Randy Jackson Remaining 'American Idol' Judge This Season

Nothing in life is ever certain until the ink has dried.

Though it appeared FOX had finally nailed down this season's fourth and final judge for a retooled "American Idol," veteran assessor of talent Randy Jackson looks to return unexpectedly to the table.

Word broke late last week that FOX had offered latin recording veteran Enrique Iglesias the fourth spot beside Mariah Carey and unofficial-but-reportedly-likely fellow judges Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban.

Jackson, meanwhile, looked poised to step aside after 11 seasons judging "Idol" and adopt an off-camera contestant mentorship role.

Nothing has broken yet indicating what soured the deal, but TMZ reported Tuesday morning that Iglesias looks to be off the table as an option. That being the case, Jackson is back in action. It looks to be a best-case scenario for all involved: Jackson reportedly wasn't pleased with producers' desires to bump him from his traditional on-camera role that he's occupied since the show's 2000 debut alongside Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. Additionally, 12th-season auditions begin in less than two weeks.

This doesn't yet pull "American Idol" completely from the fire. Of the proposed panel, only Carey has a signed-sealed-and-delivered deal - even Jackson hasn't officially signed a new contract yet. Minaj was mum about finalizing her so far unannounced deal when she appeared at last Thursday's MTV Video Music Awards. Urban hasn't put his name on a dotted line yet, either.

So far, Carey and host Ryan Seacrest look like the only two on-camera personalities who could be called sure things.

FOX is laying plenty on the line with "Idol" this season, especially after the summer departure of judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. The 11th season was met with reduced viewership, declining advertising revenue and the first season in the show's run in which "Idol" missed out on a Prime Time Emmy nomination in the Reality Series Competition category.

Elsewhere, network rival "The X Factor" landed Britney Spears as one of its two replacement judges, along with Demi Lovato.  The show has also revamped itself with streamlined categories and Khloe Kardashian rumored to be close to signing on as the show's new host.