The producers of “American Idol” are really shaking up the judging panel with the departure of Simon Cowell. Ellen DeGeneres parted ways with the show after only one year and now Kara DioGuardi is out the door as well, leaving only Randy Jackson.
“I felt like I won the lottery when I joined American Idol two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave Idol,” said DioGuardi in a statement Friday. “I am very proud to have been associated with American Idol – it has truly been an amazing experience. I am grateful to Fox, FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, as well as the cast, crew and contestants, for all they have given to me. I look forward to my next challenge, and want to thank everyone who has supported me. All the best to everyone on Season 10!”
As you would expect, there were statements from the people who pushed her out the door saying how sorry they were to see her go.
“Kara was a great addition to our Idol family. I’ve been fortunate to get to know her well, and have always been amazed by her eye for talent and her commitment to developing and mentoring artists. She will be missed, and we wish her continued success,” said Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company.
“Kara is one of the world’s best songwriters. She has been passionate and committed to Idol over the last two seasons. I will miss having her on the show, but I look forward to working with her in music for many years to come,” stated Idol creator and executive producer Simon Fuller.
“As one of the most proclaimed songwriters in the US, Kara brought a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to American Idol. We are very grateful for the time she spent on the show, and we wish her nothing but the best in all her future endeavors,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Idol executive producer.
“Anyone who knows Kara knows that she brings an unbelievable amount of passion, creativity and humility to everything she does. It has been a joy working with her on Idol for the past two seasons, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next,” added Idol executive producer Ken Warwick.
American Idol is created and executive produced by Simon Fuller, Founder, 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; and Nigel Lythgoe, President, Big Red 2 Entertainment.
RBR-TVBR observation: The rumor mill keeps saying that Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez will join Randy on the judging panel. (Surely they will go back to three judges, which is what the fans want.) But those rumors have been hanging around for so long that we have to wonder if they were either wrong or the deals fell apart. Auditions for Season 10 have already taken place in multiple cities, but the show doesn’t yet have a slate of judges. This disarray adds credence to the view that the #1 show on television is going to crash and burn without Cowell.
