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Idol Still a Force, Even as Ratings Decline
Syesha Mercado by Frank Micelotta/FOX
The big TV story of the moment is the ratings decline of American Idol.
But let's get real — of course the show's numbers are down. Once a show has been No. 1 for a few seasons, it can only go one way. It's amazing that Idol held up as well as it has. By the time the current TV season is over, Fox projects that Idol's ratings will still be ahead of what they were in the mega-hit's second iteration that started in January 2003. In that year, the use of digital video recorders or TiVo was scant. There was no YouTube. The main business of iTunes was music. There were no hit TV shows to stream over the Internet. Digital cable and satellite TV have given viewers dozens more channels than they had just a few years ago.
New technologies have changed the TV viewing experience into a more personal endeavor. But Idol continues to thrive because it's still a collective, inclusive event that different generations can watch together. Almost every season, 30 percent of the audience is made up of viewers aged 35 to 49, a group that includes a lot of parents watching with kids.
Kids, teens and young women are the demos that are down the most for Idol this year. It makes sense. Young viewers are the most fickle and the first to tire of any show. If you started watching Idol when you were 8 years old, you're not likely to stick with it if you're trying to be a cool teenager. Young women have also been siphoned off by the surfeit of reality shows that appeared this season as a result of the writers' strike.
The fact that there are fewer African-Americans in the later rounds of the competition has likely led to a steep drop among black viewers. None of the most popular contestants specializes in country music, a genre that always fares well on TV. Of course, the make-up of the contestants is in the hands of the voting viewers once it gets to the Top 12. But Idol producers do need to take a look at the aspects of the show that they can control. Idol Gives Back is a lovely gesture, but it basically turns the show into a telethon for a week, and for the second consecutive year it drove some viewers away. Andrew Lloyd Webber? Must be a Brit thing.
Fox executives put the show and its ratings under a microscope every week to figure out what works and what doesn't. But if they play their cards right, the end of the Idol juggernaut will be a long way off. Idol may not be as big as it used to be, but it's still a lot bigger than everything else in prime time. As long as that's the case, it will be a powerful draw to advertisers and a big moneymaker for Fox.
So why the press pile-on regarding the ratings? Envious execs at the competing networks are putting the word out about the numbers, and Fox's scheduling chief Preston Beckman doesn't blame them. He'd be doing the same thing if Idol aired on another network. But he warns that the press and other TV outlets should be careful about wishing for Idol's downfall. The show has provided fresh faces and fodder for morning programs, late-night shows and the press.
"Idol has become a national event," he says. "The show not only helps Fox, but every broadcast network, every newspaper syndicate and every one of those entertainment shows. It feeds everything." — Stephen Battaglio
Related:
• Idol Boss Talks Shocking Exits, Sliding Ratings
• The Great American Idol Blog
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Apr 25, 2008 4:20 PM
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Never watched the show, never will.
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Apr 26, 2008 7:18 AM
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Ever since the American public went against the producer's wishes and voted for Taylor in season five, AI has done everything they can to disavow him and his fans. Simon and Nigel never miss an opportunity to tell us we got it wrong. That isn't possible. We voted for the one we wanted. No one told us we had to vote for the one that would sell the most cds and earn them the most money!
Taylor was one of the most popular contestants they ever had. The next season, Simon is telling auditioners to put their gum on the picture of him and comparing Sunshine Head to him by saying Sunshine put Taylor to shame. (Where is Sunshine now?)
Why bother investing in a show or contestant that the PTB are going to dis? Whether or not they approved of him, AI should have done everything they could to back up each and every winner they've had.
Why bother investing in a supposed search that the producers do everything they can to manipulate the outcome of? If you watch the AI Rewind shows, the manipulation was much less heavy-handed in the earlier seasons. It is just since the end of Season Five that it has become so obvious. Surprise, surprise! That's when the drop in the ratings really started. Then they did such a lousy job last season that it just pushed it along. This year the narrow, repetitive themes are killing the show. Why not country or Broadway rather than the limitations? Because they might not be able to get them on Itunes and choke a few more pennies out of the viewers?
In just about every way possible, the producers and other PTB have taken the joy and sense of discovery out of this show. All because they didn't get their way two years ago. (Because selling 700,000 cds is so bad, right? Wouldn't most established singers love those sales?)
It is really kind of sad. Things are rough right now and I'm sure the American public would love to see a true rags-to-riches storyline. But, AI decided to do away with that too, by choosing to stack the deck this season. They really need to go back and look at what made this show because they've done away with just about all of the basic components.
I still watch but there is no buzz among friends or excitement about the show that there used to be. They've killed their own golden goose and the death will be an agonizingly slow one to complete.
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Apr 26, 2008 9:14 AM
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I stopped watching this show during the Taylor Hicks installment. I didn't like him or Katherine Mcwhatever her name was. But they specifically were not the reason I tuned out of the show.
Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul are.
Let's start with drunk/high Paula. I don't know how a contestant could take criticism from this druggie with a straight face! SHE'S the entertainment! Oh and of course she slept with Cory Clark! Looking at her now, I always wonder which other male contestants she's put the moves on.
And as for Simon, obviously the show would not survive without his 'wit'. But there is a slyness to him that I just don't appreciate. And I specifically mean when someone like Elliot Yamin, or a Jennifer Hudson(THANK GOD both of those talented people prevailed despite him!) are not told that they sang the song badly that particular night. No. Elliot was told he was ugly and had bad teeth, Jennifer was told she was fat and had ugly hair....none of those things having anything to do with the fact that they turned in stellar performances.
So when Simon decides to go that route, usually the person is eventually voted off, which is something he has planned, since there are voters that take their cues from him
Simon doesn't want someone that can sing. He wants a Brittany Spears or a Justin Timberlake. Someone with questionable talent that can make him some real money. I almost think that American Idol should put up a sign at the rehearsals that reads 'No One That Can Actually Sing Need Apply'.
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Apr 26, 2008 10:13 AM
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mrmeowspa: My sentiments exactly!
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Apr 26, 2008 10:29 AM
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I used to be a avid fan. Now I avoid the mean spirited audition phase and start to watch when it is 24 competitors. Then I skip voting because it doesn't matter. This year there were so many ringers in the competition and with a voting system that is ridiculously unfair, I'm over this show. The powers that be on this show don't care who wins. They are building fan bases and will sign anyone who does well in that area. That way they can take a hunk of their money by producing and representing them. It's an opportunity for all the kids, but I am sick of calling a joker a king. This show is a way to pimp out talented young people. If they want the ratings to go back up they need to make voting fair and realistic of what fans think - it isn't now. They need to get rid of Seacrest and spend half the time with the Terrible Trio. Someone better needs to pick the themes and they should cut the stupid phone calls and poorly done group numbers.
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Apr 26, 2008 11:44 AM
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The show is losing ratings because people are wizing up that its far from a talent show anymore. Its nothing more than a popularity contest. Why bother to vote for someone who *can* sing when the cute guy or the pretty girl get to stay.
I lost interest when Eliot Yamin, who Simon said was possibly the best singer that was ever on this show, LOST to Hicks and McPhee. It wasn't because he couldn't sing well, it was because people thought his teeth were bad.
We've become a society of dumbed down oafs who idolize looks over talent. My votes constantly went to Yamin and still do. At least I know where he is now. But exactly where are Hicks & McPhee?
The judges have added nothing to keep this show alive either. Their schtick of bickering, mumbling & kareoke remarks bore me silly & they offer no real constructive criticism in the slightest.
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Apr 26, 2008 11:56 AM
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My Tuesday night (8pm) is spent watching NCIS.
I've never cared for popularity contests so have never watched the show. I can only name one person who won on the show and that's only because I listen to Country music.
Lots of shows have their time in the sun and eventually something else comes along to put it in the shadows.
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Apr 26, 2008 4:00 PM
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Unless they limit the votes per phone line, it will always be a popularity or "who can work the phone system best" contest. We all know (or should) the talent doesn't always win. So you watch it just for the entertainment value. HOWEVER, Ryan's inane banter with Simon has turned off everyone that I speak with. And, the overdrawn results and contant plugging. It is really tedious now. Enough already!
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Apr 26, 2008 4:05 PM
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Get rid of Paula Abdul. She can't talk in whole sentences. She has nothing to offer. The constant bickering between Simon & her is annoying. At least Simon has proved he can sign talent and make them a star. Paula is such a has been. Get someone to replace her that has personality.
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Apr 26, 2008 4:12 PM
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I only watch the audition rounds. It's fun to watch the judges make fun of the bad singers. But, after the audition rounds the show gets boring. It's just a bunch of people singing. Why would someone want to watch that?
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Apr 26, 2008 5:10 PM
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There are numerous reasons why the ratings have declined. The ones mentioned in the article above (only one way to go for ratings, no serious black or country contenders, etc.) But a big reason for the ratings decline though, is that this season, there isn't any "break out" star like in some years. Also, it's looked pretty strongly that it will be the 2 Davids in the finals, so there's no sense of drama until then. I predict that the final 2 shows will draw huge ratings, but until then...not as much as prior years.
Also, the music power of AI is largely unproven. Yes, there has been SOME success, but nothing that has sustained.
Kelly and Clay have continued to sell moderately well, but Fantasia and Reuben have all but dropped out of view. I think it'd take a detective of Batman's or Dick Tracy's caliber to find Taylor's career.
Carrie Underwood probably will do the best long term but that is due to Country Music fans. The country fans have helped sustain runners up Josh Gracin and Bucky Covington, but they'll never be stars. I once saw that there was a sold out show of several "old timer" country stars that between them hadn't had a hit since the 1970s. Country music fans are long term, and while Carrie's album sales may decline, her concerts will always do well in whatever venue they end up.
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Apr 27, 2008 9:36 AM
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Yes, we are bored with American Idol. They should take a cue from Britney Spears to get some interest going. I suggest that Simon takes his trousers off and get the paparazzi to take some good crotch shots. It made Britney #1 in most visited Internet personalities and gets people watching her every tv appearance. I would tune in to see Simon.
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Apr 27, 2008 11:45 AM
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I have watched American Idol since day 1 and still watch it. I have a huge music background and do think that it has got down to a popularity contest rather that singing talent. I have thought that every year they have picked to right person but the year that Taylor won was the last year that I thought there was any talent. I am a big Taylor fan and knew from day one he would win. He had it all, voice, personality and knew how to delivery a song. Last year I was very disappointed in the show and felt like that was the year it started going down hill. I am pretty happy with it again this year, a lot of talent again this year. You can really tell that it is all about popularity though. David A is excellent and hopefully he will win but Carly should never have been voted off at this point. She has an amazing voice. As sweet and cute as Brooke is she should have gone long before Carly. Well anyway I still like the show and will hate to see it go when it does. It has been a blessing to alot of talented people find their way to being discovered.
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Apr 27, 2008 11:50 AM
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I never cared for the show. It's not always my type of music, and when I have been stuck to watch, I have found someone I enjoyed. But where are they now? The winners that is? The only ones, I know who came out of American Idol were not winners ( I don't know where Carrie Underwood stood) are the only ones doing well, and that is because in my opinion, is they signed with a record label and a genre that they are more like, which would be country. So, yeah why bother watching a show, when the winners usually amount to nothing in the end, and the ones who do amount to something, were casted out because they weren't pretty enough for the children who are voting because of looks
I wanted to watch the Andrew Lloyd Webber one, but then realized I'd probably be upset because I don't think people with no training or little training can sing some of his songs, you need to be soprano,(in some songs) you need to be able to show emotion that the song brings, it's a roll not just a song. I'll stick to those who have been doing Broadway, for years to try and accomplish his songs. ALW isn't a brit thing, it's a Broadway thing.
I'll be glad when the show is canceled forever, and I can watch the shows that don't get shown when this show takes up 3-4 nights a week. Is that really necessary?
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Apr 27, 2008 1:19 PM
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