Michaels 'Down To The Final Four' In Idol Talks

Producers behind the hit reality TV show ended months of speculation this week (beg20Sep10) by announcing Tyler and Lopez had been hired to replace exiting panelists Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi.

During the race to fill the vacant judges' seats, Michaels spoke out to insist he was in talks with TV bosses and has now revealed he was one of four final candidates to be considered for the coveted jobs.

He tells Billboard magazine, "Not only was I in meetings with (American Idol production company) Fremantle, I made it to what they called the 'top four'...

"But if there's someone else that would give great career advice and be a lot of fun on TV, it's Steven Tyler."

And Michaels is convinced he still has a chance to become a TV talent show judge when Cowell brings his British series The X Factor to the U.S. next year (11).

He adds, "We also talked a little about Simon Cowell's new show, X Factor, and they asked me about being the host of a dating show they're doing..."