NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Sheen interested in ‘American Idol’ gig

NEW YORK

Could Charlie Sheen be a judge on “American Idol”? The actor says he’s game.

In an interview Tuesday on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show, Sheen said “Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe publicly threw his name out there as a possible judge, and the idea piqued people’s interest — including his own.

“It seems so out of the blue that it almost made perfect sense. I thought this could be a lot of fun,” he said. “Seriously ... I’m genuinely interested. It’s so different, it could be radical.”

Sheen also told Jay Leno Monday night on “The Tonight Show” that his two demands would be that FX and his “Anger Management” team “would have to be into it” and there would need to be a charitable component to him taking the job.

He may not have music experience, but neither did Ellen DeGeneres before she was named a judge for season 9. She left the show after just one season.

Last week, both Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler announced they would not be returning for the show’s 12th season.

Larry King debuts online talk show

NEW YORK

Larry King is returning as a talk show host this week, with his new home the Internet.

“Larry King Now” is produced by Ora TV, a new digital venture backed by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim. Ora TV is announcing a deal to also make “Now” available through the online service Hulu and Hulu Plus.

King’s first guest is comic producer Seth MacFarlane of “Family Guy” and “Ted.” Other guests scheduled for this week will be political commentator Meghan McCain and “Magic Mike” actor Matthew McConaughey.

King spent a quarter-century as a prime-time talk show host at CNN. Episodes of his new, half-hour show will be posted on the Hulu website in the early evening Monday through Thursday.

Richardson to rejoin Backstreet on ‘GMA’

NEW YORK

ABC’s “Good Morning America” will host Kevin Richardson’s reunion performance with The Backstreet Boys.

The quartet will appear on the morning show’s summer concert series on Aug. 31 in Central Park.

Richardson announced he was leaving the group in 2006, but has appeared in the lineup occasionally since. The remaining Backstreet Boys — Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and AJ McLean — announced Richardson would be rejoining them permanently during a performance in London last April.

A statement says all five are in a London studio with producer Martin Terefe working on a new album that will be released next spring to coincide with the group’s 20th anniversary.

Vindicator wire services