Update : It is official, Nigel is stepping back from his day to day duties with American Idol, however he is not leaving 19 Entertainment.
Sources are reporting to TMZ that Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe is leaving American Idol after seven seasons to work on a joint venture with Simon Fuller as well as spending more time with another show he produces, So You Think You Can Dance.
While there is no comment from Nigel and a replacement not named at this point, sources state Lythgoe felt it was time for someone else to step in and he’s has said privately he is “not passionate about it anymore.” “A.I.’s” ratings slipped last season, and the show was getting a little boring.
Note : The source of this post is TMZ which is sometimes credible and other times way out in left field. Take it with a grain of salt till we hear directly from Nigel, which we now have. The rumor is true as Nigel will be stepping down from his day to day duties with American Idol.
[quote comment="39147"][quote comment="39138"][quote comment="39137"]Apparently Nigel comes from a dance background so…SYTYCD is where his heart is right now. I can understand that.[/quote]
and in all honesty he is actually pretty good on Dance as well. He does know what he is talking about and offers much better critiques than any judge on Idol ever has[/quote]
All of the “Jidges” on SYTYCD give infinitely better critiques than AI judges ever have. They allow the the dancers to be the entertainment. Other than Mary Murphy’s most annoying laugh and the “Hot Tamale Train” she wants to put the contestants on, these judges are probably the best group in television. I like the rotating choreographer as the third judge as well.[/quote]
Well said, Driller. Totally agree.
[quote comment="39138"][quote comment="39137"]Apparently Nigel comes from a dance background so…SYTYCD is where his heart is right now. I can understand that.[/quote]
and in all honesty he is actually pretty good on Dance as well. He does know what he is talking about and offers much better critiques than any judge on Idol ever has[/quote]
All of the “Jidges” on SYTYCD give infinitely better critiques than AI judges ever have. They allow the the dancers to be the entertainment. Other than Mary Murphy’s most annoying laugh and the “Hot Tamale Train” she wants to put the contestants on, these judges are probably the best group in television. I like the rotating choreographer as the third judge as well.
[quote comment="39137"]Apparently Nigel comes from a dance background so…SYTYCD is where his heart is right now. I can understand that.[/quote]
and in all honesty he is actually pretty good on Dance as well. He does know what he is talking about and offers much better critiques than any judge on Idol ever has
Apparently Nigel comes from a dance background so…SYTYCD is where his heart is right now. I can understand that.
Nigel has released a statement regarding leaving American Idol
“Due to the huge success of ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ my summer will be taken up by travels to South Africa, Australia and Canada to work on local versions of the show,” Lythgoe said. “I will step back from my day-to-day producing work on ‘American Idol’ and will be devoting my time to a new venture with Simon Fuller.”
Here is the press release regarding the story about Nigel leaving Idol. It doesn’t specifically state that Nigel is or isn’t leaving American Idol. It does however say he is not leaving 19 Entertainment. That is SYTYCD as well as Idol so it is still up in the air as far as I am concerned.
Contrary to online rumors, producer Nigel Lythgoe is not leaving 19 Entertainment. Lythgoe, recognized as one of the most celebrated and influential TV producers of the last twenty years, is currently negotiating a new deal with 19 to begin a new joint venture with Simon Fuller, with whom he created the Emmy-nominated show “So You Think You Can Dance.”
“I’ve worked with Nigel for over ten years, and he is the best producer I have ever worked with. We are a great team and have shared phenomenal success,” stated Fuller. “Under our stewardship, 19 has grown into a formidable force and we are now looking at developing a number of shows through a new joint venture.”
“Due to the huge success of ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ my summer will be taken up by travels to South Africa, Australia and Canada to work on local versions of the show,” stated Lythgoe. “I will step back from my day-to-day producing work on ‘American Idol’ and will be devoting my time to a new venture with Simon Fuller. I have very much enjoyed my personal and professional relationship with Simon. He is without doubt, a man of vision, and I look forward to partnering with him on new and exciting challenges in all forms of entertainment.”
That’s too bad. I like Nigel. But it’s not like we see him each week like we do on So You Think You Can Dance. So I’m sure we won’t even know the difference whether he is there or not. And I love American Idol every year no matter what !
eh whatever.. ratings might have slipped a little but it was still Easily nr 1 (you cannot improve on nr 1) and also the ratings for the final week was excellent, better than the year before. boring? yeah the result show was boring (too long) but it wasnt boring otherwise. but maybe him stepping down is a good change, I dont know. As long as paula simon randy stays on, I dont really care what else happens.