Ryan's joshing, right? Sure, Justin's cute and cuddly as an LOLcat, but we're talking about replacing the guy with the biggest balls on the show. Justin's still growing 'em.

Other names bandied about: Tommy Mottola, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Harry Connick Jr., Quincy Jones, and P. Diddy or whatever perfidy he's committing against himself today. Each of these names have their own logic if considering star factor, name recognition, reputation and music experience.

Then there's the absurdities like Oasis' Noel Gallagher, comedian Conan O'Brien (one comic's enough, dontcha think?), and the much-despised Kate Gosselin (in jest only!).

Some of the more intriguing but less well-known names to emerge include: Guy Oseary, agent to the stars including Madonna and her ex boy toy Alex Rodriguez. "Guy has been in the music business since Madonna discovered him when he was 17, and he has a lot of the same experience as Simon," a Fox insider told the New York Daily News.

Another name popping up: Ron Fair, a "veteran A&R executive, record producer and songwriter" best known as a "guru/mentor" to acts like Chrstina Aguilera, Ashlee Simpson and the Black Eyed Peas, according to Wikipedia.

Antonio L.A. Reid, Island/Def Jam’s Chairman & CEO who's discovered such superstars as Usher, TLC, and Ciara. He's also held top posts as LaFace and Arista, so say others.

Then there's "legendary" music veteran Joel Diamond, who's got his own Facebook group of friends lobbying for him to get Simon's job. Though everybody seems to agree that experience in the field is necessary, for a show that limits contestants to being under the age of 29, "legendary'' seems like a stretch.

Whoever it is has got to be as much of a ballbuster as Simon, who wielded near total control during his eight-year-reign of terror. This year's his lame duck status has softened his delivery though not his judgment.

Filling Simon's shoes also means finding someone with credibility in the business. The addition of 'nice' Ellen DeGeneres' has heightened the awareness of the need for judges to have music chops.

Two others considerations, as Simon himself pointed out: looks and taste.

"Perez would be funny," Simon himself told reporters. "He's got good taste in music, he's got a personality, that could work."

Back in February Simon told reporters of his replacement, You have to be good looking. Secondly, you have to know what you’re talking about. I’m starting to realize with these shows that you have to put people on that actually know what they’re talking about. Rather than guessing, they really have to have experience, so that you cannot just criticize — you can offer constructive advice as well.

Any predictions Got the inside track? Let us know!