Shay Johnson

American Idol” producers are determined that the show must go on after Simon Cowell jumps ship, and so they’re on the hunt for someone with a acid tongue to replace him. Their number one pic is apparently Howard Stern, who is known for telling it like it is with the help of expletives and a serious dose of attitude. Howard is also a big “Idol” fan, and he always dissects the show and its contestants on his radio show. Says a source, “It’s one of the few shows that could compete with Stern’s $100 million-a-year Sirius contract, and ‘Idol’ bosses think he’d be even nastier than Simon.”

Howard is staying surprisingly silent on the behind-the-scenes negotiations, saying, “I was approached by a major TV network to take over a TV show and leave here and do that next year — and I did turn it down . . . I’m not even sure if I want to be working. I’m waiting to see what happens.”