Is Idol’s Mismatched Superstar Panel Hurting the Show?

Ratings for this season of American Idol have been lower than the opening of Simon Cowell’s shirts on finale nights. While some of that is just due to the age of the show—can you believe Kelly Clarkson was crowned Idol’s first winner 12 seasons ago??— executive producer Nigel Lythgoe told Zap2it.com that there may be another reason why the show isn’t getting the viewership it used to. “I don’t think we have good chemistry with the judges,” Lythgoe said of this year’s panel, which includes Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Idol’s last remaining original judge, Randy Jackson. “Individually, every single one of them has something to offer but for me, it is a bit like a jigsaw puzzle that doesn’t quite fit. And that saddens me. They are good individually, but I miss the camaraderie we have had in the past.” While Season 12 may be remembered for the falling ratings and fights between judges, it will also be remembered as the first year a girl has taken the title since Jordin Sparks won in 2007 as the top 5 this year are all women.