Idol ex-producer would replace judging panel

As Simon Cowell gets ready to leave “American Idol” for his new baby, “X Factor,” an original “Idol” producer, Nigel Lythgoe, says he thinks the show should do a major overhaul of the judges table.

“I would replace the entire judging panel,” Lythgoe tells Zap2it. “I don’t think it really works replacing one person. They don’t have a great deal of chemistry at the moment. Ryan [Seacrest] and Simon have fallen out. It’s uncomfortable to watch. Ellen [DeGeneres] hasn’t worked out as well as we would have hoped.”