Original Idol Producer Nigel Lythgoe: 'I Would Replace the Entire Judging Panel'
As the co-creator of Pop Idol and American Idol, Nigel Lythgoe is never short on opinions, and as a panelist on his self-created show So You Think You Can Dance, Lythgoe's deadpan candor is his trademark. Still, the 60-year-old former dancer reached a new level of unfiltered commentary when he was asked to open up about Idol's current season, laying into Simon Cowell, Ryan Seacrest, and most of all, Ellen DeGeneres.
"I would replace the entire judging panel," Lythgoe told Zap2it. "I don't think it really works replacing one person. They don't have a great deal of chemistry at the moment. Ryan and Simon have fallen out. It's uncomfortable to watch. Ellen hasn't worked out as well as we would have hoped."
As for who should replace the current panel, Lythgoe offers three believable alternatives: "Elton John, Usher and Paula Abdul."
Well. I guess he doesn't really care for Kara DioGuardi's incisive monologues.
'American Idol' Ex-Producer Nigel Lythgoe [Zap2It]
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OUCH! LOL Maybe they should of picked singers who actually had some sort of personality to be on the show so the judges wouldn't suck so bad but then again this show has sucked for a while now.
he certainly changed his opinion fast! he's always said he'd get rid on everyone but keep Ryan. Ryan and Simon fell out? Wha? NOT!
Did I mention? I'm effing mad @ Nigel for that. If he replaces everyone It's gonna be a train wreck. I won't say Idol's NOT gonna lose viewers because if its really on his hands, My estimation would be 3 million people will stop watching. You're gonna remove Paula from the panel then you're gonna remove everyone else after the next season.?? Then you're gonna bring back Paula again and bring 2 other people in the panel?? WTF is wrong with you people?? And I'm gonna say this because this is my opinion rather than my anger strike... NO ONE CAN BLOODY REPLACE RYAN SEACREST. If you keep him & Kara, I'll be fine with that. If you're gonna remove all of them then Idol is screwed. History knew Idol as Simon,Paula,Randy & Ryan for god's sake! Oh,And Add Kara now. Maybe try removing Ellen and bring back Paula would be one of the best steps Idol has gone through. Ellen's sucking it. She's like the lesbian version of Paula Abdul which makes it very painful to watch... One MORE THING... Ryan confessed to the LA Times that Simon's getting old that's why he's getting a bit insecure. But... I quote... "There's no commercial break that Simon & I wouldn't talk..." They didn't fall out for god's sake!
Nigel had enough experience producing this show to know that the solution is to reunite the ORIGINAL judging panel of Simon, Paula, and Randy. The breakup of this Mighty Trio is the cause of all the problems Idol is suffering this season. The only thing he's right about is Ellen. She is making an already disastrous situation even worse.