Ellen Out, Kara Fired, Steven Tyler, J-Lo In

Ellen DeGeneres is off American Idol—and sources tell TMZ Kara DioGuardi is too, though not by choice. DioGuardi has reportedly been fired, and the show will return to its three-judge format...with Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler in talks to join the last remaining judge, Randy Jackson, reports Gossip Cop. All follow-up reports seem to agree Lopez is in, with one source telling People the deal is done and Lopez “is excited about it.”

Deadline notes that DeGeneres’ exit is no surprise, as she was complaining months ago that producers “couldn’t control Cowell,” an insider says, and was never accepted by the audience or other judges. The Los Angeles Times, which says it's unclear if the three-judge buzz is true, runs down the list of recent rumored judge candidates, including Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Simpson, and (though he’s the only one campaigning for himself) Perez Hilton.
(More American Idol stories.)