Warwick and Lythgoe will be entrusted with luring viewers

Faced with telecasting an Emmys show that has experienced dwindling ratings, FOX has turned the festivities over to the producers of "American Idol."

FOX announced on Wednesday (Feb. 21) that Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick, masterminds of the "American Idol" juggernaut, will executive produce the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards, airing on the network on Sunday, Sept. 16.

"Nigel and Ken have consistently raised the creative bar with their innovative work on 'American Idol' and we believe they will continue to do so during their first Emmy telecast," says FOX Entertainment President Peter Liguori.

In addition to "American Idol," still setting ratings records in its sixth season, Lythgoe created FOX's summer offering "So You Think You Can Dance," as well as a variety of successful U.K. programming.

"The Emmy Awards not only celebrate excellence in television, the Emmy Awards are excellent television. Star power, production values, drama, suspense, tears and euphoria, just like an 'American Idol' finale," Lythgoe says. "While appreciating the traditional and maintaining the high standards of past Emmy Award ceremonies, we will also be recognizing the ever-changing landscape of today's successful television. It is a great honor and a wonderful challenge."

Dick Askin, chairman and CEO of the Television Academy, adds, "Nigel and Ken are terrific producers, and their expertise in live event programming will be a major asset to this year's Primetime Emmy telecast."

It seems possible that Lythgoe and Warwick's first change to the Emmy format will be declaring CBS' "The Amazing Race" ineligible in the reality category. The CBS show has beaten "Idol" for the Emmy four consecutive years.

Last year's Emmy telecast, which aired on NBC, averaged 16.2 million viewers, which was down roughly 2.5 million viewers from the previous year, but an improvement over 2004's audience, which was the lowest in 15 years.