News that Jennifer Lopez has signed a $12 million deal with FOX to be a judge on 'American Idol' has made some wonder whether the singer is committing career suicide.

After all, the beloved, ne'er-do-wrong Ellen DeGeneres flubbed her role in one of the show's hot seats last season. And with popular bitter Brit Simon Cowell's departure, many see the formerly successful 'Idol' as a franchise that's crashing and burning fast.

In addition to Cowell and DeGeneres, fourth judge Kara DioGuardi also recently announced her exit. Though no one has officially been named to replace Cowell, Aerosmith frontman Steve Tyler has said he's the one.

"If someone as savvy as Ellen DeGeneres couldn't figure it out, who's to say what will happen when personalities as big as J.Lo and Steven Tyler come together?" says TV Guide senior critic Matt Roush. "We've just come out of a year when the show was seen to be in real disarray."

Though J.Lo is said to be "very excited" about her new job, Roush tells PopEater it's a gamble considering the shaky ground 'AI' is standing on.