Jennifer Lopez & 9 Other Best Judges On TV | ScreenRant
Reality competition shows have been dominating television in recent years. There’s something about the showcase of talent and skill that leaves everyone mesmerized (even shocked). Now, as interesting as contestants can be, fans know that their fates are always up to the judges.
These judges, which are usually industry veterans, do more than just determine the winner. Over the course of the season, they also provide constructive feedback, allowing contestants to improve their game and increase their chances of winning. Not only that, but they may also serve as mentors, helping contestants hone their talents so that they can become stars too.
10 Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez may be known for her Grammy nominations and hit films such as Out of Sight, Hustlers, Blood and Wind, and of course, Selena. Several years ago, Lopez was also tapped to serve as a judge on American Idol.
She ended up staying on for five seasons and when asked why she left, Lopez told People, “I have my movies and my music and my this and my that.” In recent years, however, Lopez has gone back to judging fresh talent in the talent show World of Dance where she also served as an executive producer.
9 Nicole Scherzinger
The Grammy-nominated singer has been quite busy serving as a talent judge when she’s not working on an album or performing onstage. It all started in 2009 when she served as a judge on the short-lived show The Sing Off.
From here, Scherzinger went on to become a judge on both The X Factor UK and The X Factor, although she was originally brought in to serve as a co-host alongside Steve Jones. Since her exit from The X Factor, Scherzinger had gone on to serve as a judge on other X Factor shows.
8 Gabrielle Union
Union joined the judging panel of NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2019. During her time on the show, Union famously hit the golden buzzer for Kodi Lee who went on to win the show. Unfortunately, she only served as a judge for one season after the show decided not to pick up her contract.
Since then, Union has raised issues about having to deal with a “toxic work environment” on the show while speaking with Variety. Following Union’s accusations, an investigation into the show’s work culture was conducted.
7 Simon Cowell
Cowell is, perhaps, one of the most controversial figures in talent competition shows. For as long as anyone can remember, he’s been harsh in his feedbacks and has always been hard to please. Cowell first gained notoriety when he served as one of the original judges on American Idol.
During his time on the show, Cowell never minced words. In fact, he once referred to a contestant as “possibly the worst singer in the world.” Since then, Cowell has gone on to serve as a judge and executive producer on both The X Factor shows and America’s Got Talent.
6 Gordon Ramsay
When it comes to cooking competitions, no judge, arguably, stands out more than Gordon Ramsay, a celebrity chef known for several Michelin-starred restaurants. Ramsay’s foray into television started with the show Hell’s Kitchen which sees contestants battle it out to win a spot on Ramsay’s culinary team.
Over the years, he’s hurled some shocking insults at contestants, although he has also helped improve their skills. Ramsay has also been serving as a judge on MasterChef where he critiques and motivates home cooks. In recent years, he’s also been judging young aspiring chefs on MasterChef Junior.
5 Christina Tosi
The chef and TV personality is known for her sweet tooth and judging expertise on MasterChef Junior. On the show, Tosi spends a lot of time with the young home cooks on the show, going over what they’re making and having fun with them.
Aside from that, she also spends a great deal of time mentoring them and giving them helpful feedback. When asked about her judging style, Tosi once told Entertainment Weekly, “I think that I err on the side of my natural state of being, which is a little more friendly and nurturing.”
4 Blake Shelton
This country music star has served as a judge and mentor on The Voice since the show made its debut in 2011. Over the years, Shelton has built a reputation for being the most successful coach on the show with seven of the past winners coming from his team.
During the show’s 19th season, however, Shelton lost to fiancé Gwen Stefani who mentored the show’s latest winner, 15-year-old Carter Rubin. Following his recent defeat, Shelton joked, “The show is rigged.” The singer continues to serve as a coach on the show and fans believe he’s eager for another win.
3 John Legend
Anyone starting out on their music career would probably appreciate learning a thing or two from Legend. After all, this is a legendary singer and songwriter with 33 Grammy nominations and 11 Grammy wins so far.
Not to mention, he’s a member of the prestigious EGOT club, with Emmy’s, Oscar, and Tony wins also under his belt. Legend has returned to serve as a coach and judge on The Voice for Season 20. So far, the sing has only had one win and he’s most likely determined to beat Shelton.
2 Carrie Ann Inaba
The veteran performer is easily the most recognizable judge on NBC’s Dancing with the Stars (DWTS). On the show, Inaba is known for giving critical feedbacks regardless of who is on the dance floor. Last year, Inaba caught everyone’s attention after giving The Bachelorette alum Kaitlyn Bristowe and DWTS veteran Artem Chigvintsev some harsh comments.
As the season progressed, however, Inaba did note that the pair’s performance improved. While speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Inaba remarked, “I do think I may have helped push them to make sure that they were going to be extra amazing.”
1 Katy Perry
The Grammy-nominated singer served as an American Idol guest judge in Season 9. In 2018, Perry finally joined the show as one of its regular judges. Since then, she has become a regular fixture on the show, providing helpful feedback and motivation during the audition period and onwards.
However, Perry also raised some eyebrows after landing an unwanted kiss on auditioning contest Benjamin Glaze. That said, Glaze told The New York Times, “I’m glad she did it because it’s a great opportunity to get my music out.”
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