American Idol: Could Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller Be On Their Way Out?

By On 07/14/2012 · 196 Comments · In American Idol, Nigel Lythgoe, Simon Fuller

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The Los Angeles Times is reporting that American Idol producer, Nigel Lythgoe, has yet to sign a new deal to stay with the show, and that Idol creator, Simon Fuller may have a reduced role with the show next year as well.

Nigel, Simon and Ken Warwick could all be on the way out. Core Media Group, the company which now owns American Idol, and FOX, the network that airs it, are prepared to make MAJOR changes to save their sinking franchise. Idol lost 23% of it’s viewership last year.  American Idol has always been the cornerstone of the FOX network’s rating dominance and has brought in billions of dollars in revenue.

I just hope in the mad scramble to save the golden goose TPTB don’t kill it with too many changes.  Yes, with The Voice and X Factor able to tout superstar judges, Idol has no choice but to follow suit. Otherwise, they seem too irrelevant to attract major talent. But they’ve GOT to hang on to the aspects that made the show popular in the first place. Keeping the focus on the TALENT is #1.  If Idol returns unrecognizable, or a carbon copy of other shows, viewers may be alienated even further.

For instance. I think it’s a good idea to bring in new producers with a fresh perspective coughbyekencough but I would not ditch Nigel Lythgoe.  He steered the Idol ship to #1 in the first place.  He wasn’t at the helm for Season 8 and Season 9, and both seasons suffered as a result. SAVE THE NIGEL!  His stone cold silence since the stories began to break on Thursday has me thinking the worst.

Like The Wrap, the LA Times is also reporting that Idol decided not to pick up Steven Tyler’s option and had some interest in Jennifer Lopez, but not at a higher price tag.

The New York Post, however, is reporting a completely different story, that Fox was ready to re-sign both Jennifer and Steven. The network believed Jennifer’s dithering was merely a negotiation ploy. When both judges  quit within 18 hours of each other, the network had to begin scrambling.

Whatever report is true, I think we need to stay tuned for some MAJOR changes to Idol. I just hope the show I love doesn’t turn into a total stranger.

 
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  • Kitwana

    Certain1 How many washed up popstars were there when Victoria Beckham made her Idol appearance? If Beckham were not a Fuller client, there’s no way she would have gotten an invite. Let’s see if Idol gives her an invite if Fuller’s role is reduced.

  • Tess

    Idol contestants are rarely novices in the music biz.  Heck, Kelly was in LA pre-Idol auditioning for everything from commercials, back-up singers to TV shows.  Carrie was a fixture on the amateur circuit, David Cook and Daughtry had their own bands, Jordin did local community theater, Adam was in the chorus, half the girls were wedding singers…should I go on?

    People will always say the new auditioners aren’t as talented…I could post a gazillion videos of auditions from the kids who made it to the finals and the uninitiated would get a pretty good laugh at how “bad” some of them were.

    I just think that people who have been in the bubble for a very long time (that includes media) aren’t seeing things through untainted eyes.

  • Anonymous

    A girl winning would have only made a difference in the last 5 seasons if they emerged the way Kellie Pickler or Jennifer Hudson did.  In the last 5 yrs, with the exception of Season 9, all the guys so far have been the top sellers of their seasons.  And Crystal only best Lee by a small margin and was eventually dropped herself.

    I’m not exactly sure what you’re saying, since you’re using as examples women who didn’t win, but went on to success.  What I was saying is that any girl preparing to queue up for her 30 in 7,000 shot at getting a golden ticket has got to be thinking, “I won’t win, but maybe Jimmy will like me anyway or I can get a booking at a casino next year.”

  • Anonymous

    I really think this rebellion thing is overstated.  Scotty really can only sing country and Jimmy was on board with that so maybe they fought about which song big deal. James really did soft rock not what he is doing now  and Casey was all over the place and his CD isn’t what he did on the show (although I like it) . They all played along and pushed a little which is most likly the case in every season.

  • TheOther

    But at the early stages (cattle call) of the competition, I don’t think most people are thinking about winning.  The immediate goal is probably to get on the show.  And you don’t have win or be in the Top 2 to have a career.  I don’t think this will be the last we hear from Elise, from Erika, from Skylar, et, al. Just like Brooke White and Carly Smitson, there will be more career opportunities from the exposure of the show.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/DJ4FPAE2BM4XDCNVQITJSS3S2Q Sue

    The point is I never had to scratch my head about what type of artist those 3 wanted to be.

  • DavieP

    Ive also read that producers are worrying cuz they havent found much talent in early aufitions

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_I3NQHPT3NA6VGKK22RCMTGOCII Tiffany

    New talent will be harder to find for Idol since they cut back the winner and runnerup compensation and tour compensation so much.  For a show supposedly about the competition, all the money is going to the judges now.  Why try out on a show and get less then the million dollar pkg it started with originally when xfactor is offering 5 million?  Idol does get you a lot of recognition which xfactor doesnt have a track record for yet, but it would be difficult to compare compensation and take less then a million.  Ido has so taken the focus off contestants in every way.

  • Anonymous

    But at the early stages (cattle call) of the competition, I don’t think most people are thinking about winning.  The immediate goal is probably to get on the show.  And you don’t have win or be in the Top 2 to have a career.  I don’t think this will be the last we hear from Elise, from Erika, from Skylar, et, al. Just like Brooke White and Carly Smitson, there will be more career opportunities from the exposure of the show.

    I think we’re saying essentially the same thing.

  • Anonymous

    New talent will be harder to find for Idol since they cut back the winner and runnerup compensation and tour compensation so much.  For a show supposedly about the competition, all the money is going to the judges now.  

    I don’t know how much that affects the talent’s attitude, but it does leave a sour taste in my mouth.  I don’t remember this being an issue before the end of Season 8/beginning of Season 9, when Simon was bribed to return with a huge salary package and Paula was offered something so insulting she felt obligated to walk.

    At that point, it seems, fans began to seriously wonder where the priorities of Idol machine were aimed — at boosting judge egos, or at supporting the development needs of its winners.

    It only got worse when Jennifer Lopez negotiated her compensation package (which was rumored to include development perks for other projects*), while the tour salaries were cut, and advance fees cut for the contestants.  In Season 11, Jennifer’s salary and perks were increased, Steven got more promotion for his band, and Jessica’s deal was downgraded from a definite album to a possible album (or maybe only a single).  

    *Anyone else think that Jennifer’s role in the new Ice Age movie is related to her package deal with Fox?  Seems like awfully random casting otherwise.

  • Anonymous

    It’s never been American Idol…more like America’s Favorite.

  • Karen C

    I meant more with Casey and Phillip anyway.  There was definately a week where Casey wanted to do a song, and Jimmy Iovine wanted him to do a pop song.  And Phillip with his clothes, and when they told him not to play guitar.  Whether this advice was good or not, neither thought the advice fit them as an artist, so that’s why they didn’t always follow it.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/DJ4FPAE2BM4XDCNVQITJSS3S2Q Sue

    Jimmy wanted James to sing Elton John’s cover of The Who’s Pinball Wizard, James fought Jimmy to sing Sammy Hagar’s Heavy Metal.

  • lovesickheroine

     Um, Victoria Beckham was a part of one of the most popular girl group in England. Remember the Spice Girls?

  • Anonymous

    Who did/do you have to scratch your head about last year or this year? I think they all pretty much say what they want to do with their careers at some point even if it is slightly diff from what they do on show.Now i would argue someone like Pia or Holly may not be able to perform the pop stuff they want very successfully but I never was confused on what they wanted to do.

  • Anonymous

    They edited those two very well into the show I just believe many performers faught choices some worked out some didn’t but they do not put everything on the show.

  • http://twitter.com/LindaDec1 Linda Foltz

    Don’t write Adam off so quickly.  He just sang with Queen and debuted in the UK and was #17 there for the first week.  Adam’s likely to be a huge hit internationally and that will affect his overall album sales.  It’s possible that the US radio stations will play him more after he makes it bigger worldwide.

  • http://twitter.com/Sassycatz Sassycatz

    It’s never been American Idol…more like America’s Favorite.

    Isn’t that redundant?

    Don’t write Adam off so quickly.

    Lately, everyone’s been written off quickly. No one escapes!

  • Kitwana

    Yes, Victoria Beckham was invited to guest judge on Idol because she was a member of the Spice Girls. Sorry, I don’t buy it. If she were not a Fuller client, I think she’d have as much a chance of guest judging on Idol as any of the other spices, which is little to none.

    If Simon, Ken and Nigel do leave Idol, I hope insiders will finally be more willing to spill the dirt about backstage manipulations by producers. That’ll be great!

  • http://twitter.com/LindsayKempFan Not fit to print

    I really think they need to keep Randy at this point, too. There has to be someone on the panel who knows how to move the judging along/mentor the new(and probably inexperienced) judges.

    I am surprised that no one has mentioned Cheryl Cole. I watched one season of X Factor UK and she was great at judging and mentoring.

    X Factor US dissed her last year by accepting and then rejecting her. She has since made a dent in US radio and she’s very pretty. And it would be a good way for Idol and Cheryl to stick it to X Factor.

    Biggest thing for me: she has judging experience and they are going to need it. Plus she wouldn’t be asking uber-millions.
     

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/H5JCJO4YO62N2VVVBICA5ZBAMM celiadeng

    i love American Idol so much

    http://www.shopcoming.com/ 

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