News broke earlier this week that 2016 will be American Idol‘s final season. Nigel Lythgoe executive produced American Idol seasons one through seven, then sat out seasons eight and nine, and returned for seasons 10, 11 and 12. In an interview with Billboard, he blamed Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj for the decline of the show:
“Mariah and Nicki was just crazy, and then it really started becoming about the judges and took away from the contestants altogether,” the former producer tells Billboard. “I think that was a major failing on the part of casting to have those two together. On their own, either one may have been successful.”
Mariah and Nicki joined the show in 2012 for season 12, news and rumors of their diva antics and them falling out overshadowed the talent of the contestants.
American Idol‘s popularity declined over the past few years, especially with the success of another music competition show, The Voice on NBC. The Voice was able to tap in to a younger demographic, and the same viewers aged 18-49 seemed to slip away from American Idol.
-Victoria B. (@unabashedlytori)
