Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe React to ‘American Idol’ Cancellation

“Extra” caught up with former “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul and former executive producer Nigel Lythgoe to find out what they thought about the show's cancellation.

Abdul, who will join “So You Think You Can Dance” as a judge this summer, recalled her days on the show. “I'm very fortunate to have been [on 'Idol'] from day one.” She continued, “I left the show at the top, after I left, my presence, it felt different, and then a year later Simon left, and it feels different and many years later Randy left, but the judges are fantastic, they're brilliant at what they do and they're fun to watch, the chemistry between J.Lo and Harry and Keith, they're wonderful, but I think that a certain point maybe everything comes to a close, maybe it's run its course, but it's a show that changed people's lives, changed my life too, really legitimate super stars came out of the show, and people's dreams have come true and they're living it.”

Lythgoe said he thinks it is “the right time” for the show to ends its run. Lythgoe the executive producer on “SYTYCD.”

He explained, “I believe that, every show has to come to an end at some point, I think it's the right time now because it's had such a incredible legacy that it should preserve… this show was so socially impactful on the entire country as well, as being the biggest show I think we've ever seen on television, each show at one point was producing 35 million viewers every single night, sometimes three nights a week… it gave knockout blows, and like every prizefighter, you've got to know when to retire so no young kid comes up knocks you out and takes credit for it.”