Celebrities on Reality TV: Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez Join the Top 3

Celebrities on Reality TV give viewers an interesting dose of insight into the personality the stars have when the cameras would normally stop rolling-both for good and bad. Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, the new judges for "American Idol" Season 10, are the latest A-List stars to toss their hats in the Reality TV ring. The new judges seem to already be a hit with fans at home, and fellow celebrities.

"My faith in 'American Idol' has been restored," said actress Gabby Sidibe, according to MTV. "They switched it up with the judges, and now I'm interested again."

Emily Mazza of Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, had similar sentiments: "I hardly ever watch it and I did last night...I'm enjoying the new judges."

The pair joins the following Top 3 Celebrities on Reality TV who each managed to renew and reinvent their careers--for good and for bad--thanks to appearances on a Reality TV show.

Celebrities On Reality TV: Paula Abdul

Prior to Reality TV, the height of Abdul's popularity was in the '80s, thanks to her success as a musician with enduring hits likes "Straight Up" and "Cold Hearted." Despite her talent as a performer, Abdul disappeared into obscurity in the '90s.

But when she signed on to be a judge in 2002 for the first season of "American Idol," a whole new generation of viewers was introduced to her passion for music, her knowledge of the industry, and her later "comeback" album. It remains to be seen whether her departure from "America Idol" will contribute to a decline in popularity.

Celebrities On Reality TV: Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson enjoyed tremendous popularity in the late '90s as a singer, but the decision to sign-on for MTV's "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica" in 2002 shortly after getting married to long-time beau Nick Lachey would completely alter fans' impressions of her.

Simpson was ditzy, superficial and unintentionally comical on the show, making Lachey seem like the exasperated "normal" half of the pair. Nearly 10 years later, Simpson's megawatt celebrity status has never truly diminished, despite the unflattering light the MTV Reality TV show cast her in, but she is often assumed to be a ditz despite her success as a singer, designer and beauty product mogul. Simpson's experience with Reality TV begs the question: Is extra fame worth a negative impression?

Celebrities On Reality TV: Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne's fame as a musician is unquestionable from both his time as the lead singer of Black Sabbath and as a solo recording artist. Despite his career, his personal life continued to have the vague obscurity that most celebrities enjoy and safeguard-until he signed up for MTV's "The Osbournes" in 2002, that is.

Osbourne's antics on the show were often hilarious, offensive and entertaining; his tenderness with his wife, Sharon, and their houseful of pets was surprising to many viewers. The show's popularity introduced Osbourne and his music to viewers who were not fans of the heavy metal genre of music, generating fans from new generations; my own mother became a regular viewer, despite having no interest in Osbourne's musical career.

Celebrities On Reality TV: Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez

Although neither Tyler nor Lopez has drifted into obscurity during their lengthy careers, there is no question that serving as judges on "American Idol" will plunge them directly into the spotlight once more. With the tremendous popularity of the show, and the diversity among loyal viewers of the series, both Tyler and Lopez can expect their behavior to be scrutinized, their personalities to be investigated, and their own music to be experienced by thousands of potential new fans.

Sources:
Rebecca Macatee, "Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez Draw Celeb Viewers To 'American Idol,'" MTV News
Yahoo! TV, "American Idol TV Show," & "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica TV Show"
MTV, "The Osbournes | Full Episodes, Photos, Episode Synopsis and Recaps"