'American Idol' Will End Earlier Than Usual in Final Season

American Idol will be getting a shorter season than usual for its final season next year. The show will end four weeks earlier than it has previously, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“The storytelling works better in [fewer] weeks,” FremantleMedia North America president of entertainment programming Trish Kinane said. She also acknowledged that the show got drawn out after it became a ratings success.

“Idol was so successful [that the season] got too extended too much,” she added. “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.”

Pictured inside: Jennifer Lopez arriving at a taping of the show on Thursday (December 10) in Hollywood.