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Last year about this time, the Internet was abuzz about who would replace Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, and Kara DioGuardi on the American Idol judges’ panel. There were a lot of rumors going around about who had been asked to sit on the panel, who had rejected a request to join the show, and who would ultimately end up judging the contestants this season.

Even after the press came to the consensus that Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez were the two stars in negotiations with Idol producers, rumors continued to fly around for weeks that talks with Jennifer were breaking down over her reported diva-like demands. Finally, on September 22, 2010, all those rumors were put to rest as FOX officially announced Steven and Jennifer to the world.

But that was 2010. This is 2011. And judging questions are flying around once again.

If you have been paying attention to the news at all over the past few days, then you know that Jennifer Lopez told BBC 1′s Scott Mills that she was on the fence about returning to American Idol next season.

In the interview, she said, “I had an amazing time doing it and I loved it but I have a lot other things happening, and it’s going to come down to me making a choice of really what I want to do for the next year. We’re not really at the breaking point of ‘You have to make a decision right now!’ I’m just really enjoying the time of just waiting and seeing.”

Jennifer also admitted in the interview that her late 2011 schedule is quickly filling up. In other words, by the time she has to make a decision, her schedule may have already decided for her.

Although auditions for Season 11 will begin later this month, the auditions we see on TV won’t be taped until late September or early October. So there is still time for Jennifer to think about what she wants to do.

That also means there is plenty of time for American Idol producers to think about what their Plan B will be, and whether their Plan B should really become their Plan A.

I’m sure the producers are eager to have Jennifer return. After all, the addition of Steven and Jennifer as judges were at least partly responsible for the 1.2 million increase in viewers for the performance shows this season (the results shows had an increase of about 400,000 viewers).

In addition, the blogverse seemed to write a lot more articles about the show this season. The increase began as bloggers speculated not only about who was being rumored to take the spots next to Randy, but who they thought should be on the panel. Once the judges were announced, hundreds of bloggers took to the Internet to give their forty-four cents worth about the picks.

Then the season started and Steven Tyler opened his mouth, forcing the little American Idol logo to make a lot of appearances. After one show, Steven became the talk of all the bloggers and Jennifer was regulated to blog entries and news articles that talked about all three judges in the same article.

Once the live shows started, however, producers neutered Steven, allowing that little AI logo a chance to go rest out in the pasture. Then Jennifer came out with her new single, “Dance of the Floor.” Bloggers were, once again, talking about Jennifer, though many were laughing at her and not with her over the song and her resurgent career.

Midway through the live shows, however, viewers, bloggers, and critics finally began paying attention to what the judges were saying to the contestants. And when that happened, the tide against the new panel began to turn. Each week, the people took to the Internet criticizing, cajoling, and downright begging the judges to give the contestants constructive criticism of some kind. Any kind. Just something that was akin to fawning all over every contestant like a little puppy.

Which leads me to ask: Do we even want Jennifer Lopez back next season?

I liked the interaction that happened between the judges, and I liked how they were during the auditions and Hollywood Week. They actually gave constructive criticism to the hopefuls, dashing a dream or two along the way when necessary. But once the live shows started, all resemblance of Randy, Steven, and Jennifer being a judging panel went out the window.

At this point, however, I want a judge who is going to actually CRITIQUE the contestants when necessary. One of the things I like about the judging panel on So You Think You Can Dance is that in the midst of fawning all over the contestants, who, by the way, deserve just about every fawning comment they are getting this season, the judges will still point out some flaws and other items that need to be worked on. If Idol wants to restore its credibility, it needs to begin with finding a judge that will, well, judge.

If Jennifer is willing to be that judge, then I’m all for her coming back next season. But I don’t see her as being able to be that judge. Which makes me think that the show should part ways with her and find someone else who can fill the void on the panel that was sorely needed.

In addition, I don’t see her even wanting to return. She got what she wanted out of American Idol, which was a resurgent career, new music, and more job offers than she can keep up with. She doesn’t need the show anymore. She can fill her schedule just fine without having to pencil in dates for auditions, Hollywood Week, and live shows.

So what do you think? Should Jennifer Lopez return to American Idol next season? Or should Idol producers move their Plan B to Plan A and start looking for someone to fill her spot?

Vote in the poll above, then leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

And don’t forget to join me, along with my special co-host, Rickey from Rickey.org, at 11 PM ET / 10 PM CT / 9 PM MT / 8 PM PT for the Idol Radio Show.