DVDizzy Forum

"American Idol" is going nuclear for Season 13.

None of the four judges on the singing competition will be asked to return next season, an individual with knowledge of Fox's plans told The Wrap. Longtime producer Nigel Lythgoe is expected to get the boot. And despite reports to the contrary, Fox isn't even considering bringing former judge Jennifer Lopez back as a lifesaver for next season.

Like we said: nuclear.

"All four are gone," the insider told TheWrap. "They feel they've lost their core audience and they want it back."

Driven by this belief and the need to attract younger viewers, Fox is set to make major on-air changes to "Idol," the most notable of which will be an entirely new judging panel. New judges pop icon Mariah Carey, rapper Nicki Minaj and country star Keith Urban won't be back. Even original judge Randy Jackson won't survive the blood bath this time around.

A Fox spokesperson declined to comment for this story.

All four judges have options to return for another season, but Fox won't be picking them up, according to the knowledgeable individual, who said: "No more big checks for divas."

The network has resolved to stop paying the huge salaries it has been shoveling out for its big name talent, i.e. Carey's reported $18 million package, Minaj's $12 million salary and former judge Jennifer Lopez's $15 million.

The show's format will also change. Its look will be redesigned and the dated tribute nights will be a thing of the past. But the show's trademark audition episodes will continue.

Behind the scenes, Fox Broadcasting chairman Kevin Reilly is charged with "fixing Idol." And one of the first changes will occur at the top of the food chain: Longtime executive producer Lythgoe is expected to be replaced. What that means for the show's producers, FremantleMedia, remains to be seen.

Maybe the theme of “American Idol” next week should be “Eve of Destruction.”

After a report that the still-popular but stumbling Fox icon is about to vote off all four of its judges and its executive producer, veteran judge Randy Jackson confirmed Thursday that he’s giving up the talent-show gig.

“Yo! Yo! Yo! To put all of the speculation to the rest, after 12 years of judging on American Idol I have decided it is time to leave after this season,” Jackson said in a statement.

“I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry,” he said. “It’s been a life changing opportunity but I am looking forward to focusing on my company Dream Merchant 21 and other business ventures.”
A “insider” told The Wrap Thursday that Fox plans to start the show from scratch next time around, after a year of bad reviews and worse ratings.

That would mean not picking up the options of judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban along with Jackson, who has been there since the beginning.

The Wrap also says executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, another show veteran, may not be returning.

Only host Ryan Seacrest seems to be sticking around.

dvdjunkie wrote:I haven't watched this season because of the 'street-ho clown' judge Nikki Minaj.

Even Scotty McCreery is more talented than Phillips. Scotty's new album just went Platinum in less than two weeks.