(CelebNMusic247-News) Sweden Idols Per Blankens Replaces Nigel & Ken
On Monday, Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick were the latest to get AXED from the failing American Idol series.
Today, (June 12) American Idol has gone out of the country to the lands of Sweden to find a new showrunner!
Here’s the drop:
Fox confirms that Per Blankens, executive producer of the Swedish version of Idol, has closed a deal to serve as executive producer of the Fox series, replacing ousted bosses .
The move comes on the heels of announcements that Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj andRandy Jackson are all off the show, while Keith Urban revealed to us last week he still has not been told whether he will return.
Though the initial plan, per sources, was to replace all four judges with Idol alums (Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson and either Clay Aiken or Adam Lambert), we are told that plan is being reconsidered due to the changing of the guard. Fox reality boss Mike Darnell also decided to leave the network, along with the firing of Lythgoe and Warwick.
Blankens was also head of programming for Meter Television, a Scandinavian production company that oversaw versions of Idol, MasterChef and The Biggest Loser.
The 13th season of Idol starts in January.
We’re crossing our fingers for a better season for the show that’s lost its punch! Oh how we miss Jennifer Lopez, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell. Wouldn’t that be a great panel of judges?
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