Reports: Jennifer Lopez as 'American Idol' judge?

"American Idol" and Fox Tuesday declined to comment on a flurry of reports that actress-singer Jennifer Lopez had been named the newest member of the world's most famous judging panel - albeit a panel that's been rather disjointed and lonely in recent months.

In a surprise, both TMZ and People.com reported that Lopez was signed to only a one-year, $12-million deal. Ellen DeGeneres, who left earlier this summer, had a multiyear deal - perhaps suggesting that Fox's and "Idol's" confidence in Lopez reversing this franchise's declining fortunes comes under the headline "To Be Determined."

Lopez is expected to join the judging panel Wednesday in Los Angeles. Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler also is expected to join the show. Randy Jackson is the only judge from the original trio (which included Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul) remaining. Kara DioGuardi, a judge on "Idol's" eighth and ninth seasons, was not asked back for the upcoming 10th year.

Lopez's own music career has been in a bit of limbo. After a string of multiplatinum smashes, Lopez's most recent English-language studio album, "Brave," stalled at No. 12 in 2007 and Epic Records decided her new album "Love" wasn't worth the cost of putting out in April, after pre-release singles sputtered. Though Lopez announced that "Love" would come out on another label this summer, no deal has been announced.

The Brookville resident's movie career has followed a similar track. "The Wedding Planner" (2001) and "Maid in Manhattan" (2002), both successes, were followed a year later by a bona fide disaster, "Gigli." "The Back-up Plan," released in April, was only a modest performer.

With Glenn Gamboa