Randy Jackson QUITS American Idol amid reports other three judges 'will be axed' in a bid to save the flailing show

  • When asked whether they would be fired, judge Nicki Minaj said she didn't know, calling it 'a million-dollar question'

By Alison Moodie

PUBLISHED: 15:33 EST, 9 May 2013 | UPDATED: 03:04 EST, 10 May 2013

After more than a decade as a judge on reality singing competition American Idol, Randy Jackson is quitting the show.

The longtime judge confirmed his departure to E! News on Thursday, stating:

'Yo! Yo! Yo! To put all of the speculation to the rest, after 12 years of judging on American Idol I have decided it is time to leave after this season,' he said.

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Bye bye: All four American Idol judges - Randy Jackson, Marian Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban - pictured with presenter Ryan Seacrest (center) 'will be axed' as part of a massive makeover, according to new reports

Not returning: Randy Jackson, pictured second from right, is quitting American Idol after 12 years as a judge on the show

'Life-changing': Randy, pictured in LA in 2012, said he was 'very proud' of having been a part of the show

'Life-changing': Randy, pictured in LA in 2012, said he was 'very proud' of having been a part of the show

'I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry,' said Jackson. 'It's been a life changing opportunity but I am looking forward to focusing on my company Dream Merchant 21 and other business ventures.'

Idol has seen a steady rotation of judges in recent years, but Jackson is the only original judge to have stayed the course with the series.

'There's always been chaos with American Idol, but this year it's been more than ever,' a source told E!.

His exit comes amid rumours that none of the current judges will be invited to return for the upcoming season, and the show's format will be completely redesigned as Fox scrambles to regain its position as television's highest-rated show.

'All four are gone,' an insider with knowledge of Fox's plans told website The Wrap. 'They feel they've lost their core audience and they want it back.'

The judging panel is currently made up of pop singer Mariah Carey, rapper Nicki Minaj, country crooner Keith Urban and original judge Randy Jackson.

All four have options to return for the next season, but Fox won't be renewing any of their contracts.

Bye bye: The other three judges 'will be axed' as Fox overhauls the entire show

Bye bye: The other three judges 'will be axed' as Fox overhauls the entire show

When Minaj was asked by Ryan Seacrest on Thursday whether the rumours were true, the rapper answered somewhat cryptically.

'That's a million-dollar question… I have to say this all the time, but I want people to know it's genuinely from my heart. I love the people on Idol. I genuinely do,' she told the radio presenter and Idol presenter.

'If I had to do this all over again, I would have done Idol. Because it's fun, it's laughs. It's kind of sad that what people read all the time is only when something is negative. But they don't realise that we built a family, she added.

She then expressed her gratitude to the producers for putting her on the show.

'I feel happy here and I have to thank them for giving me this chance. They could have picked anyone in the world. And they picked me. So that's all I'll say about that,' she said.

She doesn't know: When asked whether she and her fellow judges would be fired, Nicki Minaj said, 'That's a million-dollar question', pictured on Wednesday on the show

She doesn't know: When asked whether she and her fellow judges would be fired, Nicki Minaj said, 'That's a million-dollar question', pictured on Wednesday on the show

The network also plans to stop paying its famously huge salaries to attract big name judges (Carey received a whopping $18 million, and Minaj $12 million).

'No more big checks for divas,' the source told The Wrap.

Despite recent reports, Fox also isn't thinking of bringing former judge Jennifer Lopez back onboard to save the flailing show.

Fox Broadcasting chairman Kevin Reilly has been tasked with 'fixing Idol,' said the source, and he plans to revamp the show's format.

It will be completely redesigned and the tribute nights will be done away with.

Longtime producer Nigel Lythgoe, who has been with the show from the beginning, is also expected to be replaced.

Total overhaul: The show's format will be completely redesigned and the tribute nights will be done away with

Total makeoverl: The show's format will be completely redesigned and the tribute nights will be done away with

The 10-year-old Fox show has seen its popularity wane in recent years.

Idol also dropped 15 percent among the 18- to 49-year-old demographic attractive to advertisers, according to the New York Daily News.

In another bad sign, the coveted adult audience last month turned into a couple of repeats of The Big Bang Theory more than an original airing on Thursday of American Idol, according to a report in Entertainment Weekly.

The Fox singing show peaked in 2006's season five when Taylor Hicks was named American Idol and the season finale drew a whopping 36.4 million viewers.

Formerly great: With Simon Cowell at the helm, American Idol would attract more than 30 million viewers for its live shows Formerly great: With Simon Cowell at the helm, American Idol would attract more than 30 million viewers for its live shows

Other contestants that season included Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler and Chris Daughtry. It remains the most productive season in terms of generating recording artists.

American Idol recently has been struggling against other competition shows and this season may  relinquish its crown as the most popular show of its genre.

Two same-week editions of NBC's The Voice and ABC's Dancing With The Stars last month drew larger audiences than Idol.

The show enjoyed its most success with its original panel of three judges that included the acerbic Simon Cowell, pop singer Paula Abdul and music manager Randy Jackson.

 

 

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Can't imagaine Pink getting involved with this carry on sitting next to two children(Justin and Salina). Unless it's Simon, Paula, and Randy I reckon they've had it. The poor contestants that really thought it was about them getting a chance at fame. Sad.

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Ax this show. It's old, boring and will never be the same as when it first aired with Paula, Simon and Randy.

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boring And asleep Ryan is leaving too right? minaj is noose around the shows neck. vile nasty immature and vapid.

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you know randy jackson puts out an "i love america and americans, but not politics" vibe. he should go another direction than this. he should come to ground and do shows about us. you know like how we survive and don't. how we have healthcare and don't. how we have freedom to live and make decisions, and don't:( he could probably fit like 6 families per show and do a show in every city to create a whole season. there are so many people without jobs, or they have a job and no health care. or they have a totally useless degree and work at mcdonalds. or how they have a degree and got a job but cant keep it cause it doesnt pay enough to pay for child care. or???? there is so much and i think americans a gonna believe that randy loves us and is showing us to us.

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Time for the show to RETIRE, PERIOD! new and better came along. How long do they thing this will keep up.

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Don't they realize that the show is fine. The only problem is that the judges are completely biased and everything seems pre-determined.

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He was dumb to quit. Cash cow, good or bad. Should stuck it out until the network was compltely finished running it into the ground. At least that's what I would have done.

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Wow! The final column is now being removed.

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Finally they realized what a huge mistake they have made by hiring three clowns to sit alongside Randy. This is why I stopped watching the show. No one cares about the singers anymore, it's all about the judges and their spectacular entrances with fancy dresses on. Thanks for ruining this show Fox.

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Take Ryan Secreast with then as well. He cant sing or act yet he's sitting on millions.

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