By April MacIntyre Aug 9, 2008, 23:38 GMT
American Idol executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe is leaving the hit Fox reality show in order to focus on other projects.
05/03/2008 - Nigel Lythgoe - "Jersey Boys" Opens at the Palazzo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas - Jersey Boys Theatre at the Palazzo Hotel and Casino - Las Vegas, NV, USA © PRN / PR Photos
He told Extra, “I’m really leaving American Idol…I was working 24/7 and then some…so there was just no time in creating anything else.”
The parting is bittersweet for the producer.
Lythgoe says, “Just talking about it is tough. It’s like giving birth to a baby and letting it go. You’re an empty nester. Your children have left you.”
Lythgoe, who also serves as executive producer and judge on "So You Think You Can Dance", took the stage at last night’s finale to perform his own number.
Lythoe said, “I’ve been in pain because of my dancing. I pulled a muscle which is embarrassing.”
He wasn’t the only injured dancer - Lythgoe revealed, “The two boys [Joshua Allen and Stephen "Twitch" Boss], as you probably know, were in the hospital on Saturday and Sunday. We haven’t spoken too much about it because we didn’t want that affecting the vote, but they were exhausted.”
When asked if Joshua deserved to win the title of America’s Favorite Dancer, Lythgoe replied, “I think America got it pretty much right to have Twitch and Joshua there [in final two]. For me, either one of them could’ve one. Katee [Shean, top female dancer], I found the most beautiful of dancers…but they [fans] loved the boys’ charisma more.”
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