Changes

The original panel of judges consisted of: music producer Randy Jackson, singer [[Paula Abdul]], and music publisher [[Simon Cowell]]. <ref>http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/53/P3QW.html</ref> Later the panel increased to four judges, with the addition of Kara DioGuardi. Paula Abdul left the show after several seasons and a new celebrity judge, [[Ellen DeGeneres]] replaced her. It was recently announced that Simon Cowell would also be leaving in the near future.  Fox announced July 29, 2010 DeGeneres will leave ''American Idol'', in what is likely to be the first of several changes. ''American Idol'' remains the most-watched show on U.S. television by a solid margin. But it has suffered four consecutive years of decline, and Fox says its number of viewers was down 9% in the most recent season compared with a year earlier. <ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704532204575398014161199490.html?mod=googlenews_wsj WSJ; DeGeneres leaving Idol]</ref>

The original panel of judges consisted of: music producer Randy Jackson, singer [[Paula Abdul]], and music publisher [[Simon Cowell]]. <ref>http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/53/P3QW.html</ref> Later the panel increased to four judges, with the addition of Kara DioGuardi. Paula Abdul left the show after several seasons and a new celebrity judge, [[Ellen DeGeneres]] replaced her. It was recently announced that Simon Cowell would also be leaving in the near future.  Fox announced July 29, 2010 DeGeneres will leave ''American Idol'', in what is likely to be the first of several changes. ''American Idol'' remains the most-watched show on U.S. television by a solid margin. But it has suffered four consecutive years of decline, and Fox says its number of viewers was down 9% in the most recent season compared with a year earlier. <ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704532204575398014161199490.html?mod=googlenews_wsj WSJ; DeGeneres leaving Idol]</ref>

The show runs for several weeks.  Each week viewers are given the opportunity to phone in their vote for their favorite singer during a (typically) 2-hour period following the conclusion of each show. The results are announced the following night, and each week the singer with the least number of votes leaves the show. The group of singers decreases each week, and finally the one singer who remains wins the title of ''American Idol''.

The show runs for several weeks.  Each week viewers are given the opportunity to phone in their vote for their favorite singer during a (typically) 2-hour period following the conclusion of each show. The results are announced the following night, and each week the singer with the least number of votes leaves the show. The group of singers decreases each week, and finally the one singer who remains wins the title of ''American Idol''.