The word: Jackson leaving judges’ table

“American Idol’s” lone remaining original judge, Randy Jackson, may be leaving the judges’ table as well.

Jackson is mulling a transition to a mentor role for the coming 12th season of the hit Fox show, according to TMZ.

That would mark a full transition for the program, which has seen the other two original judges, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, leave over the previous four seasons.

It may be the best way for “Idol” to generate buzz for the coming season. The show has already lost two judges, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, who were with “Idol” for the past two years.

Ratings fell sharply for the most recent season of “Idol,” though it remained the No. 2 show on television behind “Sunday Night Football.”

Fox has signed Mariah Carey as a judge for next season, and it’s rumored to be on the verge of a deal with Nicki Minaj.

Jackson was considered a good bet to come back after Carey’s signing, because he is also her manager. But over the weekend, following TMZ’s report, speculation heated up that he, too, will transition off the judging panel, giving the network yet another spot to fill.

Tags: american idol, american idol judges, american idol ratings, mariah carey, nicki minaj, Paula Abdul, randy jackson, randy jackson leaving american idol, sunday night football, television, TMZ