American Idol: That’s All Folks!

It’s no surprise that the golden prime time of the once mega popular singing competition American Idol has passed. What’s different is that the FOX network has finally caught up with the world, too.

FOX Chairman Peter Rice shared the network’s concerns with the show’s recent seasons on the Television Critics Association press tour, saying that if he has criticism of the show, it’s because they haven’t found contestants in the last two years who “have captured the imagination of the public.” He also said: “They’ve been really talented kids, but for whatever reason, there hasn’t been that catalyst behind the show.”

The biggest stars who owe their stardom due to being American Idol “babies” are Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

And although they are quite popular still in the US, even they didn’t reach world-wide popularity.

The show had some trouble along these 13 seasons, most of them being related to the ever-changing panel of judges who were/are constantly in some ridiculous feuds and mediocre performances.

For the upcoming 14th season, FOX has contained the live episodes into once a week broadcasts, combining performances and results shows into one.

The show was created by Simon Fuller and it remains one of the most successful shows in the history of American television. It now ranks #17, based on the US television ratings.

Along the years, a bunch of A-listers were judges on the show, including Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Ellen DeGeneres, Mariah Carey, Steven Tyler and Nicki Minaj. The current judges are Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Seacrest, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr.

Speculations of the show’s ending are going on for a couple of years, but it seems for the first time that it might actually be true. With these low ratings and general disinterest of the public in the competition, the show is headed for the same place the X Factor went.