What Will Nigel Do?

Just a little over an hour ago, FOX made it official. Nigel Lythgoe is returning as an executive producer on “American Idol.”

So who does he want as a judge? In an exclusive interview with “Variety” released very early this morning, Nigel says he wants…

Paula Abdul.

The problem is that she is under contract with CBS for a dance show. But Nigel said if there was any way to get her back into the “Idol” fold, they should try and do it.

As for J-Lo and Steven Tyler, Nigel didn’t confirm or deny those names, but he did give his thumbs-up to both of them. The only name he did deny was his own, saying, “You do not follow Sean Connery in the role of James Bond.” In other words, he does not want to be the new Simon Cowell.

And in a contradiction of comments he made earlier this year, Nigel seemed to hint that Randy Jackson would be safe, saying he was the show’s “barnacle.” I have no idea what that means, but I think that means he’s staying.

Nigel also said he wants to move the focus back to the contestants—but on their singing, not their sappy backstories. He would like to use less of those.

Could Nigel, who helped start the decline of the show, now actually be the savior of “American Idol”? This is getting interesting, folks…