American Idol and Fox are taking drastic measures in order to get the singing competition back on its feet after a season of sinking ratings.

Three of the judges were summarily cleared out after the finale, leaving only Keith Urban's fate still up in the air. Now executive producers are beginning to pack up their offices as Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick have been let go, according to The Wrap.

Lythgoe and Warwick were both part of the original team that brought Idol to air in 2002. However, sources claim that part of the reason for their departure, particularly Lythgoe's, is due to a rocky relationship with the show's creator, Simon Fuller.

"Both Nigel and Simon really clashed," a source said, according to FOX411's Pop Tarts column. "Ken and Nigel's exit isn't surprising...It's hard for anyone involved in the production to get along with Fuller."

However, Lythgoe has created other shows with Fuller, particularly So You Think You Can Dance with which he worked as a creator, an executive producer, and a judge for in the past.

Compounding the Idol's current situation is the recent departure of Fox's alternative programming chief Mike Darnell who has not yet been replaced, according to The Wrap.

American Idol has created several long lasting talents, such as Kelly Clarkson, and new breakout hits such as last years Phillip Phillips. However, average viewership at the programs peak in 2005 was as high as 30.6 million while season 12 only reached an average of 13.3 million viewers, according to the Nielsen ratings as reported by Fox.

Will the current shake up be enough to pull viewers back or is American Idol simply faltering in an oversaturated market?  

Tags: American Idol