Mariah Carey
LOS ANGELES -- It would usually be considered rude for an executive to open a press conference by making a phone call, but all was forgiven when Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly did just that Monday at the TV Critics Association summer tour.
The person on the other line: Mariah Carey.
The call, which played out on speaker phone, was the official signal that Carey has signed a deal to join "American Idol" in January.
"I'm so excited," said Carey who only made a few generic remarks.
Reilly said the deal was made just hours earlier.
Earlier this month, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez both said they would not be returning. Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said in the morning that he was holding out hope that Lopez would change her mind, but Reilly dashed any hopes of that later in the day.
When asked about how Britney Spears might do on "The X Factor," Reilly said audiences will be surprised just how fiesty she comes across. He also said that Demi Lovato took on Simon Cowell the very first day.
