Curses? American Idol's Bad Luck Extends to Tour

Promoter trims several dates from this year's Idol Live! show without giving explicit reason

As if slipping ratings and the loss of its top judge weren't bad enough, American Idol just got another dose of bad news. The Idol Live! tour is about to be idled much earlier than expected.

Organizers behind the current summer tour, which features last season's top 10 finalists, including winner Lee DeWyze, have scrapped several dates from the itinerary with nary a word of explanation.

The road show kicked off last Thursday in Auburn Hills, Mich., and was originally expected to wrap up on Sept. 16 in Portland, Maine.

But with seven dates abruptly nixed and a handful rescheduled, the arena and amphitheater jaunt will now finish up on Aug. 31 in Indianapolis..

All told, five September gigs were scrapped (Buffalo; Cleveland; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Toronto; and Portland, Maine), while a Bridgeport, Conn., show slated for Sept. 13 has now been moved up to this Friday. Organizers also nixed two August stops in Omaha, Neb., and Kansas City, Mo.

No reason was given on the websites for either American Idol or promoter Live Nation, but the cancellations come just days after the resurrected Lilith Fair called off several dates, citing the tough economic climate.