Fox Addresses 'American Idol' Rumors, Says 'Everything Is On the Table' for Next Season

Amid rumors that all four American Idol judges are being replaced next season, Fox entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly confirmed on Monday that nothing is set in stone as the show's struggling 12th season limps to a close. Asked whether Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban (Randy Jackson has already confirmed his departure) are welcome to return to the show next year, Reilly told reporters:

Welcome back? Absolutely. But everything at this point is on the table.

In the meantime, Reilly says that "a few fresh twists" are being made for the show's upcoming 13th season. It's also "likely" that the show will return to its original three-judge panel. As for why Idol, which has recently seen its lowest ratings in over 10 years, isn't connecting with audiences this season, Reilly says formatting changes and the show's 11-year-old age are to blame.
“We expanded some of the middle rounds we did a boy-girl thing that went over three weeks — that’s really where the ratings took their biggest hit," he said. "The only thing I will confirm is next year, without getting into any specifics, our next season begins on the Friday morning after our [Idol] finale — that’s when we’re really going to get to work in earnest.