Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler New "Idol" Judges?

(CBS)  Big changes are in store at "American Idol."

Reports say Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler are coming on board as judges, replacing Ellen DeGeneres, who announced Thursday she's quitting after just one year.

CBS News contributor Jill Dobson reported DeGeneres tweeted about her departure, saying "Dim the lights ... I've voted myself off 'American Idol.'"

Ellen Dancing Off "Idol"
Pictures: Who Will Be an "Idol" Judge?
"American Idol" Season 9

DeGeneres follows Simon Cowell out the door. In a statement, the so-called "King of Critical" was uncharacteristically kind, saying of DeGeneres, "I have huge respect for her because she's always been in control of her own destiny."

As for DeGeneres, rather than helping young talent, she says she felt she was hurting the hopefuls. On her website she wrote, "It was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings."

But now "American Idol" has some very big shoes to fill now that two of its brightest stars have walked off stage.

And, according to the celebrity website TMZ.com, judge Kara Dioguardi has reportedly been fired after just two seasons on the show.

But as judge after judge leaves, will the viewers stay?

Michael Schneider, TV editor of Variety, told CBS News, "It had an off year. It actually had an off couple of years. It's not the same show we used to watch. "

Ratings are down 20 percent from their peak four years ago, when an average of over 30 million viewers tuned in.

Dobson said the show will likely return to a three-judge panel. People magazine reports that Lopez has signed on to be a judge next season. And rumors on the web say Tyler will join her.

So will the replacements revitalize the show?

Anne Marie Cruz, staff editor at People magazine, said on "The Early Show" Friday that the show seems to have made a "fantastic move."

"Now it's the biggest buzz and it's going it keep going until they figure out who they're going to have," she said. "Last year with they announced Ellen, 30 million viewers for the first show."

But why didn't it work out for Ellen?

"Early Show" co-anchor Erica Hill said, "We heard little tweets here and there. It seemed like she wasn't happy and maybe her fans weren't happy for her."

Cruz added, "I think she never found her footing. Initially she was commenting on the performance quality of the contestants, but then she got away from that and wasn't sure what her input was going to be different from Kara's or Simon's."

Hill said the judging was more about her personality.

But what about Kara Dioguardi's rumored exit?

Cruz said, "It's still not confirmed, but Nigel Lythgoe, the former producer of 'Idol' (who is) this close to being back on the show, he said last year he would wipe the slate clean if Simon left."

Source: Nigel Lythgoe May Return to "Idol"

So does that mean the only remaining original "American Idol" judge music industry veteran Randy Jackson will bow out, too?

"I don't think he's leaving," Cruz said.

Hill said, "They obviously need to do something huge. (Will Lopez and Tyler be) enough to have the staying power this show needs?"

"J-Lo has the superstar music cred," Cruz said. "That was not something that Ellen had. I mean she was a huge music fan. But she had not established herself as a pop star."

Cruz continued, "(J-Lo)'s a brand in herself. She has this whole fashion thing and everybody pays attention to what she wears. Plus, she'll bring the sex factor into 'Idol,' which ... I don't think they've had."

[patycool]

J lo would have been Great !! She would have bought your rating up. She has a good following. Also she has the talent and personality that draws people, By the way I found a website that give you prizes for your opinions and 4 play games here is the topic about J Lo:
http://opinion.ezwingame.com/topics/would-jennifer-lopez-being-on-american-idol-be-good

[pastandpresent]

i would like to see brian wilson, smokey robinson, and whitney houston as the new judge idols

[pastandpresent]

i would like to see a bold new and improved approach like whitney houston,brian wilson, and smokey robinson as the new idol judges

[mecury69]

Uh, no thanks...and uh, no thanks.

[AussieBundy63]

American Idol should not be promoting Celebrity Scientologists such as Jennifer Lopez. Wake up idol. What happened to giving someone inspirational like Taylor Swift instead of has beens.

[nzmoores]

The Dog and JLo? Check. Not so sure about Tyler. What about these 10:

http://nodavebarry.blogspot.com/2010/07/top-10-picks-for-new-american-idol.html

[jlhunter68]

I really think that American Idol should have never let Paula go, the show just hasnt been the same since, and now Simon, geesh... Although Tyler Perry might be a good judge, J Lo, come on now... no offense but I think that Paula and Simon should be on there along with Randy, why mess with a good thing that was working already...

[AussieBundy63]

American Idol should not be promoting Celebrity Scientologists such as Jennifer Lopez, wake up idol and smell the failure. What happened to giving someone inspirational like Taylor Swift ago instead of has beens.

[erasmus111]

If I have to hear or see Taylor Swift anymore, I will throw up. I have seen enough of her to last me a lifetime. Besides that, she hasn't lived long enough to be judging others.

[MalloryDavis]

Who cares what celebrities believe in? They are enjoyed because of their craft.

[eddee4911]

Not Steven Tyler...OMG.....w/ his face like Mick who is going to watch?

[MalloryDavis]

Say what you will about Steven Tyler's face...There are many women who think he's just way cool. He's very sensual. Don't have to look like Brad Pitt for that.

[JayAdler1]

My proposal for a pro concert hour on late night television could be produced today even with the enormous fees that performers receive. I saw Johnny Mathis, who soon will do a concert in Long Island, New York and Tom Jones on a news reel and both men are just as good as ever. The oldies group is replete with people we loved and still do like Chubby Checker,Ringo,Carly Simon, Paul McCartney, Stevie Winwood, Eric Clapton, Suzanne Vega, The Indigo Girls who knows even Joni Mitchell can still shine of she wants to. Contemporary performers ready to begin a tour would perform on a Television ensemble to promote. This is the kind of music that thinking Americans who know the real thing really want.