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Nigel Lythgoe May Return for 10th Season of "American Idol"
Television host/dancer Nigel Lythgoe arrives at the Twentieth Century Fox Television and FX Primetime Emmy Nominees party, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
The "So You Think You Can Dance" judge is reportedly in talks to return to Fox's "American Idol" as executive producer - a gig he left two years ago.
PICTURES: "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 7
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fox and Simon Fueller (the show's creator) are close to signing a deal with Lythgoe.
His return could set off speculation not only who will take over for Simon Cowell, but also the fate of the other remaining judges.
PICTURES: Who Will Replace Simon Cowell?
In April, Lythgoe criticized the judging and the shows lack of focus to E! News.
"I think over the last couple of years, the show has been about the judges, whether it was Kara [DioGuardi] or Paula [Abdul] leaving or Ellen DeGeneres joining," Lythgoe said.
"It shouldn't be about the judges," he said. "It should be about the young talent. And once we get that into focus, the show will be successful again."
Sources told THR that Jackson has another year left on his contract and DioGuardi's one-year-at-a-time deal has yet to be renewed. Replacing DeGeneres was deemed "problematic" in the report since her multi-year deal with the network was signed just last year.
Fox declined comment on Lythgoe's possible return or whether his judging role on "So You Think You Can Dance," which also airs on Fox, would be affected. Lythgoe is co-creator and an executive producer of the dance contest.
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