Full Coverage: ‘American Idol’

The symptoms were all there for “American Idol” — falling ratings, high talent costs, advertiser defections.

Not long ago, “American Idol” was such a ratings juggernaut that a rival TV executive dubbed it a “monster” that should be killed.

The next season of “American Idol” will be its last.

In 2002, Times pop music critic Robert Hilburn reviewed “American Idol” about a month into the show’s run.

A look back on the celebrity panel before the final year.

“American Idol” will be canceled after its 15th season.

If you thought “American Idol” had been a bit pitchy for its last few seasons, its home network, Fox, agreed.

It may seem hard to remember now, but a few years ago “American Idol” was such a huge hit that a rival TV executive called it a “monster” that should be killed.

The show’s most outspoken talent judge says, ‘If they ... want to be told the truth, they will be told.’

For a while, there was no greater prize on TV than the title of the next “American Idol.”

“‘American Idol’ is the only show to produce bona fide superstars,” judge Harry Connick Jr. said during the show’s two-night premiere, which kicked off its latest season this week.

Randy Jackson is leaving “American Idol” -- and this time, it’s serious.

The case for “American Idol’s” decline into irrelevancy -- besides its generally sagging ratings, frequent personnel changes and struggling contestants -- could have easily been made at its annual summer tour, which stopped in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The drug-related death last month of “Glee” star Cory Monteith will be addressed in the third episode of the Fox musical comedy when it returns next month, although it remains unclear if the circumstances of his passing will be part of the plot of the fictional show.