These ... are your 'American Idol' judges [Updated]

This ... is "American Idol, 2.0."

After almost two months of dodging questions from the media, Fox officially announced Wednesday who will replace Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi at the judges' table in the show's 10th season.

Who will sit next to Randy Jackson? Well, not even Ryan Seacrest could turn this into a compelling "dim the lights" moment. In a grand press conference at The Forum in Inglewood, where the last round of cattle call auditions were being held, Seacrest announced  what has been speculated behind the scenes for weeks: Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler are the show's new judges.

About 3000 Idol hopefuls are at the Forum to audition and hear the news from Seacrest himself. Randy Jackson told the crowd: "I'm calling 'Idol' season 10 the remix, baby!"

Tyler said he wanted to be a "part of something bigger" than himself. "I wanna bring some rock to this roller coaster."

Lopez said she was very excited "to work with you and watch you grow." In a press release, Peter Rice, chairman of Entertainment for Fox Networks Group, said, "We're incredibly excited to have Jennifer join the Fox family. From the worlds of dance and music to television, films and fashion, she is a global superstar with iconic and captivating style, along with impressive insight on how to reach and move audiences worldwide."

[Updated 10:23 a.m.: Quotes from Jackson, Tyler, Lopez and Rice have been added.]

The return to a panel of three and the hiring of two new faces amounts to a sweeping overhaul of the No. 1 show on TV, with an impact that is impossible to predict. "Idol" producers have tightly controlled the show's image over the years, but the program was tossed into disarray following the recent exits of Cowell, DeGeneres and DioGuardi.

Cowell announced his plans to leave "Idol" before the ninth season began. But DeGeneres, apparently taking her cues from the public's response, resigned this summer. DeGeneres had been hired to replace Paula Abdul, who left the show unexpectedly a year ago over a contract dispute. Fox opted not to re-sign DioGuardi, who joined the singing competition two years ago. Ratings erosion this past season also highlighted the perception that the show was losing its once-fast grip on viewers.

The makeover is, at least in part, the brainchild of Nigel Lythgoe, best-known as a judge and executive producer on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance." Lythgoe, who resigned as "Idol's" executive producer in 2008 over clashes with Cowell, returned to the same job in August. The British-born dancer-turned-producer has been open with his criticism of "Idol" since he left, and this past season went so far as to say that if he were running the show, he'd start over with new judges after Cowell left. 

Well, Cowell's gone, Lythgoe's back, and only Jackson is left standing. In an interview with "Variety" when he signed his new deal last month, Lythgoe said that everyone had "lost sight of the fact that the most important people on the show are the young artists. It revolved around Kara coming in to make four judges, which often left no time for them to talk. Then it was about Paula leaving, and then about Ellen joining.... Where did Ne-Yo or Chris Brown come from? Where did Justin Bieber come from? Where are these kids?" Lythgoe asked. "That has got to be the priority, more than anything. More than the judges' panel. The judges are there for two minutes; the contestants are there through the entire program."

Fox executives have been highly secretive about why it took more than two months to lock in Tyler and Lopez. How well Lopez and Tyler will fill those roles now remains to be seen. Both are former chart-toppers who have seen their careers cool in recent years. Lopez, who has served as an "Idol" mentor, has sold 25 million records worldwide but was dumped by Sony Music Group following lagging sales this year. Tyler, longtime frontman for the rock group Aerosmith, has tangled publicly with members of his band, who haven't seen an original album go platinum in nearly a decade.

The new judges will have their work cut out for them.  Although ratings slipped this past season, tens of thousands of hopefuls have turned out for the auditions.

-- Maria Elena Fernandez and Scott Collins

twitter.com/writerchica

twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT

Photos: Top, Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. Credit: Getty Images. Bottom,  auditions on Aug. 19 in San Francisco. Credit: Michael Becker / Fox

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As negotiations for new "American Idol" judges drag on, Fox's risks increase

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Steven Tyler joins "American Idol" as a judge

"American Idol's" backup plan with Jennifer Lopez not ready for delivery

"American Idol": Ellen DeGeneres is out, and the guessing game begins

TCA Press Tour: Simon Cowell confirms he's leaving "American Idol," launching U.S. version of "The X Factor"

Comments

[Alli]

None of these people are worth the money they are getting paid and they should be ashamed of themselves. When they run into a burning building, perform a successful brain surgery or discover a cure for cancer, then and only then will I or anyone with any worth, care.

[Barnsinger]

Welcome aboard the Titanic.

[Gracegem]

Think I'll have to watch this just for the train wreck of the judges! Can't wait for the "diva" to get snippy with Tyler and have him go off on her!

[August]

There you have it, it's Official; this will be the last year of American Idol!

[August]

Please DON'T let J-Lo get on stage & sing/dance, and keep Steven as far away from the stage as you can...

[Rodriguez]

@Alli

That's the society we live in. Actors, musicians, even Youtubers (kids sitting in front of a camera) are making millions, while teachers and doctors earn considerably less, though their contributions to society are infinitely more significant.

I disagree that anyone of "any worth" doesn't care. The people who care must be worth something, collectively at least, if their dollars can add up to fuel a trillion dollar industry.

[Just warmed over talent]

I am surprised that this show still exist. The old returning judge is so boring and he needs to grow up... The new judges are value less. Hopefully, this will be the last hurrah.

[All Hallows Eve]

I'll tune in after the Springer/HowardStern-like auditions are over.

[Hmph]

One turn portraying a Tejano singer in a movie does NOT a singer make! Jennifer Lopez makes as much sense as Paula Abdul being a judge; both are excellent dancers, who had a whole lot of "help" musically to produce records that are great for getting your groove on, but display no discernable musical talent.

I vote for Adam Carolla to be a judge next. He's just as qualified as Jennifer Lopez!

[Clara]

And so begins the last season of Idol. It's done.

[barneyfife]

I wouldn't watch this show if Lopez showed us her naked fat ass. All 3 of these people are has beens. Did I mention Lopez has a fat ass?

[liz]

I can honestly say the announcement concerning the new judges will not make me watch one less second of American Idol than I normally do.

[Elaine]

I predict this will be the last season of American Idol. I missed Paula when she left (I'm told wanting 5 million....now they give Jennifer $12...where is the fairness in that), and I think Simon leaving leaves a big dent. I don't think the new judges are replacements for Paula or Simon. I feel for Randy.

[sam]

The show is about the contestants, not the judges. I'll still watch it.

[Sally.]

I cannot believe all the negativity! I will miss ALL the former judges -- they have all had their own wonderful schtick in this. But it's going to be new and it's going to be great! There's a lot of energy going into this. I can't wait!

[Sally.]

Another thought: Why is it any of OUR business what any of these people earn? Please just shut up and let Fox do what they do so well.

[D.C. Williams]

Randy Jackson? OK, he's in the music talent biz, and a seasoned American Idol judge.

Jennifer Lopez? Why? How? Who did this?

Steven Tyler? HE may want to rock the joint, but too many (used-to-be) fans don't rock and don't want to.

Kiss American Idol bye bye!

[Orange Countier]

Other than Carrie Underwood and the late Kelly Clarkson, where are the rest of the Winners?! Exactly this show just makes millions for the judges and Fox in exploiting young talentless youth...

[burndownradio]

Lopez and Tyler do not write their own songs or music, so why are they judges? Judges of what? "Talent" on this show is manufactured and spoon-fed to middle america. The show NEEDS to get people that know something about talent and music (songwriters? A&R Execs?). That is why no one cares and the ship has sunk.

[Robb]

Va-J-Lo is the end of this show.

When does x-factor start?