Nigel Lythgoe: 'Fingers Crossed' That We Won't 'Lose' 'American Idol' (VIDEO)

Nigel Lythgoe admits that being fired from his post as executive producer for "American Idol" was "tough, without question," but his primary concern now is the future of the show.

Lythgoe and fellow executive producer Ken Warwick were fired in June as part of the show's quest to freshen things up and attract new viewers. Despite being upset about his termination, Lythgoe told HuffPost Live's Caitlyn Becker that he recognizes the show's ratings woes and hopes it won't descend into an eventual cancellation.

"It has been dipping in the ratings, and if the people who now own the show ... if they feel the show is going to be better without Ken and I there as executive producers, fingers crossed that they're right, because you don't want to lose that show," he said.

One reason for the ratings challenges, Lythgoe suggested, is the proliferation of similar singing competition shows that pull viewers away from "Idol."

"This is the first time, I think, that we've seen, with 'The X Factor' and 'The Voice,' competition for ['Idol']," Lythgoe said.

Watch the full interview with Nigel Lythgoe at HuffPost Live HERE.