Okay.  Let's retrace our steps, then.  This year's American Idol saw a significant amount of discussion about the future of the judges.  We've covered it and I'm actually getting tired of it.

But the recap, anyway.  First, Simon Cowell said he's considering leaving the show at the end of the season, a fact that he affirmed in an interview with The New York Times.  Second, Paula Abdul--who's been in a bubble for the longest time--also pondered on her future during an interview with Nightline.  Most recently, newcomer Kara DioGuardi--who herself was thought to be a replacement for an exiting Paula--admitted that her contract with the show runs only until the end of this season, and hoped that it gets renewed.  We haven't heard from Randy Jackson, but I'm guessing there's something out there, too.


Amidst all this confusion comes another statement--this time, again, from Simon Cowell.  In an interview for The Ellen DeGeneres Show (which was pre-taped for airing sometime next week), he said that all four judges will return next season.  "I think certainly next year everyone's going to be back," he said.  And then he adds the clincher: "Yeah, absolutely."

Admittedly this speculation was partly launched by Kara's entry as the fourth judge in the otherwise three-judge Idol.  Simon acknowledges just that in the interview.  "There's less time for us to talk," he said.  "One week ... ten minutes before the show started, [the producers] said, 'Oh, by the way you can't talk for half the show.'  It's rather like saying in a singing competition to the singer, 'Half of you can't sing.'  It was just crazy."

Should that settle it, then?  First, we don't have any official word from the producers, and second, there's what Simon said before--about him leaving Idol to focus on his ventures across the pond.  Oh, I feel we'll still be talking about this for a while...

Read More:
American Idol 8: Top 4 Perform, Live Thoughts
American Idol 8: Top 4, Rock and Roll, Duets and Slash
American Idol 8: Top 4 Power Rankings
American Idol 8: Top 5 Fashion Rankings
American Idol: David Cook's Brother Passes Away After Battle with Brain Cancer
American Idol 8: Is Kara DioGuardi Leaving At The End Of The Season?
22 Things I'd Rather Listen To Than Paula Abdul on American Idol
American Idol 8: The Not-So-Bright Future of Adam Lambert





-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: TVGuide.com
(Image courtesy of Fox)

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