "I'm.mortal."
As for John, the "Rocket Man" singer's name popped up as a possible replacement for Cowell soon after the acerbic British put-down artist announced he was leaving "Idol" and according to Deadline, there have been some talks ever since.
"Elton's got commitments right up until next year," his U.K. publicist said. "As we stand at the moment, Elton has no plans to do that show."
To put it more succinctly, he told Deadline's London editor, "There's more chance of me f---ing you than Elton being on U.S. 'Idol.'"
When reached for comment on the original story a spokesperson for "Idol" offered a no comment.
This report is from MTV News.
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