IDOL NIGEL WANTS PAULA BACK!

Returning American Idol top gun NIGEL LYTHGOE wants PAULA ABDUL back!

Showbiz bible Variety reports that the returning exec producer of the musical amateur hour show wants to reinvigorate the show sagger with the return  of popular kooky judge Paula.

"I still love Paula," Lythgoe said. "She's signed to CBS, probably exclusively, but I'd recommend we have her in a heartbeat."

With Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi finito, Lythgoe has some plans afoot to revive the nearly-comatose show.

Namely fueling rumors Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez will sign on as judges.

"If (J-Lo) joins, I'm happy," Lythgoe admitted.

"(Tyler) has come through that whole rock 'n' roll circus.

"Why wouldn't you want a legend there? You never know what he's going to say. That, as a TV producer, you're interested in."

Lythgoe, who had left Idol to concentrate on So You Think You Can Dance, also said Randy Jackson is a "a barnacle" and is staying put.

FIRST POSTED: 12:15 PM EDT