American Idol To End Next Season

Via the Associated Press:

The swan song of "American Idol" and heavy doses of comedy and sci-fi will mark Fox's 2015-16 season. The once-blockbuster singing contest, which launched the careers of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson, has seen its audience dwindle and age. "Idol" will return next year for its 15th and final season with returning judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr., Fox said Monday. Ten new series will debut next season on Fox, including the comedy-horror series "Scream Queens" from "Glee" producer Ryan Murphy and with veteran scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis in the cast. The last chorus of "American Idol" will begin in January, with stalwart host Ryan Seacrest ushering the show to a (hopefully) graceful conclusion after a long and influential run that, at its peak, drew 30 million viewers.

American Idol was the top-rated show for eight consecutive seasons beginning with its launch in 2003. The show has produced dozens of chart hits, including #1 pop singles for Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, and Fantasia.

TRIVIA: American Idol is produced by Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment, which takes its name from Paul Hardcastle's 1985 anti-war dance hit 19. Fuller was Hardcastle's manager at that time.