Fox executives have said it was not an easy decision to pull American Idol off the air after its 15th season next spring. The reality show, which dominated television throughout the 2000s, made stars of the likes of Simon Cowell, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
The cast from the past few seasons, with Ryan Seacrest as host and Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr as judges, will return for a season-long celebration of the show’s history.
“It was not an easy decision. American Idol has been such a vital part of Fox for its run,” said Gary Newman, Fox Television Group co-chairman and chief executive, following the announcement on Monday.
American Idol has faded over the past few years, eclipsed in the music competition genre it pioneered by NBC’s The Voice. Personnel changes didn’t help, and neither did tinkering with the format, as the show fell victim to what usually kills off most television series – old age.
Dana Walden, co-chairman and chief executive of the Fox Television Group, described it as a “pretty emotional decision” to end American Idol.
Fox and the show’s producers were discussing how the series would continue, but ultimately “we all arrived at the conclusion that it was time to bring the show to an end”, said Newman.
Walden said there are no specific plans yet, but that several former contestants and judges have already expressed “a lot of enthusiasm” for coming back and celebrating the show’s legacy in its final year.
The show will run in a similar format next season as it has this year, broadcasting on Wednesday and Thursday nights starting in January for the beginning stages, then once a week on Thursday for the second part of the season, Fox said.
• Season 14 of American Idol is currently being broadcast on OSN on Wednesdays at 11pm
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