American Idol fans thought they would be dealing with a "huge" change in programming when it was announced earlier this year that longtime staff member Randy Jackson wouldn't be returning as a mentor, marking the first time he hans't appeared on the program. However Ryan Seacrest subtly dropped the real bombshell while being interviewed at the Z100 Jingle Ball on Friday night in New York: The show would be ditching its second "Results Night" program so that performers and viewers alike won't have to wait for another day to find out the winners (or more importantly, the losers).
"We are going to do the performance show and the results in the same show," Seacrest said, according to Billboard. "So there won't be a 'wait 'til tomorrow night.' There won't be a 'Coming up, coming up, coming up.' We are going to put it all into one format in one night. So that will be exciting."
That format apparently won't begin right from the onset of the season however. The host suggested that it would start during the "final stretch," perhaps when there are ten or so contestants left. Seacrest addressed the subject in such a way as to imply this was strictly to give fans what they wanted more quickly...but most familiar with the show know that ratings have also taken a hit in recent years and Fox just might not want to give the show two night's worth of programming. Numbers have been dropping every season since Season 10, when 25.97 million viewers tuned in to watch the reality competition. Last year's competition only brought in 11.94 million total viewers for the "final performances" night broadcasts. One constant over the course of the show has been that fewer fans tune in for the second night of programming than the first, so that would be the night to go.
Seacrest also hinted that Taylor Swift might make a stop by in a coaching role during Season 14, which kicks off during January. We'll see if they can halt the number slide.
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