updated 7/27/2010 8:30:16 PM E
Auditions(试听、选秀) for the next season(赛季) of “American Idol” began this week in New Orleans as the short list of possible judges to fill Simon Cowell’s empty seat kept growing. The latest name being considered: Jessica Simpson.
“Jessica has been approached about(就……提出要求) ‘American Idol’ but nothing has been confirmed yet on either end,” a source close to Simpson told TODAYshow.com.
If Simpson does get the “Idol” green light, don’t expect her to be the permanent(固定的) replacement(更替的人物) for Cowell. “She’s not his replacement — they’re two entirely different personalities(名人),” according to a source who’s quoted in the new issue(期刊) of Life & Style magazine. “This is part of a massive overhaul(彻底检查，大修) of the show. There may be more judges, more opinions.”
Chris Isaak , Harry Connick Jr. and Justin Timberlake are also said to be in talks with the show. Reps(销售、策划人员) for “American Idol” wouldn’t comment about any new potential judges, but they did confirm there’s no new judge in place(适当的).
“The only person who’s been to auditions in New Orleans is Ryan Seacrest,” a rep for the show told TODAYshow.com. “That’s normal, though — this is just the round where the group gets culled(挑选、剔除), then there’s a producer round and then in late August the judges see potential ‘Idols.’ Hopefully there will be a new judge in place by then.”