Sesame Street: Celebrity Lullabies
Oct 31, 2010
Oct 24, 2010
Leave It to Beaver's Barbara Billingsley Dies at 94
Barbara Billingsley, best known as Leave It to Beaver's picture-perfect matriarch June Cleaver, has died. She was 94.
Billingsley died early Saturday [10/16/10] at her Santa Monica, Calif., home, family spokeswoman Judy Twersky said. The actress had suffered from a rheumatoid disease.
"I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend and lifetime mentor Barbara Billingsley. She will live in the hearts of her fans as a wonderful actress and be remembered by her friends as a gracious lady," Beaver co-star Jerry Mathers, who played Billingsley's mischievous son, Theodore "Beaver," told TMZ. "She will be deeply missed by all of her family, friends, fans and most especially by me."
A former fashion model, Billingsley started acting in the 1940s, appearing in such films as Three Guys Named Mike, Invaders from Mars and The Careless Years. She made her TV debut in a 1952 episode of The Abbott and Costello Show and later appeared on The Lone Wolf, City Detective and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars.
But Billingsley didn't become a star until 1957 when she signed on to play the quintessential TV mom, June Cleaver, on CBS' family sitcom Leave It to Beaver, alongside Mathers, Hugh Beaumont and Tony Dow. CBS canceled the series after one season due to poor ratings. The show then moved to ABC, where it remained for five more years, achieving iconic status for its portrayal of an idealized American family in suburbia.
Impeccably dressed with her trademark pearls and high heels, stay-at-home mom June was dutifully devoted to her husband, Ward (Beaumont), and regularly dispensed advice to her sons, "Beaver" and Wally (Dow).
"Barbara was a patient advisor and teacher," Mathers said. "She helped me along this challenging journey through life by showing me the importance of manners, and respect for others."
Typecast as the perfect mother, Billingsley took a break from acting after the show ended. She poked fun her wholesome image in the 1980 satire Airplane!, playing a passenger who could speak jive.
Billingsley subsequently starred in the 1983 Beaver reunion TV movie, Still the Beaver, and the revival series, The New Leave It to Beaver, which lasted four seasons. In the 1997 film version of Beaver, Billingsley played Aunt Martha. Other credits include Mork & Mindy, Roseanne, Empty Nest and Muppet Babies, on which she voiced Nanny and The Little Train.
Billingsley was married three times, and her last husband died in 1981. She is survived by two sons, three stepchildren and several grandchildren. -TV Guide
Billingsley died early Saturday [10/16/10] at her Santa Monica, Calif., home, family spokeswoman Judy Twersky said. The actress had suffered from a rheumatoid disease.
"I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend and lifetime mentor Barbara Billingsley. She will live in the hearts of her fans as a wonderful actress and be remembered by her friends as a gracious lady," Beaver co-star Jerry Mathers, who played Billingsley's mischievous son, Theodore "Beaver," told TMZ. "She will be deeply missed by all of her family, friends, fans and most especially by me."
A former fashion model, Billingsley started acting in the 1940s, appearing in such films as Three Guys Named Mike, Invaders from Mars and The Careless Years. She made her TV debut in a 1952 episode of The Abbott and Costello Show and later appeared on The Lone Wolf, City Detective and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars.
But Billingsley didn't become a star until 1957 when she signed on to play the quintessential TV mom, June Cleaver, on CBS' family sitcom Leave It to Beaver, alongside Mathers, Hugh Beaumont and Tony Dow. CBS canceled the series after one season due to poor ratings. The show then moved to ABC, where it remained for five more years, achieving iconic status for its portrayal of an idealized American family in suburbia.
Impeccably dressed with her trademark pearls and high heels, stay-at-home mom June was dutifully devoted to her husband, Ward (Beaumont), and regularly dispensed advice to her sons, "Beaver" and Wally (Dow).
"Barbara was a patient advisor and teacher," Mathers said. "She helped me along this challenging journey through life by showing me the importance of manners, and respect for others."
Typecast as the perfect mother, Billingsley took a break from acting after the show ended. She poked fun her wholesome image in the 1980 satire Airplane!, playing a passenger who could speak jive.
Billingsley subsequently starred in the 1983 Beaver reunion TV movie, Still the Beaver, and the revival series, The New Leave It to Beaver, which lasted four seasons. In the 1997 film version of Beaver, Billingsley played Aunt Martha. Other credits include Mork & Mindy, Roseanne, Empty Nest and Muppet Babies, on which she voiced Nanny and The Little Train.
Billingsley was married three times, and her last husband died in 1981. She is survived by two sons, three stepchildren and several grandchildren. -TV Guide
Oct 17, 2010
Soul Singer Solomon Burke Dead At 70
Burke died of natural causes after arriving at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, his family said in a statement posted on Burke's website. He was in town to perform for a sold-out show with the Dutch band De Dijk.
"This is a time of great sorrow for our entire family. We truly appreciate all of the support and well wishes from his friends and fans. Although our hearts and lives will never be the same, his love, life and music will continue to live within us forever," his family said.
Hailed by Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler as "the greatest soul singer of all time," Burke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
He joined the Atlantic Records stable in 1960, putting him in the company of Ray Charles, Ben E. King and Wilson Pickett.
His first hit with them came almost immediately, with "Cry to Me."
He had top R&B hits in 1965 with "Got to Get You Off of My Mind," and "Tonight's the Night," the rock museum says in Burke's biography.
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“Cry To Me” by Solomon Burke
Oct 10, 2010
Oct 3, 2010
This Weeks Sound Off
Actress Lindsay Lohan posted a $300,000 bail and was released from jail late Friday night, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said. –CNN Entertainment
Lindsay Lohan is a pathetic drug addict and alcoholic who has successfully made a mockery of the judicial system. It’s a shame that she is given preferential treatment that the average Joe on the street can only dream of. If you or I were in the same situation, by now we would have been sentenced, locked up, and the key thrown away.
I believe it’s time for the public to teach Lohan a lesson by not catering to her and feeding her pocketbook. In doing so the faster she will hit bottom and hopefully turn her life around. As long as we feed her ego, Lohan will continue to make a mockery of us and the judicial system.
The time has come to stop the madness once and for all. Lohan is nothing more than a train wreck in progress and the sooner the wreck occurs the better, after which we can move back into reality of how the judicial system should honestly handle addicts who are a danger to society. I’m just saying.
Lindsay Lohan is a pathetic drug addict and alcoholic who has successfully made a mockery of the judicial system. It’s a shame that she is given preferential treatment that the average Joe on the street can only dream of. If you or I were in the same situation, by now we would have been sentenced, locked up, and the key thrown away.
I believe it’s time for the public to teach Lohan a lesson by not catering to her and feeding her pocketbook. In doing so the faster she will hit bottom and hopefully turn her life around. As long as we feed her ego, Lohan will continue to make a mockery of us and the judicial system.
The time has come to stop the madness once and for all. Lohan is nothing more than a train wreck in progress and the sooner the wreck occurs the better, after which we can move back into reality of how the judicial system should honestly handle addicts who are a danger to society. I’m just saying.
Actor Tony Curtis Dies At Las Vegas-Area Home
Tony Curtis shaped himself from a 1950s movie heartthrob into a respected actor, showing a determined streak that served him well in such films as "Sweet Smell of Success," "The Defiant Ones" and "Some Like It Hot."
The Oscar-nominated actor died Wednesday evening of cardiac arrest at home in the Las Vegas-area city of Henderson, Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy said Thursday. He was 85.
"He died peacefully here, surrounded by those who love him and have been caring for him," his wife, Jill Curtis, told The Associated Press outside their home. "All Tony ever wanted to be was a movie star. He didn't want to be the most dramatic actor. He wanted to be a movie star, ever since he was a little kid."
Curtis began acting in frivolous movies that exploited his handsome physique and appealing personality then steadily moved to more substantial roles, starting in 1957 in the harrowing show business tale, "Sweet Smell of Success."
In 1958, "The Defiant Ones" brought him an Academy Award nomination as best actor for his portrayal of a white racist who escaped from prison handcuffed to a black man played by Sidney Poitier.
The following year, Curtis donned women's clothing and sparred with Marilyn Monroe in one of the most acclaimed film comedies ever, Billy Wilder's "Some Like It Hot."
"He was a fine actor ... I shall miss him," said British actor Roger Moore, who starred alongside Curtis in TV's "The Persuaders."
"He was great fun to work with, a great sense of humor and wonderful ad libs," Moore told Sky News. "We had the best of times."
Curtis' first wife was actress Janet Leigh of "Psycho" fame; actress Jamie Lee Curtis is their daughter.
"My father leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings and assemblages," Jamie Lee Curtis said in a statement. "He leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world."
Curtis struggled against drug and alcohol abuse as starring roles became fewer then bounced back in film and television as a character actor.
His brash optimism returned, and he allowed his once-shiny black hair to turn silver.
Again he came back after even those opportunities began to wane, reinventing himself as a writer and painter whose canvasses sold for as much as $20,000.
"I'm not ready to settle down like an elderly Jewish gentleman, sitting on a bench and leaning on a cane," he said at 60. "I've got a helluva lot of living to do."
Actress and activist Marlo Thomas said she was saddened that Curtis' death so closely followed the Sept. 22 death in Berkeley, Calif., of Eddie Fisher, a superstar singer of the 1950s.
"Tony Curtis and Eddie Fisher in the same week. It's very sad," said Thomas, who starred in the late-1960s sitcom "That Girl" and won Emmy, Golden Globe, Grammy and Peabody awards.
"He was funny, so very funny, very talented and a great spirit," Thomas said of Curtis. "I found him to be a darling guy."
Curtis perfected his craft in forgettable films such as "Francis," "I Was a Shoplifter," "No Room for the Groom" and "Son of Ali Baba."
He first attracted critical notice as Sidney Falco, a press agent seeking favor with a sadistic columnist, played by Burt Lancaster, in the 1957 classic "Sweet Smell of Success."
The Oscar-nominated actor died Wednesday evening of cardiac arrest at home in the Las Vegas-area city of Henderson, Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy said Thursday. He was 85.
"He died peacefully here, surrounded by those who love him and have been caring for him," his wife, Jill Curtis, told The Associated Press outside their home. "All Tony ever wanted to be was a movie star. He didn't want to be the most dramatic actor. He wanted to be a movie star, ever since he was a little kid."
Curtis began acting in frivolous movies that exploited his handsome physique and appealing personality then steadily moved to more substantial roles, starting in 1957 in the harrowing show business tale, "Sweet Smell of Success."
In 1958, "The Defiant Ones" brought him an Academy Award nomination as best actor for his portrayal of a white racist who escaped from prison handcuffed to a black man played by Sidney Poitier.
The following year, Curtis donned women's clothing and sparred with Marilyn Monroe in one of the most acclaimed film comedies ever, Billy Wilder's "Some Like It Hot."
"He was a fine actor ... I shall miss him," said British actor Roger Moore, who starred alongside Curtis in TV's "The Persuaders."
"He was great fun to work with, a great sense of humor and wonderful ad libs," Moore told Sky News. "We had the best of times."
Curtis' first wife was actress Janet Leigh of "Psycho" fame; actress Jamie Lee Curtis is their daughter.
"My father leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings and assemblages," Jamie Lee Curtis said in a statement. "He leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world."
Curtis struggled against drug and alcohol abuse as starring roles became fewer then bounced back in film and television as a character actor.
His brash optimism returned, and he allowed his once-shiny black hair to turn silver.
Again he came back after even those opportunities began to wane, reinventing himself as a writer and painter whose canvasses sold for as much as $20,000.
"I'm not ready to settle down like an elderly Jewish gentleman, sitting on a bench and leaning on a cane," he said at 60. "I've got a helluva lot of living to do."
Actress and activist Marlo Thomas said she was saddened that Curtis' death so closely followed the Sept. 22 death in Berkeley, Calif., of Eddie Fisher, a superstar singer of the 1950s.
"Tony Curtis and Eddie Fisher in the same week. It's very sad," said Thomas, who starred in the late-1960s sitcom "That Girl" and won Emmy, Golden Globe, Grammy and Peabody awards.
"He was funny, so very funny, very talented and a great spirit," Thomas said of Curtis. "I found him to be a darling guy."
Curtis perfected his craft in forgettable films such as "Francis," "I Was a Shoplifter," "No Room for the Groom" and "Son of Ali Baba."
He first attracted critical notice as Sidney Falco, a press agent seeking favor with a sadistic columnist, played by Burt Lancaster, in the 1957 classic "Sweet Smell of Success."
In her book "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," film critic Pauline Kael wrote that in the film, "Curtis grew up into an actor and gave the best performance of his career."
Other prestigious films followed: Stanley Kubrick's "Spartacus," "The Vikings," "Kings Go Forth," "Operation Petticoat" and "Some Like It Hot." He also found time to do a voice acting gig as his prehistoric lookalike, Stony Curtis, in an episode of "The Flintstones."
"The Defiant Ones" remained his only Oscar-nominated role.
"I think it has nothing to do with good performances or bad performances," he told The Washington Post in 2002. "After the number of movies I made where I thought there should be some acknowledgment, there was nothing from the Academy.
"My happiness and privilege is that my audience around the world is supportive of me, so I don't need the Academy."
In 2000, an American Film Institute survey of the funniest films in history ranked "Some Like It Hot" at No. 1. Curtis — famously imitating Cary Grant's accent — and Jack Lemmon play jazz musicians who dress up as women to escape retribution after witnessing a gangland massacre.
Monroe was their co-star, and Curtis and Lemmon were repeatedly kept waiting as Monroe lingered in her dressing room out of fear and insecurity. Curtis fumed over her unprofessionalism.
When someone once remarked that it must be thrilling to kiss Monroe in the film's love scenes, the actor snapped, "It's like kissing Hitler." In later years, his opinion of Monroe softened, and in interviews he praised her unique talent.
In 2002, Curtis toured in "Some Like It Hot" — a revised and retitled version of the 1972 Broadway musical "Sugar," which was based on the film. In the touring show, the actor graduated to the role of Osgood Fielding III, the part played in the movie by Joe E. Brown.
After his star faded in the late 1960s, Curtis shifted to lesser roles. With jobs harder to find, he fell into drug and alcohol addiction.
"From 22 to about 37, I was lucky," Curtis told Interview magazine in the 1980s. "But by the middle '60s, I wasn't getting the kind of parts I wanted, and it kind of soured me. ... But I had to go through the drug inundation before I was able to come to grips with it and realize that it had nothing to do with me, that people weren't picking on me."
He recovered in the early '80s after a 30-day treatment at the Betty Ford Center.
"Mine was a textbook case," he said in a 1985 interview. "My life had become unmanageable because of booze and dope. Work became a strain and a struggle. Because I didn't want to face the challenge, I simply made myself unavailable."
Other prestigious films followed: Stanley Kubrick's "Spartacus," "The Vikings," "Kings Go Forth," "Operation Petticoat" and "Some Like It Hot." He also found time to do a voice acting gig as his prehistoric lookalike, Stony Curtis, in an episode of "The Flintstones."
"The Defiant Ones" remained his only Oscar-nominated role.
"I think it has nothing to do with good performances or bad performances," he told The Washington Post in 2002. "After the number of movies I made where I thought there should be some acknowledgment, there was nothing from the Academy.
"My happiness and privilege is that my audience around the world is supportive of me, so I don't need the Academy."
In 2000, an American Film Institute survey of the funniest films in history ranked "Some Like It Hot" at No. 1. Curtis — famously imitating Cary Grant's accent — and Jack Lemmon play jazz musicians who dress up as women to escape retribution after witnessing a gangland massacre.
Monroe was their co-star, and Curtis and Lemmon were repeatedly kept waiting as Monroe lingered in her dressing room out of fear and insecurity. Curtis fumed over her unprofessionalism.
When someone once remarked that it must be thrilling to kiss Monroe in the film's love scenes, the actor snapped, "It's like kissing Hitler." In later years, his opinion of Monroe softened, and in interviews he praised her unique talent.
In 2002, Curtis toured in "Some Like It Hot" — a revised and retitled version of the 1972 Broadway musical "Sugar," which was based on the film. In the touring show, the actor graduated to the role of Osgood Fielding III, the part played in the movie by Joe E. Brown.
After his star faded in the late 1960s, Curtis shifted to lesser roles. With jobs harder to find, he fell into drug and alcohol addiction.
"From 22 to about 37, I was lucky," Curtis told Interview magazine in the 1980s. "But by the middle '60s, I wasn't getting the kind of parts I wanted, and it kind of soured me. ... But I had to go through the drug inundation before I was able to come to grips with it and realize that it had nothing to do with me, that people weren't picking on me."
He recovered in the early '80s after a 30-day treatment at the Betty Ford Center.
"Mine was a textbook case," he said in a 1985 interview. "My life had become unmanageable because of booze and dope. Work became a strain and a struggle. Because I didn't want to face the challenge, I simply made myself unavailable."
One role during that era of struggle did bring him an Emmy nomination: his portrayal of David O. Selznick in the TV movie "The Scarlett O'Hara War," in 1980.
He remained vigorous following heart bypass surgery in 1994, although his health had declined in recent years.
"Definitely, I still watch his movies," said Roxanne Shannon, a neighbor of Curtis in the suburban golf course development about 11 miles southeast of the Las Vegas Strip. "What a handsome man, oh my God, and a great actor."
Jill Curtis, his sixth wife, said Curtis had been hospitalized several times in recent weeks for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung problems she blamed on smoking 30 years ago. She said he recently returned home, where died in his sleep.
"His heart survived things that Tony would always say would kill an ordinary man," she said. "This time, his heart was ready to go and ready to be at peace."
Curtis took a fatherly pride in daughter Jamie's success. They were estranged for a long period, then reconciled. "I understand him better now," she said, "perhaps not as a father but as a man."
He also had five other children. Daughters Kelly, also with Leigh, and Allegra, with second wife Christine Kaufmann, also became actresses. His other wives were Leslie Allen, Andrea Savio, Lisa Deutsch and Jill VandenBerg, whom he married in 1998.
Jill Curtis, 40, operates Shiloh Horse Rescue, a nonprofit refuge for abused and neglected horses. She said she planned to make arrangements for a public memorial.
Tony Curtis married Janet Leigh in 1951, when they were both rising young stars. They divorced in 1963.
"Tony and I had a wonderful time together; it was an exciting, glamorous period in Hollywood," Leigh, who died in 2004, once said. "A lot of great things happened, most of all, two beautiful children."
Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz in the Bronx in 1925, the son of Hungarian Jews who had emigrated to the United States after World War I. His father, Manny Schwartz, had yearned to be an actor, but work was hard to find with his heavy accent. He settled for tailoring jobs, moving the family repeatedly as he sought work.
"I was always the new kid on the block, so I got beat up by the other kids," Curtis recalled in 1959. "I had to figure a way to avoid getting my nose broken. So I became the crazy new kid on the block."
His sidewalk histrionics helped avoid beatings and led to acting in plays at a settlement house. He also grew to love movies. "My whole culture as a boy was movies," he said. "For 11 cents, you could sit in the front row of a theater for 10 hours, which I did constantly."
After serving in the Pacific during World War II and being wounded at Guam, he returned to New York and studied acting under the G.I. Bill. He appeared in summer stock theater and on the Borscht Circuit in the Catskills. Then an agent lined up an audition with a Universal-International talent scout. In 1948, at 23, he signed a seven-year contract with the studio, starting at $100 a week.
Bernie Schwartz sounded too Jewish for a movie actor, so the studio gave him a new name: Anthony Curtis, taken from his favorite novel, "Anthony Adverse," and the Anglicized name of a favorite uncle. After his eighth film, he became Tony Curtis.
The studio helped smooth the rough edges off the ambitious young actor. The last to go was his street-tinged Bronx accent, which had become a Hollywood joke.
Curtis pursued another career as an artist, creating Matisse-like still lifes with astonishing speed. "I'm a recovering alcoholic," he said in 1990 as he concluded a painting in 40 minutes in the garden of the Bel-Air Hotel. "Painting has given me such a great pleasure in life, helped me to recover."
He also turned to writing, producing a 1977 novel, "Kid Cody and Julie Sparrow." In 1993, he wrote "Tony Curtis: The Autobiography." -Yahoo Movies
He remained vigorous following heart bypass surgery in 1994, although his health had declined in recent years.
"Definitely, I still watch his movies," said Roxanne Shannon, a neighbor of Curtis in the suburban golf course development about 11 miles southeast of the Las Vegas Strip. "What a handsome man, oh my God, and a great actor."
Jill Curtis, his sixth wife, said Curtis had been hospitalized several times in recent weeks for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung problems she blamed on smoking 30 years ago. She said he recently returned home, where died in his sleep.
"His heart survived things that Tony would always say would kill an ordinary man," she said. "This time, his heart was ready to go and ready to be at peace."
Curtis took a fatherly pride in daughter Jamie's success. They were estranged for a long period, then reconciled. "I understand him better now," she said, "perhaps not as a father but as a man."
He also had five other children. Daughters Kelly, also with Leigh, and Allegra, with second wife Christine Kaufmann, also became actresses. His other wives were Leslie Allen, Andrea Savio, Lisa Deutsch and Jill VandenBerg, whom he married in 1998.
Jill Curtis, 40, operates Shiloh Horse Rescue, a nonprofit refuge for abused and neglected horses. She said she planned to make arrangements for a public memorial.
Tony Curtis married Janet Leigh in 1951, when they were both rising young stars. They divorced in 1963.
"Tony and I had a wonderful time together; it was an exciting, glamorous period in Hollywood," Leigh, who died in 2004, once said. "A lot of great things happened, most of all, two beautiful children."
Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz in the Bronx in 1925, the son of Hungarian Jews who had emigrated to the United States after World War I. His father, Manny Schwartz, had yearned to be an actor, but work was hard to find with his heavy accent. He settled for tailoring jobs, moving the family repeatedly as he sought work.
"I was always the new kid on the block, so I got beat up by the other kids," Curtis recalled in 1959. "I had to figure a way to avoid getting my nose broken. So I became the crazy new kid on the block."
His sidewalk histrionics helped avoid beatings and led to acting in plays at a settlement house. He also grew to love movies. "My whole culture as a boy was movies," he said. "For 11 cents, you could sit in the front row of a theater for 10 hours, which I did constantly."
After serving in the Pacific during World War II and being wounded at Guam, he returned to New York and studied acting under the G.I. Bill. He appeared in summer stock theater and on the Borscht Circuit in the Catskills. Then an agent lined up an audition with a Universal-International talent scout. In 1948, at 23, he signed a seven-year contract with the studio, starting at $100 a week.
Bernie Schwartz sounded too Jewish for a movie actor, so the studio gave him a new name: Anthony Curtis, taken from his favorite novel, "Anthony Adverse," and the Anglicized name of a favorite uncle. After his eighth film, he became Tony Curtis.
The studio helped smooth the rough edges off the ambitious young actor. The last to go was his street-tinged Bronx accent, which had become a Hollywood joke.
Curtis pursued another career as an artist, creating Matisse-like still lifes with astonishing speed. "I'm a recovering alcoholic," he said in 1990 as he concluded a painting in 40 minutes in the garden of the Bel-Air Hotel. "Painting has given me such a great pleasure in life, helped me to recover."
He also turned to writing, producing a 1977 novel, "Kid Cody and Julie Sparrow." In 1993, he wrote "Tony Curtis: The Autobiography." -Yahoo Movies
Tyler, Lopez, Iovine Join 'American Idol'
Rocker Steven Tyler, singer-actress Jennifer Lopez and record exec Jimmy Iovine will join "American Idol" for its 10th season, host Ryan Seacrest announced Wednesday.
Tyler and Lopez will join "Idol" original Randy Jackson at the judge's table for the singing competition, while Iovine will mentor contestants, Seacrest said.
Nigel Lythgoe, who left as the show's executive producer two years ago, is returning to that job. His goal is return the show's reputation as a starmaker, he said.
"We have got to go back to creating an American idol," Lythgoe said.
Tyler and Lopez replace Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi, who left the show at the end of the last season.
Tyler and Lopez will join "Idol" original Randy Jackson at the judge's table for the singing competition, while Iovine will mentor contestants, Seacrest said.
Nigel Lythgoe, who left as the show's executive producer two years ago, is returning to that job. His goal is return the show's reputation as a starmaker, he said.
"We have got to go back to creating an American idol," Lythgoe said.
Tyler and Lopez replace Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi, who left the show at the end of the last season.
"I want to bring some rock to this roller coaster," Tyler said after walking onstage with a loud yell when the announcement was made at the Los Angeles Forum.
Tyler, 62, offered advice to "Idol" hopefuls. "Sing like you do when nobody's looking, because the whole world will be," he said.
His legendary group Aerosmith is the best-selling American rock band of all time, according to the Fox TV announcement.
Lopez, 41, appeared previously on "Idol" as a contestant mentor.
"I'm looking for the next Michael Jackson," Lopez said.
She also had advice for contestants. "You just have to concentrate on the moment the best you can," Lopez said. "Just live. It's your moment."
Iovine, 57, is chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M, the record company for Lady Gaga and other top artists.
In addition to his work as a mentor, his company will "market, promote and distribute" music made by "Idol" finalists, Fox said.
"What you see on the show is something you've never seen with music," Iovine said. "I can guarantee it."
Randy Jackson, at a news conference after the announcement, said that none of the new judges will be expected to fill the role of villain, which was often played by Cowell.
"We will all have our moments," Jackson said.
Lopez suggested that it wouldn't be her.
"I believe in tough love, but I don't think I could ever be cruel to another artist," Lopez said "There are definitely better ways to say things and get your point across."
She said one benefit of her job on the show is that she can settle down with her family in Los Angeles for six months without having to go on the road. –CNN Entertainment
Tyler, 62, offered advice to "Idol" hopefuls. "Sing like you do when nobody's looking, because the whole world will be," he said.
His legendary group Aerosmith is the best-selling American rock band of all time, according to the Fox TV announcement.
Lopez, 41, appeared previously on "Idol" as a contestant mentor.
"I'm looking for the next Michael Jackson," Lopez said.
She also had advice for contestants. "You just have to concentrate on the moment the best you can," Lopez said. "Just live. It's your moment."
Iovine, 57, is chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M, the record company for Lady Gaga and other top artists.
In addition to his work as a mentor, his company will "market, promote and distribute" music made by "Idol" finalists, Fox said.
"What you see on the show is something you've never seen with music," Iovine said. "I can guarantee it."
Randy Jackson, at a news conference after the announcement, said that none of the new judges will be expected to fill the role of villain, which was often played by Cowell.
"We will all have our moments," Jackson said.
Lopez suggested that it wouldn't be her.
"I believe in tough love, but I don't think I could ever be cruel to another artist," Lopez said "There are definitely better ways to say things and get your point across."
She said one benefit of her job on the show is that she can settle down with her family in Los Angeles for six months without having to go on the road. –CNN Entertainment
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