Report: Howard Stern tapped to replace Simon Cowell on ‘American Idol’

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Shock jock Howard Stern has been offered Simon Cowell‘s seat on the ‘American Idol’ dais, a new report says.

The New York Post’s Page Six claims that Stern is in negotiations to replace the critical Brit in 2011 when his Sirius XM contract expires. He’s hinted at mulling the gig on several occasions on air.

‘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,’ an ‘Idol’ source tells the Post.

Compete it might, but whispers in Stern’s camp say he’s not thrilled about touring the country auditioning talent, nor is he excited about the amount of time he’d spend in Los Angeles for performance and result shows.

‘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,’ Stern recently said on his show. This doesn’t mean the Fox ratings juggernaut is ready to give up.

‘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 show source added. A Stern source echoed to Page Six the belief that ‘this is a ploy to make Sirius pay up and keep him on his huge contract. But if Sirius can’t pay him the money he wants, he may negotiate to film ‘Idol’ on the side.’

Stern would join newly tapped daytime queen DeGeneres, songwriter Kara DioGuardi and producer Randy Jackson.

Would you watch Howard on ‘Idol’? Would he make a worthy successor for Simon? Tell us in comments.

-- Matt Donnelly

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