Talks To Be An 'Idol' Judge 'Just Fizzled Out,' Says Harry Connick, Jr.

The former season 9 mentor says he's "fine" that things didn't work out with 'American Idol'

2:05 AM PST 1/9/2011 by Marisa Guthrie

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Michael Becker / FOX

Harry Connick, Jr.

New Orleans musician-crooner Harry Connick, Jr. made the press rounds at the biannual Television Critics Association (in support of PBS' American Masters) in Pasadena, where he was also asked about American Idol. Connick was a mentor on Season 9 and one of the seemingly endless list of A-list musicians in contention to join the new judging panel, so what happened?

“I had a blast on the show,” said Connick. “They asked me if I was interested. We had some preliminary conversations and it just kind of fizzled out... “Fortunately, I had some other things going on. So it was fine.” Connick maintains busy musical and acting careers; he stars alongside Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd in Warner Bros. Pictures’ Dolphin Tale, schedule for a fall release. Check out more of THR's TCA coverage here.