Nigel Lythgoe judges the competition on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE on FOX. 2010 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Mathieu Young/FOX

No one’s job may be safe when Nigel Lythgoe gets back in charge of Fox’s American Idol.

The reality producer of So You Think You Can Dance helped begin the Pop Idol concept in Britain and segued the phenomenon overseas with American Idol.

Lithgoe kindly exited stage-right when Fox executives thought there might be a better way of presenting Idol, but much has happened in the past couple of years.  Ratings slid, and Lythgoe made accurate assessments where the show was hemorraging.

Meanwhile, Lithgoe made Fox’s SYTYCD,  into another hit program.  So in the world of what have you done for me lately, Lythgoe is being sweet-talked back to rework his magic on the once mighty TV phenomenon according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Fox offered a terse “no comment” to HollywoodOutbreak.com.

What is the method of his magic?   First target is likely the judging panel.  Lythgoe’s short list has included Elton John, Usher and Paula Abdul. Justin Timberlake, Chris Isaak and Harry Connick Jr are other names being considered.  But who might go gets a little murky when you look at the current Idol judges’ contracts, so how the musical chairs are played will be both a chess move and a poker bluff.

However it plays out, ultimate gamesman Lithgoe will make his show watchable again.