The dawg days are over at "American Idol" ... TMZ has learned Randy Jackson is officially LEAVING the judge's table ... but will still remain a part of the show as a "mentor." Sources connected to "Idol" tell TMZ ... there's some concern among the brass that Jackson is not well-suited for the mentor role ... but they feel they need him because he's the glue that helps keep the show together.  As for his replacement ... sources tell us Nicki Minaj's deal is 99% done ... but still not a sure thing just yet. We're told the honchos are keenly aware Mariah Carey isn't a fan of Minaj and doesn't want her at the table ... a fact producers LOVE because they think the conflict and tension will be good for the show. 

Simon Cowell Helped Save Nine People From a Sinking Boat:  Simon Cowell came to the rescue of some people on a sinking boat the other day while vacationing in St. Tropez. --Simon was on his yacht with his ex-girlfriend . . . a British singer who goes by the name Sinitta. . . when they got a distress call from another boat that was sinking. --So Simon told his captain to head out to the sinking boat.  When they got there, he sent a smaller boat out to collect nine passengers and bring them back to his yacht.  Simon's crew even helped patch up the other boat and pump water from it. --A source says, quote, "He only did what any good person would do.  If his yacht was in trouble he would want someone to come to his rescue.  It was just lucky they happened to be close by."

Jersey Shore is being canceled after six seasons. Jersey Shore, which brought us our favorite Jersey Girl,  Snooki, will debut its last episode on Oct. 4. A retrospective called "Gym, Tan and Look Back" will air Sept. 6. Despite the show's huge success, it caught a lot of heat from Italian American groups charging that the show perpetuated negative stereotypes. This news marks a very sad day for Snooki lovers. 

It might be time for Will.i.am to hire a driver. The Black Eyed Peas musician and pal Cheryl Cole were involved in a car accident Wednesday, per their Twitter accounts. "Car accidents are not dope…" Will wrote. "I'm glad I'm o.k. #wiplash'. "we're fine…thank you…," he told a concerned fan on the microblogging site. @CherylCole [and i] were coming back from the studio…sbut she and I are fine….just a little #wiplash" Cheryl also put fans worries to rest, tweeting: "Don't worry me and @iamwill are fine, promise x" Earlier this month Will.i.am's car was stolenand then found "thanks to technology." At least singer's month hasn't been all bad, his auto-related misfortunes being offset by the history he made just Tuesday when his new single "Reach for the Stars" debuted from Mars. We're just glad Will.i.am and Cheryl are OK following their fender-bender!

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