Nigel Lythgoe Talks Emmys: If American Idol Doesn't Win This Year, It Never Will

Emmys

It’s an honor just to be nominated, but if Nigel Lythgoe is being completely honest, he’d really like American Idol to take home the trophy for Outstanding Reality Show Competition at the 2011 Emmys. After all, Fox’s long-running singing competition has been nominated for eight years running without a single win. So you’ll forgive the show’s executive producer for getting something of a Susan Lucci complex as Idol awaits TV’s biggest night on Sept. 18 to hear the outcome of nomination No. 9. TVLine caught up with Lythgoe to talk about …READ MORE

American Idol in Season 11: Nigel Lythgoe Talks SYTYCD-Style Voting, Banned Songs List

With only three episodes remaining of So You Think You Can Dance‘s eighth season, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is beginning to turn his attention to Fox’s other reality tentpole, a little show called American Idol. Coming off a year in which Idol not only survived Simon Cowell’s exit but thrived creatively (scoring 10 Emmy nominations) and in the ratings (despite a reconfigured judges’ panel and new time slot), Lythgoe says he is hesitant to make any drastic changes to the show when it returns for Season 11 in January 2012. But he took a few minutes to talk to TVLine about possible changes to Idol‘s voting rules, the idea of introducing a “banned songs list” that would outlaw …READ MORE

Emmy Nominees React! Who Said What?

Emmys

Emmy nominations morning is a very exciting morning for those who learn that they’re competing in TV’s Big Show. They get the news from unexpected sources — and most often at ungodly hours! — and the occasional actor might even wake the baby with their jubilation! From there on, they tumble down the rabbit hole into a day full of praise, elation and, yes, personal disbelief.

Here are the reactions from this year’s nominees (detailed here) that TVLine has collected thus far — keep checking back for more! READ MORE

Idol Finale Feud Rages On: Nigel Says Lee Lied! How Did DeWyze Respond?

TVLine’s team of accountants has just reported in and it’s official: Lee DeWyze has officially made more headlines in the past 36 hours than in the preceding year since he was crowned American Idol, now that series boss Nigel Lythgoe has continued his Twitter feud with the seemingly (?) snubbed singer.

Addressing DeWyze’s claim that he was not asked to appear on-stage at Wednesday’s Season 10 finale until “about two minutes” beforehand — and that is why he declined the invite — Lythgoe on Friday morning tweeted … READ MORE

Idol's Nigel, Lee DeWyze Feud Over Finale Snub

Avid American Idol fans may have noticed a conspicuously low-key showing from incumbent champ Lee DeWyze at Wednesday night’s grand finale. Sure, DeWyze was in the audience for the fun-filled show, but why no on-stage action like fellow former Idols Carrie Underwood and David Cook?

Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe seemingly solved that mystery the day after… only to have his account of the situation refuted by DeWyze. READ MORE

Exclusive: Nigel Lythgoe on Haley Bashing, Twitter Rants, and SYTYCD Changes

As executive producer of American Idol, Nigel Lythgoe has to balance the job of creating a compelling TV show with the work of discovering the nation’s next big music sensation — tasks that sometimes take him down competing paths. Lythgoe sat down for an Idoloonies interview (prior to Top 3 performance night and Haley Reinhart’s elimination) and shared his thoughts on how the eventual third-place finisher was treated by the judges after her performance of Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song,” what changes he and his team are considering with regard to …READ MORE AND WATCH VIDEO

New American Idol Crew Meets The Press: 'We're Taking It Up a Notch'

Steven Tyler perhaps sums it up best when assaying the upcoming 10th – and rather different – season of America’s most watched TV program: “Idol is taking it up a notch. No more, no less.”

Among the changes American Idol has undergone since staging its underwhelming ninth season: Following much falderah, Simon Cowell has moved on, to shepherd the U.S. version of The X Factor (premiering this fall on Fox); both Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres also have vacated the dais; Nigel Lythgoe is back as an executive producer; and contestants will face new performance challenges throughout their journey.

Meeting the press for a 40-minute panel discussion at the Television Critics Association winter press tour on Tuesday, here is what the judges and producers had to say about the “new”  Idol. READ MORE

So You Think You Can Dance! Mary Murphy!! Returns!!!

The Hot Tamale Train is back in the station, people!

After a wonky seventh season, So You Think You Can Dance is returning to its roots, starting with the (re)addition of Mary Murphy as judge. …READ MORE