American Idol drops all four judges after the ratings last week was all time low

According to The Wrap, none of the four 'American Idol' judges will be asked to return next season. Longtime producer Nigel Lythgoe is also expected to be fired.

“All four are gone,” the insider told TheWrap. “They feel they’ve lost their core audience and they want it back.”

In an effort to attract younger viewers, Fox is set to make major changes to the show, including an entirely new judging panel. All four current judges have options to return for another season, but Fox won't be picking them up, according to the insider, who said, "No more big checks for divas."

Fox's major restructuring was spurred by the show's plummeting viewership. Its ratings are already down 22 percent this season and it hit a series low for ratings last Thursday, attracting only 11 million viewers. This is a major problem during May Sweeps, where ratings numbers are used to calculate advertising rates.

The network has also resolved to stop paying the over-the-top salaries it's been handing out to its judges, i.e. Carey's reported $18 million package, Minaj's $12 million deal, and former judge Lopez's $15 million salary.

Time will tell if Fox can save 'American Idol.'

Source: bossip.com