Nigel Lythgoes looks to the Internet for...

Nigel Lythgoes looks to the Internet for...

Debra L. Rothenberg

Mary J. Blige (above) will team with Nigel Lythgoe and Antonina Armato to find the talent for “Opening Act,” Lythgoe’s new show.

Nigel Lythgoe, producer of American Idol, is launching a different kind of TV talent search one that will give selected unknown artists the chance to open shows for the likes of Nicki Minaj, LMFAO and Rod Stewart.

Opening Act, which premieres July 9 on E!, will find its contestants on the Internet.

Lythgoe, Mary J. Blige and Rock Mafia producer Antonina Armato (plus presumably their staff) will troll the Net and invite artists to a high-intensity performance boot camp in preparation for the opening act gig.

There is an extraordinary amount of untapped talent out there, says Lythgoe. But if you dont know the right people or have the right connections, you may never be discovered. Opening Act democratizes a notoriously impossible process.

COME & GO : Fox has renewed Fringe, a sci-fi mystery love story, for a final 13-episode season next year. NBC has effectively canceled Best Friends Forever, the Wednesday night sitcom that aired for four episodes. The other two may run this summer or may be posted online HBO has renewed Girls and Veep for a second season each.

DOTS ALL : New York 1s Pat Kiernan came back to Live With Kelly ! (Ch. 7/WABC, 9 a.m.) for an encore Monday and will do it again Tuesday. He looked more relaxed this time, but as with all of Kellys guests, it takes a while to get a banter in sync. John Legend has replaced Lionel Richie in ABCs Duets, a music competition show that debuts May 24. Legend, Kelly Clarkson, Robin Thicke and Jennifer Nettles will pick unknown duet partners and sing with them live around the country. The partner on the winning team gets a deal with Hollywood Records. WKCR (89.9 FM) runs a festival of outlaw and progressive country through Wednesday. Teri Hatcher wont be out of work long after Desperate Housewives ends this month. She will direct episodes of ABC Familys Jane By Design and also have a recurring role starting June 19.