There are weeks, and there are weeks. That has to be the sentiment reverberating through the production offices of "American Idol" these past several days. First, Steven Tyler concretely, officially declares his exit from the show. And then J.Lo follows suit. And now, just about every tabloid in the biz is suggesting Mariah "I'm Generally Fairly Stable" Carey might step in and replace one of those two luminaries. 

People is quoting an anonymous source who tells them "she's in play" and "in serious talks," while Us Weekly, not to be out-scooped, claims that not only is "it very close to being a done deal," but that "they will move Randy into a more mentoring role." According to the Us story, "AI" brass "think they need to freshen everything up now.” That's probably pretty good thinking.

Jennifer Lopez is practically coming out and saying it now: Next season, "American Idol" will have a J.Lo-size hole to fill.

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Here's what she told "The Today Show's" Natalie Morales Thursday: "I love everybody. I love all the guys on the show. I love the family that’s there. Like I said, I’ve just enjoyed it so much. But I am thinking that maybe it’s time for me to go and do other things that I really love to do.”

However, she did add: "But then again, I really love the show, so…"

The "Idol" judge was promoting her new film "Ice Age: Continental Dirt" during a satellite interview.

In May, Lopez also told former "Idol" judge Ellen DeGeneres: "I don't know if I can go for a third year. I miss doing other things. It really does lock you down, which was nice the first year."

Internet speculation over who will man next season's judging table has run rampant this week, ranging from the credible (Adam Lambert) to the incredible (Charlie Sheen).

"American Idol" returns next winter on FOX.

Don't let the trailer for the third season of "The Real L Word" fool you. There is no East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry between the stars of the Showtime reality series, which returns Thursday, July 12.

Bing: More on 'The Real L Word' | The ladies of 'The Real L Word'

Instead, the producers do a thorough job of spotlighting lesbian communities in both Los Angeles (where the show has been primarily set until now) and New York. There are even a couple of relocations that tie both worlds together.

But at times, the attempt to draw contrasts between the two cities is a little too much. And to prove just how edgy the Big Apple is, many of the scenes in New York are shot at night. And don't even get us started on the endless parade of black clothes, mascara and eyeliner these East Coasters use. It's practically satirical.

We get it. New Yorkers love black as much as Los Angelinos love hair extensions and red carpets. Now move on.

Plus: Meet the 12 new houseguests on 'Big Brother' Season 14 | Also: Summer TV report card

Speaking of love and moving on, the third season of "The Real L Word" includes a lot of romantic drama, reconciliations and cattiness. And fans will finally find out the relationship fates of Whitney, Sara and Romi. To up the ante, there's even a head-turning revelation in the first three minutes.

Viewers will also get to meet New York heartbreakers Kiyomi, Vero, Laura and Somer, all of whom are in the band Hunter Valentine.

The third season of "The Real L Word" premieres Thursday, July 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime.

Wait, it's not April 1 again. And yet, TMZ is treating like a real scoop an obvious put-on from "American Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe. He told the gossip site that he would "LOVE" for recent crazy town returnee Charlie Sheen to judge Season 12 -- alongside elderly comic legend Jerry Lewis -- should current judges Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson leave two or more vacancies.

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"Nigel would not say if he was joking," TMZ reported, "but he repeated his wish list several times during the conversation."

Really, guys?

TMZ even elicited a response from Sheen to the "offer": "If the numbers move the needle AND 'Idol' matches 20 percent of my weekly salary for Autism Speaks, JDRF, and the Boys and Girls Club ... then the hell with it." (Translation: Sure, if they pay me enough and support my charities.)

Sheen also said that FX -- which airs his new sitcom, "Anger Management" -- would have to approve. If so, Sheen concluded: "As we say, pour the smoke." (Actually, only YOU say that, Charlie.)

Where to even begin on this one? First of all, why would a music show aimed at teenagers hire one guy known primarily to their parents and another to their grandparents -- neither of whom possesses the slightest relation to the music business?

Also: Fired TV actors | The brows of summer | Also: Summer TV report card

The real answer is that they wouldn't, and that Lythgoe probably just wanted to generate some controversial headlines for himself. While appearing yesterday on "Showbiz Tonight," he repeated his wacky wish list, but admitted, "I’m not sure how far I’ll get with that, but I think that would be fun!"

Lythgoe has yet to even reach an agreement to oversee Season 12 , so the casting decision may not be his. And if he still even has a shot at keeping his job at this point, we wonder whether making crazy statements to the media is the smartest way to avoid being fired. (The next time they speak, Lythgoe should ask Sheen about that.)

"American Idol" returns next winter on FOX.

By Diane Vadino

Special to MSN TV

Can you believe we're almost at the end? Or, indeed, that we're here in Curacao with three guys? Oh, you forget? No problem: We're about to spend the next ten minutes going over how we got here -- because hey, we're all immortal, and have time to burn. We begin with strong yet sensitive Sean, the guy who provides both "love at first sight" and "gives butterflies in my heart." Next we have skinny hipster Jeff, who on one hand seems like he belong in a different show ("Real World: Salt Lake City"?) but in other ways makes total sense here. As for Emily: "I love his style. He is so his own person, and he doesn't care what anybody thinks. My life with Jef would be full of adventure and excitement -- he can make anything fun." Oh, and then there's Arie: "Our connection was literally almost immediate. When I think about what my life would be with Arie, I know that I would be with someone who would adore me forever. I just know he would be my best friend."

Bing: More about Emily Maynard | 'The Bachelorette'

However much Arie might seem like an (unspoiled) lock at this point, the night's first date is with Sean. At long last, we're in a helicopter. Haven't we missed helicopters this season? Helicopters and sexual desperation? Shouldn't they have blown the entire helicopter budget in this segment and got one that sets off fireworks? Anyway, back to Sean, who has some serious distance to cover. Isn't he in love with Emily yet? Can't he be -- now, now, now? The answer is sort of. First, we need to explore Sean's past relationship. Hopefully his ex-girlfriend is somewhere this show doesn't broadcast, because I can't imagine what it would be like to have an ex-boyfriend do this on television. "There came a point," Sean says, "when I loved [my ex-girlfriend], but I wasn't in love with her -- I didn't do the sweet things a boyfriend should do. She brought up marriage all the time and I'd always deviate from the conversation. The love that I'm experiencing with Emily is so different from what I've experienced in the past." Of course, it's all different with Emily: "I couldn't stop holding your hand or kissing you," Sean says. Man, I hope Sean's ex-girlfriend is so busy making out with her new boyfriend that she doesn't even know he's on the show. "You don't hide your feelings from me, and I don't hide my feelings from you," Sean says. But Emily's like, um, you sure about that? She eventually gets him to say that he loves her, and then they mess around in the fantasy suite a bit -- but he doesn't stay over! Is this a first for the franchise? And unbelievably, Sean actually gets the most fantasy-suite action of any of the three of them. "I would love nothing more than to stay up with him all night," Emily says. "But I'm a mom. It just doesn't line up with what I believe in and the example I want to set with my daughter." Personal integrity on this show? I know, it's confusing.

Photos: 'Bachelorette' stars: Where are they now? | This season's contestants

Next up is Jef, who "told [Emily] he loves [her] the night [she] met his family -- and [she] just got chills." Jef and Emily's date involves a beach on Curacao and minus the helicopter looks completely interchangeable with Sean's. "I've fallen in love with the girl, and I haven't met someone who's part of her life forever," Jef says. He's sort of weirdly downbeat and asks Emily a bunch of hard, non-romantic questions about where they would live. (Not Charlotte, not Salt Lake City.) "I really love the idea of starting a whole new life -- the three of us," Jef says. He is just so hugely agreeable. In fact, he keeps getting to where Emily's going slightly ahead of her -- which is what makes what happens next so great. Has a guy ever turned down a fantasy suite on this show before? It's a night of firsts. "I plan on spending every night with you in our own little fantasy suite," Jef says, after issuing a whole speech about her daughter, her family, his family, God, ABC, and millions of viewers. Emily is clearly deflated by this: "I wanted to turn him down, but he kind of turned me down," she says. Good for Jef for blowing up her expectations: "There's a time and a place for everything, and now is a time for us to bridle those passions." Somewhere in the Carolinas, Jef's parents are super-duper proud of him.

Finally, we have Arie's and Emily's date. It involves dolphins: "I know nothing about dolphins," Arie says. "I know that they're friendly, and that's good." Emily and Arie start making out: "It's no secret -- I just love kissing Arie," Emily says. They keep making out and occasionally having a conversation. "I don't know what you do on a Tuesday morning," Emily says. This seems to be a really good question. Arie's answer involves going out with his friends every night. Doesn't that seem like a bit of a disconnect? Arie says he'll apply the same easy-does-it approach to befriending Ricky: "It should be easy and fun and lighthearted," he says, before making out with her a bit more. "Arie just doesn't tell me he likes me -- he shows me that," Emily says. You hear that, Sean? Emily doesn't even bring out the fantasy suite card -- because she doesn't trust herself, she says. They make out a bit more -- but fairly chastely, and in public. A season of "The Bachelorette" without a single fantasy suite date? Honestly, I vote for having only single moms on the show from this point forward: It seems like every decision Emily makes is somehow informed by having a kid (and plenty of old-school "The Rules"), and it puts her in such an improved position. I've never felt like this show offered lessons of any sort, for anyone, and there are a million ways to poke holes into the "reality" of this show on any level -- but Emily has also comported herself with more steeliness, and just out-and-out dignity, than any previous bachelorette, and I bet she'll have the best results, too. Er, we'll see, I guess, at "After the Final Rose."

Back in Curacao, we're done. Emily tells Chris she hasn't experienced any further clarity about her three perfect dates -- but really, don't we know which way the winds are blowing at this point? Jef is a lock (for second place ultimately, I'm betting). I did think, for a millisecond, that maybe she'd give Sean a chance and decide that Arie was just about chemistry and nothing else -- but no: It's Sean who's going home. Guess that video appeal didn't help any?

Next week: The men tell all.

"The Bachelor" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Adam Lambert could become the first person to graduate from contestant to judge of the same talent show. According to E! Online, the Season 8 runner-up is in talks to join the "American Idol" panel next season.

"They have been talking about Adam for over a month," E! News quotes an unnamed source. "He personifies the show, and will be a popular choice right from the start."

Bing: More about Adam Lambert | More about 'American Idol'

And Lambert may not be the only replacement required. According to E!'s sources, Jennifer Lopez has "no plans to return" for a third stint, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler is "up in the air" about re-committing and Randy Jackson may become a casualty because FOX wants to give the series "a new look" following poor ratings last season.

More: See 'American Idol' Season 11 highlights | Also: Summer TV report card

In May, Lopez told former "Idol" judge Ellen DeGeneres: "I don't know if I can go for a third year. I miss doing other things. It really does lock you down, which was nice the first year." Neither of the other judges has made public statements about next season. But, at this point, only Ryan Seacrest is guaranteed to return. (He signed a two-year contract in April.)

Season 12 of "American Idol" premieres in January on FOX.