'American Idol' Loses Longtime Showrunner

Zap2It.com | August 5, 2008

'American Idol' producer Nigel Lythgoe

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Nigel Lythgoe leaving 'American Idol' to concentrate on 'So You Think You Can Dance' and a new venture

Nigel Lythgoe, one of the driving behind-the-scenes forces on "American Idol," is reportedly exiting the top-rated FOX competition series.

According to the industry trade papers, Lythgoe is stepping back from his day-to-day production chores on "American Idol" to concentrate on expanding the brand for his other 19 Entertainment production, the summer hit "So You Think You Can Dance."

Lythgoe, a judge and producer on the American incarnation of "Dance," will spend much of the rest of his summer helping to launch the format in a number of international markets. He's also expected to branch into a new partnership with 19 Entertainment's Simon Fuller.

"We congratulate Nigel on the proposed joint venture he is developing with Simon Fuller," FOX said in a statement on Monday (Aug. 4). "He is an extraordinarily talented producer whose creative contributions to the No. 1 show on television have been immeasurable. While we are disappointed that he will no longer be executive producing 'American Idol,' we are pleased to continue working with him on 'So You Think You Can Dance' and look forward to working with him on his new projects."

It's unclear if Lythgoe will continue to have some titular role on "American Idol," which is still in the audition phase of its eighth season. Even with Lythgoe's absence, the show's creative cupboards are hardly bare, with returning executive producers Fuller, Ken Warwick and Cecile Frot-Coutaz of FremantleMedia North America.