American Idol will be returning to FOX for its 15th and final season in just one month, but fans of the legendary singing competition may have fewer episodes to get to know the final Idol in 2016. According to a new report, the network has cut down its order of Idol installments.
Though an exact number of episodes ordered and details about the final season's runtime on FOX remain unconfirmed, Billboard reports that FOX has given season 15 a truncated order. It seems as though the show will crown its winner in April, four weeks ahead of its normal schedule.
Of course, American Idol is touting the format change as a good thing, saying that at its height the number of Idol episodes ordered got a little out of hand.
"The storytelling works better in [fewer] weeks. Idol was so successful [that the season] got too extended too much. There are only so many hours that viewers will devote to watching these shows, so if it is shorter this year, it will be a good thing," FremantleMedia North America president of entertainment programming Trish Kinane said.
The shorter schedule wouldn't be the first change that Idol has made to its format in recent years. For its 14th season, the show got rid of its results show, instead announcing the eliminated artist at the top of each episode.
American Idol has also shaken up its judging panel over the years. Originally fronted by Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, the show has also featured Nicki Minaj, Kara DioGuardi, Steven Tyler, Mariah Carey and more. Currently, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. sit on the judging panel.
The 15th season of American Idol will premiere on Jan. 6, 2016.
