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Fox just issued a statement confirming that Kara DioGuardi won’t be returning to American Idol next season. News comes as Jennifer Lopez is finalizing a deal to join the Fox series and amid speculation that Idol might be reverting to the original three-judge format. Also closing in on a deal for the reality series is Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. And executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said last weekend he’s still trying to land Elton John. So Randy Jackson will be the only returning panelist after Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, and now DioGuardi have gone.
Kara DioGuardi is stepping down from her role as a judge on AMERICAN IDOL. DioGuardi joined AMERICAN IDOL as a judge in the series’ eighth season. “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. “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!”
“Kara was a great addition to our IDOL family,” said Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “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.”
“Kara is one of the world’s best songwriters,” stated IDOL creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. “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.”
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Do you think Cecile Frot-Coutaz really said “…one of the most proclaimed songwriters in the U.S…”? Or did the person typing up the press release make a typo? My vote is that Cecile said “proclaimed” and the typist didn’t bother (or know) to correct him/her (which is it?)
Yeee-hawwww!!! I’m celebrating this too over the Labor Day weekend! Best news I’ve heard about A.I. in years! There may be hope for the show yet—Kara’s kicked to the curb! Yeee-hawww!
Kara is not to be blamed for Idol’s decline.
Right. She quit.
There is a god. This is great news.
I sense waaaay too much ass-kissing here. Something happened – something neither party can talk about right now, but the truth will surface eventually.
Nigel was going to fire her anyway to start the house-cleaning at the show and yet she has the gaul to say she’s quitting on her own terms?
Yeah, Kara. Like you added a great deal to this show to being with…its demise that is. You couldn’t evaluate talent if it was handed and presneted to you in person on a good day! Good riddance to bad rubbish, you douche! Now go help daddy try to win his seat in NY.
Wow, has it been 15 minutes already?
Funny! Good comment.
Seems like 15 years though.
Truly a masterfully molded, pointed comment. My hat is tipped to you.
A couple of weeks ago she was dumped & was pissed off about it.
Now all is fine.
Gee, I wonder how big the check was that made Kara so happy?
Wow harsh words on here. Frankly it’s pretty obvious what’s happening — they need “star power” and Kara very obviously isn’t J Lo.
I’m not going to cry that she’s leaving, but she brought a LOT more to the table than either Paula (a babbling, incoherent wreck her last two seasons) or Ellen, who was a total waste of time. Some of Kara’s comments were on target, most of them in fact.
I actually thought Kara was great on the show. Cogent criticisms, with bona fide music industry credentials.
I’d guess the reason they’re firing her is that a certain diva wants to be the only gorgeous brown-eyed, brown-haired judge on the panel…
Fifteen too long.
Taylor Swift is horrible.
Kara was horrible.
wow – a lot of bitter & jealous people here – so much vitriolness over what? judging mostly people who can’t sing or perform. Get a life!
I liked Kara on the show and I am not that impressed with the new hires. The talent is what really draws people in and I hope they
find some great singers otherwise the show will go downhill because unlike Kara who knew something about music or Paula who was fun to watch the new talent on the panel is not going to bring in anymore people than what they have been getting.
If they have some great “finds” the show will do fine.
I, too, was a fan of Kara’s, I thought her critiques were generally sound, and except for the awkward flirtations with Casey,was very professional. As for the decline of the show–it’s still a mega-hit by any standard..The consensus was that this was not a particularly strong season of contestants, and for the second year in a row, in my view, the wrong person won, but that’s not Kara’s fault, it’s the voting public (read tween girls)
As to the ‘was she fired-or-did-she-quit’ controversy, obviously she was fired–why would anyone quit a gig like that? But this is s.o.p in Hollywood, where everyone spins negative stuff, and tries to save face. Ellen said she quit, too, didn’t she? Anyway, who cares if she was fired or quit. she’s gone, and she’ll just go on writing hit songs, boo-hoo. We’ll cry for her all the way to the bank.
I think J-Lo will be a good addition to the panel–not as entertainingly wacko as Paula, but at least she’s got performance cred, too.
It remains to be seen, though, what a Simon-less show will be like. No matter who they get, there is only one Cowell.But lets hope for a stronger crop of singers this year.
For all u Kara haters, I’ll what’s way worse…..J-Lo. Her back in the spotlight, ughh! Biggest bitch in Hollywood. Having been to AI a few times, Kara was always the nicest judge of them all. Her judging style was useless and her emotional headshakes were annoying but she was very nice. I say again, J-Lo, Ughhh!
I have met Kara in an asst capacity and she has not one shred of courtesy or common decency in her being. She is a cold, flippant bitch who is way to “hollywood” for her own good (and that’s coming from someone who was born and raised here). She is without a doubt a great talent and a commercial genius, but as a person she is SEVERELY lacking.
“reverting to original three-judge format”? Randy, Tyler, Lopez and trying to get Elton John? Either my math is off or the Tyler/Lopez deals are contingent on Elton.
A.I.’s time has passed. Move on!
Kara, while a seemingly pleasant person, added nothing to the show. Four judges are too many. You really only need three to critique the marginal talent AI presents. And the only judge that matters has left anyway.
Kara is HOT. She was fine on the show, but I understand that they are looking to restructure the show. But going with big name celebrities just for the sake of name recognition may not be the best idea. Nobody cares if JLO and Steven Tyler are on the panel. Nobody knew who Simon Cowell was when he was first on the panel. Go with people that are charismatic and that have a strong music background. Steven Tyler and JLO don’t really sound like a good match. They seem a bit too self-absorbed to be interesting on the panel, and I cannot see them playing off of each other. Gene Simmons would be perfect. I think Kara and Gene Simmons would make an interesting pair, and their personalities would play well off of each other.
IT’s going to be hilarious to watch the ratings crash and burn like an airplane without Simon. The first episode may draw viewers strictly for the curiosity factor (i am not included in that group), but after that, no one will watch. Who cares about JLo or Steven Tylor or anyone else??? Simon Cowell was the show, plain and simple. Can’t wait for x factor to start!
I sure hope this is the end of idol. Maybe this will be the beginning of the stupidest show on TV next to Survivor and Big Brother.
Down the ratlines for Kara.
Poor old Randy is going to go down with the good ship Idol.
Even if Elvis came out of hiding and joined, if Frank Sinatra rose from the dead and he and the Messiah Himself joined the panel, Idol is still dead.