According to PageSix, American Idol producers are desperate to hire radio star Howard Stern to replace Simon Cowell, who will be embracing a new project (the American X-Factor), on the next season of the show.

A source connected to “Idol” said, “It’s one of the few shows that could compete with Stern’s $100 million-a-year Sirius contract, and ‘Idol’ bosses think he’d be even nastier than Simon.

“They know he would be great TV and would clash with the other judges such as Ellen DeGeneres and the contestants. ‘Idol’ will do what it takes to sign him.”

The brutally honest highest paid raid host announced that his exclusive contract with Sirius XM Radio ends in January 2011 and he is open to other offers. However Howard isn’t exactly excited about getting a new job that would require him to travel the country and live in Los Angeles during a big part of the year.

Howard is probably playing hard to get in an attempt to make a good deal with Sirius and then consider if he wants or not to do Idol on the side. He recently said, “I was approached by a major TV network to take over a TV show and leave here and do that next year — and I did turn it down . . . I’m not even sure if I want to be working. I’m waiting to see what happens.”

I would love to see Howard as a judge. If you think Simon is mean and nasty, Howard would be over the top honest with no fear of hurting anyone’s feelings. He would be merciless!

[image: wenn.com]