Connick confirmed as third Idol judge

MILD ABOUT HARRY: Fox has confirmed that Harry Connick Jr. will join lone incumbent Keith Urban and the returning Jennifer Lopez on the American Idol judging panel. The naming of Connick, a former mentor on the show, concludes a tumultuous week during which Dr. Luke briefly appeared to have snagged the gig, while Scooter Braun turned down an offer to become a judge for what he described as business reasons (see 8/28 item). The show has experienced significant turnover with the departures of Jimmy Iovine (who’ll be replaced as chief mentor by former judge Randy Jackson), executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick, and Fox reality head Mike Darnell, along with one-and-done judges Mariah Carey and Nicky Minaj. (9/3a)