“Ew, is that how my voice sounds on a mic?”

Sing hosanna to the Most High because Nicki Minaj is leaving American Idol. Yes folks, the rude Pop star won’t return for a second season of the show and joins Randy Jackson on his way out the door. Yet, is Minaj’s departure enough to save the former top reality series?

According Us Weekly, Minaj’s American Idol contract will not be renewed for a second season of American Idol. She supposedly never planned to appear on the show for a second year but this announcement has stirred speculation that her exit is tied to falling ratings and negative reviews from longtime viewers, who were upset that a “rapper” was chosen to judge real singers.

Minaj has been locked in a vicious public feud with fellow judge Mariah Carey since the start of her American Idol stint. In fact, their spat went beyond the set and Minaj attacked numerous members of the media – Barbra Walters, Billy Bush and Laura Saltman – who refused to take her side in her childish games.

Still, although Minaj’s decision to leave American Idol should please critics and Carey, who has yet to announce her plans for second season of the series, the chances of the show scoring a revival remain quite slim. With increasing competition from the saturated talent show circuit and a lack of emphasis placed on the contestants, the American Idol producers have failed to maintain the integrity of the brand.

Now, to help save the show, American Idol will reportedly return to the three-judge format and the salaries of those unnamed panel members will be cut to far from glamorous figures. Either way, there is no question that the series has entered its twilight years and perhaps cancelling it while people still care may be the best move.

“Ugh.”

Thoughts?