American Idol 2013 Drama: Jennifer Lopez to Replace Mariah Carey Mid-Season after 'Boring' Judge Criticism, Ratings Drop? Diva 'Threatens to Sue'

"'Idol' Panic: Secret Plot to Replace Mariah Carey With Jennifer Lopez Fails!" blares a recent Hollywood Reporter headline. Apparently, Fox executives and "American Idol" producers recently devised a "secret plan" to ditch "AI" diva Mariah Carey and replace her with former judge, Jennifer Lopez. Carey is a little too "boring" for the show, and overall ratings have dropped because of it. The head honchos over at Fox hoped to "shake things up" mid-season for a season 12 comeback, but Carey allegedly threatened to sue after she found out the shady replacement plans. Such "AI" drama at the judges' table still remains unconfirmed... read on for more details!

"American Idol" producers initially hoped that pairing Carey up with Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson opposite Keith Urban would spark fans' interest. And it did, at first...

As the Hollywood Reporter points out, "AI" ratings have significanly dropped since the start of season 12. The Wednesday performance show is currently averaging a 4.3 rating for adults 18-49 - the worst since the show's debut season in 2001. And those numbers continue to drop.

According to the exclusive HR report, "Carey, a multiplatinum and Grammy-winning singer, is perhaps Idol's most pedigreed judge ever. But despite her eight-figure salary, she has seemed passive and disengaged in her comments on the show, failing to generate the kind of fan following that Lopez had when she judged."

Which is why insiders claim Fox reality chief Mike Darnell and Fremantle’s Cecile Frot-Coutaz planned on ditching Carey mid-season and bringing back beloved judge Lopez to spice things up a little. But once Carey heard about that, she threatened to sue, and the idea quickly fizzled.

Rumors continue to swirl that the entire judges' panel will be replaced next season.

Meanwhile, "AI" producer Nigel Lythgoe insists such talk is total nonsense - "I have not been included in any conversation regarding replacing Mariah with Jen this season."

Reps for Carey and other Fremantel producers decline to comment on the behind-the-scenes drama, but a FOX spokeswoman released this in a statement to Hollywood Reporter: "This is just another ridiculous Idol judge rumor, likely started by talks of Jennifer performing on the finale."

So what do Mstars readers believe?