Harry Connick Jr. in talks to be 'Idol' judge

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Actor, singer and musician Harry Connick Jr. is in talks to join "American Idol" as a judge, E! News reported.

Connick Jr. has appeared as a mentor to the contestants on the Fox singing competition show in the past. He also has performed on the series and served as a guest judge.

Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban are to serve on the panel next season, but who will fill the third chair has been the subject of much speculation this summer.

Connick Jr. is the front-runner for the job now that producer Dr. Luke bowed out due to a conflict of interest with his record label, E! News said.

"It's a fun show. It's been talked about before, who knows what'll happen in the future," Connick Jr. told E!

"What I've done thus far on the show has been really fun, so I've had a great time. I think you need to be completely honest, and I think you need to be diplomatic," he said. "I think there's no reason to be mean, but it is called being a judge. You have to judge. That's what you do."