The producer Nigel Lythgoe is leaving “American Idol” to concentrate on another Fox reality series and a new joint venture with Simon Fuller, the creator of “Idol.”

Fox will introduce a science-fiction-oriented drama from J. J. Abrams of “Lost” and a comedy about life at a luxury hotel starring Jerry O’Connell.

TiVo has made watching commercials unnecessary. Is it now trying to make watching reality shows a thing of the past, too?