Mike Darnell, Fox's President of Alternative Programming, will leave his post at the network after 18 years.
Darnell will stay with Fox until the end of June,Deadline reports. Following nearly two decades of work, Darnell is noted as a King of the Unscripted television world having launched the likes of American Idol, World’s Scariest Police Chases,When Animals Attack! and Joe Millionaire, among many others.
Rupert Murdoch, News Corp. CEO, released a statement following the news of Darnell's departure saying, “Mike took risks at a critical time and was a pioneering force in shaping the reality programming genre that exists today. He’s a smart and fearless executive who will be missed.”
Deadline notes that Darnell is expected to take some time off before choosing his next project which will reportedly be producing.
Entertainment Weekly notes that Darnell is hopeful that a judging makeover on Idol will take place before he officially exits.
Rumors that Jennifer Hudson has joined the AI team following Randy Jackson's departure have not yet been confirmed.
Darnell released a statement saying, “I’m extremely grateful that Fox has offered me a new long term contract (and anyone who knows me won’t believe I’m saying this), but I’ve decided it’s time for a change. With my current deal ending in June, and having been here for 18 years (kind of a record in Hollywood), I had to make a decision: either stay (and basically admit to myself I was going to retire at Fox…not a terrible choice) or leave and try something new.”
The cowboy hat donning Darnell calls his time in reality television “an amazing ride.”
“However, the world has changed drastically over the last few years and now with hundreds of channels and limitless ways to watch television, I’ve decided this was the perfect time to take advantage of the rapidly changing marketplace,” he continued. “To say I am going to miss everyone here and that the people at Fox are like a family to me would be the understatement of the decade.”
image credit: Fox