Fox cancels ‘American Idol’

Fox has made the decision to cancel “American Idol,” ending a long-running series that dominated television throughout the 2000’s and made stars of the likes of Simon Cowell, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. The network announced on Monday that “American Idol” will go off the air after its 15th and final season next year. There are no specific plans as of yet, but 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. Ryan Seacrest will return as host and Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. will reprise their roles as judges. Gary Newman, Fox Television Group co-chairman and CEO, stated that it was not an easy decision, and the show has been a vital part of Fox during its thirteen-year run. “American Idol” has faded over the past few years, eclipsed in the music competition genre it pioneered. Simon Cowell, the British music producer and talent scout (with a sharp tongue and brutally honest assessments), became a star as judge, along with Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. Personalities like Jennifer Hudson, Adam Lambert, Jordan Sparks, and Chris Daughtry also became household names after competing on “Idol.” According to Fox, the show will run in a similar format next season as it has this year, airing Wednesday and Thursday nights starting in January for the beginning stages, then once a week on Thursday for the second half of the season.