Requiem for 'American Idol': Can anything save this show?

I was a late comer to American Idol. I missed the first couple of seasons of the show, mainly because I'm not a huge reality TV fan. Even the reality competition shows bore me. I did start half-watching in season three (for me, a half-watch constitutes me reading a book while occasionally glancing up and saying, "Huh, well she's good"). I mainly watched because I actually liked Simon Cowell's snarkiness. I also though the man knew what he was talking about, talent-wise.

I haven't watched American Idol this season. Well, okay, I "half-watched" a couple of episodes, enough to know that I was done with the show for good. I'm not at all surprised that ratings for this once-dominant FOX show are in the can, sliding into oblivion with seemingly no bottom in sight. Oh, sure, 11 million viewers per week is nothing to sneeze at, but compared to years past, it's bad. It's particularly bad when you consider what they're paying some of these big time judges.

There is simply no way AI will return next season with this particular judges lineup and show layout. I don't see how any network exec worth a flip would allow it. I'm sure the postmortem will come in earnest over the summer, as FOX regroups and tries to come up with some sort of formula to get Idol back on track. But what will help?

The short answer, in my opinion: Blow this whole show up. Seriously, ditch the drama queen judges (because really, I don't give a rip about the judges' drama, this is about the contestants), stop with the endless parade of sad, tragic back stories for the contestants (one per season, please, this is not a Friday Night Lights weep-fest) and for God's sake, bring back Simon Cowell. Now. Figure out a way to make that happen.

And while you're at it, also figure out a way to ruin NBC's The Voice, because right now, that's what's really smoking American Idol. Judges can snark on each other there, but it's all in good fun and it doesn't take away from the contestant's performances. I don't know about you guys, but if I do choose to watch one of these talent shows, I want to see the amateurs giving their all -- not the celebrities blathering on about...well, whatever celebrities blather on about. It's boring. I don't care.

Anyone care to offer up some suggestions about how to save American Idol at this point? Obviously if you don't like the show, it doesn't matter, but for fans, this situation is becoming pretty dire.

Photo courtesy of the NY Daily News