Jennifer Lopez and American Idol producers played a cat-and-mouse game on Friday over the singer's future on the TV talent show that revived her career and sent her to the top of a global celebrity power list.

American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe said on Friday that Lopez must decide whether to sign up as a judge for a third year or go off in a new direction.

In what some industry watchers saw as a negotiating ploy, Lopez sparked a media frenzy last week when she said she wasn't sure about renewing her contract, and sources close to her said she was "just too busy" to commit to the show. She made similar comments a year ago before signing a new one-year deal.

Lythgoe told reporters on a conference call Friday that all three Idol judges-Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson - had busy careers outside the talent show, but he would be happy to have them all back.

Reuters