Any one who tuned into Dancing With The Stars this week should have heard host Tom Bergeron crow about how the show was the No. 1 series on TV last week — a statistic that no doubt stung folks over at American Idol, TV’s perennial winner that hasn’t exactly broken performance records this season. The audience for Stars has been so impressive this season (an average 22.5 million, up by 4.8 million over the same time last year), that it’s difficult not to question whether Fox’s Death Star is finally showing signs of wear. Even Fox execs admit that it’s shaping up to be the lowest-rated season of Idol among adults 18-49 — a trend that’s no doubt influenced by the nasty perception of how the current crop of contestants can’t sing.
But to say that Fox is wringing its hands over the drop in ratings would be an overstatement. For one, single-digit declines like those suffered by Idol in the key demo (down 5 percent on Tuesdays and 9 percent on Wednesdays) aren’t unusual given the current trend of audience fragmentation. (Veteran favorites like Grey’s Anatomy, CSI and Desperate Housewives are down this season, too.) And Idol still handily beats Dancing With the Stars on Tuesdays, when the two reality shows go head-to-head. Season-to-date, Idol remains the No. 1 show on Tuesdays (a 9.6/24 in 18-49 and 25.9 million viewers) and on Wednesday (9.1/23, 24.7 million). Even if Idol went on to lose roughly 10 percent a year in the demographic, Fox projects the competition show will still remain one of TV’s top five for years to come. (Assuming, of course, that no new series come along and shake up the ranks — and TV is certainly overdue for another big tent reality show in the vein of Idol and even Dancing with the Stars).
Still, Fox is well aware of the challenges they face in keeping Idol relevant, especially given Simon Cowell’s departure after this season. “We would all be in denial if we didn’t believe Simon leaving will have some impact,” admits Preston Beckman, Fox’s head of scheduling. “We spend a lot of time doing everything we can to keep this show alive and well into its ninth season. It’s still an amazing show and still delivering for us.”
They should show Randy and Ellen get it on! That would DEFINITELY improve ratings!!!
Is it weird that I take so much pleasure in seeing Idol start to falter?
me too
nope, I love the news too
This is what’s happening: DWTS is more entertaining. Anytime you get Sade on your show….that’s BIG baby! compare Sade to Diddy and Kesha — Idol is making a BIG mistake by going for youth with untalented overblown people.
If they want to pull in audience, they should get Beyonce or Alicia Keys, or even Britney Spears. They are classic entertainers.
Instead they have Adam mentor and they recycle old themes (“Elvis”)…where DWTS, even with the Dlisted names, brings in name performers who can SING! and the dancing is phenomenal.
They need to do a couple of things.
1. Dump all the judges. Kara seems to be the judge this year with the best critisms, and thats just scary.
2. Get real mentors-people with 10 to 20 years of experience and show them really working with the idols. The family/friends/judges should be highlights, not the “meat” of the show. Seeing Tim get better because of real work would make it seem more real and less bizarro.
3. Get rid of lipsynched entrances that sound like they belong on my high school stage.
4. Mix up modern and old music. Beatles night should be followed by 2010 night-a night where the performers have to sing something from this year.
I agree with #4, because the “old” themes are dated and recycled. We’re tired of it.
They did have “real” mentors years ago, like Diana Ross & Smokey Robinson, but this year they went with Youth. And you know every one of them is promoting an album. At least the old school artists aren’t promoting CDs like the new stars are.
I just find the whole formula tired. Not to mention the singers are good, but boring. They need a “Kate” or a “Sanjaya” on the show to boost interest.
Have a night where all slow songs are banned and also a night where no one is allowed to play (AKA: hide behind) an instrument, just get up there and sing.
jump the shark!
Don’t worry, I’m sure they can get lower. God knows the judges, with their inane and inconsistent critiques, are certainly trying to drive the ratings as low as possible. They should just say Crystal is brilliant, which is true and take off the rest of the night. Because they’re clearly not interested in paying attention to anything else that is going on.
They shouldn’t have messed with their winning formula of focusing on the talent and having the 3 judges Randy, Paula, and Simon. It worked.
Adding Kara was their first mistake, Letting Paula go was the second. The final death nail was adding Ellen. Not everyone can stand Ellen. I know I certainly can’t.
I know that a lot of long time viewers of Idol were really upset when they let Paula go. The writing was on the wall when they hired Kara last year. Many people have not warmed up to her, and she seemed very unprofessional when she was hitting on Casey (not long after she was married). Simon and Randy seem bored and barely pay attention while the contestants are singing. Ellen is a great talk show host, but she doesn’t add much to a music critique. Maybe changing all the judges next season would generate buzz after this boring season.
I think their 3rd mistake was NOT getting rid of Randy a LONG time ago…seriously EVERY time someone sings he sayas ‘dawg’ that was ‘pitchy’ regardless whether it was or not…I don’t think he really has any musical chops IMO.
I think the problem is/was switching Ellen for Paula! My friends and I can not relate to Ellen AT ALL and we loved PAULA. Previous seasons we would get together and have Idol night but now we don’t. We found her to be too annoying and useless on the panel so now we go out for drinks or rent movies insted. It costs us more money to do the latter, but it is better then hanging with Grandma Ellen at home.
One of my friends pointed out that Ellen has the former contestents on her show – some who will compete again next year – she can’t be an impartial judge for future seasons so why even bother watching or competing?
We are so over it.
I watch DWTS and flip to AI during commercials. But DWTS is definitely 1st choice.
I think AI’s problem is that they have extended the show to two hours so that they can get all the contestants and the judges comments in. This is way too much time for me to commit to AI each week. They need to go back to a 3-judge panel and maybe a top 20 instead of a top 24 and get it down to 5 boys and 5 girls instead of 6 of each.
The problem with the show is that the contestants are pretty ordinary. “Elvis night” really highlighted the weaknesses. Most of them “murdered” the songs.
I had been a loyal Idol watcher before last season. Frankly, I thought that the season that Cook won was so good that nothing was going to top it. But it is clear that Idol is ending. With both Simon and Rickey Minor gone next year, it will be harder for the show to get ratings. I would suggest that they take a break for a couple of years.
Does anyone know what the ratings were for last night? I know they were hoping Adam Lambert would help
The shows aren’t exactly on the the eaxt time slots so it not like DWTS is NOT taking away from AI-It is all the pregnant wanna-bes who wants 6-8 kids and a tv show that is watching DWTS!!!!
To keep their ratings, they need to go to this website that matches people up with rich old ladies. My friend did it, and he sleeps on a mattress stuffed with money next to the new, yet really old, love of his life and her oxygen tank. Check it out at datesuperoldhags . com. Yeah!
Can you guys PLEASE do something about these spamers? They are driving me totally insane!!
haha, im pretty sure this is a joke Cole.
LOL c’mon Cole, how did you not get that??
Maybe more people would watch if american idol, had proper mentors like Reba McEntire(I DONT EVEN LIKE HER THAT MUCH)But man that woman can sing.I certainly wud start back watching.
I agree,Reba wud be a great mentor, she has had a succesful singing carrer,best selling books,successful sitcoms and movies, and after 30 years she is still at the top, she wud be the BEST mentor in my eyes