The New York Post says “Idol producers are eager to hire Stern to replace Cowell as the show’s tough-talking judge”, and that there have been talks. That story would align with what Stern said on his Sirius show recently, that he was “approached by a major TV network to take over a TV show and leave here and do that next year, and I did turn it down.” The Post says talks may be continuing, even though one of its sources says Stern “hasn’t made the talks easy, and [he] has been giving out mixed messages about his intentions.” Joining “Idol” would require a lot of time on the road, and spending a great deal of time in Los Angeles, away from his base in New York. Stern’s contract with Sirius XM is up in December and the rumors will likely continue for months about his future, as companies ply him with offers. Meanwhile Stern adds to the suspense by saying “I'm not even sure if I want to be working” when his $100-million-a-year deal is up.