Randy Jackson Leaving American Idol

File under #NoLongerInItToWinIt: Randy Jackson, once referred to by producers as the “barnacle” of the American Idol judging panel, is stepping down from his role at the end of this season. READ MORE

Idol's Janelle Arthur on Her Song-Reinvention Process, Group-Round Insanity and the Judges' Tough Feedback on Her Duet With Kree

Janelle Arthur is not interested in being “a carbon copy” of any other singer — and that’s one reason she tried to put her own stamp on tunes from artists as varied as the Supremes, the Beatles and Dolly Parton during her American Idol Season 12 run. READ MORE & WATCH VIDEO

American Idol Top 3 Performance Night Recap: No Place Like Hometown Visits [Updated]

Since 2002, American Idol has maintained key sponsorships with Coca-Cola, Ford and AT&T, and that’s all good — seeing how it ensures the show’s weekly themes aren’t always variations on “Gregorian Chants” and/or “Tunes That Have Entered the Public Domain.” Still, after yet another gut-wrenching Hometown Visits episode featuring the Season 12 Top 3, I can’t help but wonder: Isn’t Fox long overdue to pursue a partnership with the good folks at Kleenex? READ MORE

Idology: Is Angie Unbeatable? Candice and Kree Dissed Again? Plus: Debating Harry Connick Jr!

Season 12 of American Idol is down to three closely matched ladies — but is the race already over? READ MORE

TVLine Items: Idol Eying Harry Connick Jr., Will Ferrell's IFC Comedy Expands Its Cast and More!

And the American Idol shake-up buzz continues…

Standards crooner Harry Connick Jr. has been approached about joining the Fox competition series as a judge next season …READ MORE

Ratings: Grey's Anatomy, Community, Big Bang Theory Post Gains, American Idol Hits New Low

It was a mostly uneventful Thursday in ratings-land, with most shows either flat or up modestly over last week.

On CBS, The Big Bang Theory (15.7 million/4.6 rating) and Two and a Half Men (11.9 million/3.1) ticked up 2 and 10 percent respectively in the demo, handily winning the 8 pm hour. Person of Interest and Elementary …READ MORE

American Idol Top 4 Results Recap (Redux): Don't Know Why…There's No Sun Up in the Sky

In an American Idol season that’s been almost entirely void of suspense — except maybe an intermittent/horrifying feeling of, “Lazaro Arbos isn’t really gonna live to forget his lyrics another week, is he?” — tonight’s Top 4 results telecast sure was an armchair-clenching affair. READ MORE

American Idol: 11 Terrible Ideas to Avoid in a Potential Season 13 Reboot

American Idol took another hit in the ratings Wednesday night — down 11 and 15 percent in total audience and the 18-49 demo.

Even worse, the show seems to be generating more press for a rumored plan to replace first-year judge Mariah Carey with veteran Jennifer Lopez than for its very strong final four ladies — an idea that makes about as much sense as booking Sanjaya Malakar to …READ MORE & VIEW PHOTOS

American Idol Top 4 (Redux) Performance Recap: Standards Operating Procedure [Updated]

It’s no secret that American Idol‘s ratings have slipped in Season 12, and tonight — despite some stellar performances by the Top 4 ladies — we witnessed several moments where you could practically feel the Nielsen numbers dropping by tenths.

There was Randy Jackson leering at Angie Miller after a particularly harsh critique and declaring, “I do like the leather shorts!” [Tonight's mathematical truth: Randy + the word "Leather" x Sexual Innuendo = Saw-level horror.] READ MORE