American Idol will end in 2016
American Idol, arguably the most successful televised talent competition, has been axed after 13 years.
Dana Walden and Gary Newman, chairmen and chief executives of Fox Television Group said during their official schedule announcement for the 2015/16 season: “It was not an easy decision. It’s been such a vital part of Fox during its run.”
The decision was made by Fox and the show’s producers FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment. Its 15th season next year will be the last.
The Fox network, who is also behind Glee, American Horror Story, Empire, The Simpsons and the upcoming six-episode reboot of The X-Files, first aired American Idol in 2002 as an adaptation of the UK-born series Pop Idol. Interestingly, Pop Idol lasted for just two seasons, in 2001 and 2003.
At the show’s peak in 2006, it drew 36 million viewers for its season finale. The winner that year was blues-rock artist Taylor Hicks, whose self-titled debut LP hit #2 on the Billboard 200.
Over the years it has acted as a global launching pad for a handful of contestants. Its inaugural winner Kelly Clarkson has a net worth of US$28 million; 7x Grammy winner Carrie Underwood, who took out the fourth season in 2005, is now worth US$70 million and Jennifer Hudson, who placed seventh in season three, has a net worth of US$20 million. Hudson is also an Oscar winner for her role alongside Beyonce in Dreamgirls.
The American Idol contestants can count 13 Grammy Awards, 41 Billboard Music Awards and 18 American Music Awards between them.
Since 2006 its ratings took a slide, although its last season enlisted Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr as judges, and Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta as mentor, this year’s season marked a ratings low of 11.6 million viewers.
Speaking to Billboardfollowing the announcement,American Idolproducer Nigel Lythgoe said the hiring of Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey as judges was a mistake:"Mariah and Nicki was just crazy, and then it really started becoming about the judges and took away from the contestants altogether.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."
Gary Newman has said the final season next January will “be a true season-long celebration,”acknowledging the careers it kick-started.
While the singing competition format has been aped numerous times, the Idol franchise, created by UK industry entrepreneur Simon Fuller has been picked up by more than 46 countries, including Australia and New Zealand.
In Australia, the series ran for seven seasons, between 2003 and 2009. The Australian Idol winners are: Guy Sebastian, Casey Donovan, Kate DeAraugo, Damien Leith, Natalie Gauci, Wes Carr and Stan Walker.