After just one season Mariah Carey is saying goodbye to American Idol. Her publicity firm PMK*BNC Tweeted her departure by saying “W/ global success of ‘#Beautiful’ (#1 in 30+ countries so far) @MariahCarey confirms world tour & says goodbye 2 Idol.” The news is no surprise, but how she did it is because she didn’t do it herself. They buried the lead in a Tweet.
So that means that in the last few weeks the only original judge Randy Jackson, Mike Darnell, who ran Fox’s Alternative Programming, and Mariah Carey have all quit the show after a disastrous season in the ratings. The show hit several series lows and lost over half the viewers they used to get at it’s peak.
When it comes to fixing Idol? I think they really need to cancel The X Factor because the singing competition fatigue has gotten to people like me. They also need to not make the show about the judges any more and focus on the contestants. They really just need to get back to what they were and not what they are now. Can it be done? Yes. Will it be done? Probably not.
UPDATE: Nicki Minaj is also leaving American Idol. She Tweeted, “Thank you American Idol for a life changing experience! Wouldn’t trade it for the world! Time to focus on the Music!!! Mmmuuuaahhh!!!” No one is surprised, and I am not sure if anyone is really upset by her departure. She is the reason I didn’t watch this season.
So now it is up to Keith Urban to stop singing The Clash’s Should I Stay or Should I Go? and just go!
