American Idol: One More Season and They’re Done

American Idol announced today that its 15th season (next year) will be its last. Idol is currently in its 14th season and the finale will be this week. Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. will stay on as the judges and Ryan Seacrest, as always, will be on hand to host

Once the top-rated show on TV, American Idol lost a portion of its audience with the departure of Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul as judges. Others dropped off (like us) because they perceived the judging as manipulative, ignoring glaring flaws of judges’ favs while skewering other singers for lesser gaffes.

The most successful alumni of American Idol are Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Here is a video showing the winners up through Season 12.

Other contestants who did not make it to the top sport, such as Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry, still did all right for themselves. Many went on to star in Broadway musicals, so whatever the criticisms of the show, those who were able to parlay their stint on it into a career in entertainment will undoubtedly always remember it fondly.