Ratings: Idol Gives Back Some of 2007's Audience

American Idol Gives back by Jackson Hill/Fox

Wednesday's roundup:

8 pm/ET
Idol Gives Back averaged 17.6 million total viewers, a 33 percent drop from last year's fund-raiser night. Keep in mind, back then we thought someone was getting the boot. Maybe peeps simply don't tune in to be scared by Robin Williams? Let's hope the donations didn't suffer.

9 pm
Criminal Minds placed second behind Idol with 13.1 mil, gaining 300K week-to-week.

10 pm
CSI: NY did 12.23 mil, a drop of 600 thou. Primetime was No. 2 with 8.2 mil.

More ratings news: CBS' The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson last week topped NBC's Conan O'Brien for the first time ever in a full week of original head-to-head broadcasts, averaging 1.88 mil.

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Apr 10, 2008 4:42 PM

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Whoa, that's a huge drop for Idol
Posted by Marcus Dixon Apr 10, 2008 4:49 PM Report Abuse

Conan will always be my #1
Posted by mick jagger Apr 10, 2008 6:50 PM Report Abuse

I like Conan, but I've been watching Craig regularly since last summer and I think he's consistently funny. I'm delighted for him. I just hope Conan moving into 2nd spot will make NBC re-think booting Jay out the door, because I'm really looking forward to that happening.
Posted by TV Gord Apr 10, 2008 8:19 PM Report Abuse

More ratings news: CBS' The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson last week topped NBC's Conan O'Brien for the first time ever in a full week of original head-to-head broadcasts, averaging 1.88 mil. Conan was in repeats all that week, I believe. So no big whoop!!
Posted by Mr. Furley Apr 11, 2008 3:08 AM Report Abuse

Why wasn't Idol Gives Back live? I think having pre-taped segments of celebrities cheapened the show. You could also tell which performances were live and which ones were taped. Maybe if they change their format next year it will pull better numbers.
Posted by Madge_Fan Apr 11, 2008 8:37 AM Report Abuse

I watched Idol Gives Back last year & this year and thought it was much better last year. I kept switching to other channels throughout the show.
Posted by iamjillian Apr 11, 2008 12:28 PM Report Abuse

Is it too much to hope that the homophobic Conan might be seeing his last days? Craig is much funnier and his humor doesn't sink to the lowest, lowest common denominator
Posted by Sonnet53 Apr 11, 2008 3:15 PM Report Abuse

Conan homophobic? What's that about?
Posted by TV Gord Apr 11, 2008 3:26 PM Report Abuse

TV Gord LOL Do you not watch the show? He makes disgusting gay jokes all the time as well as fat jokes and other jokes that made even my Brother (who is addmittedly somewhat of a homophobe himself!)decide Conan just wasn't funny anymore. If he's even turning men off you know there's a problem. If you don't notice it... I don't know what to say other than perhaps he's toned it down over the last 2 years. I haven't watched him in a long while so I can't say if he has or hasn't toned it down. He turned me off so badly I just couldn't tune in anymore.

Posted by Sonnet53

Apr 11, 2008 5:24 PM

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Actually, Conan makes fun of everyone and everything-nothing is off limits. He's an equal opportunity offender. Haven't you ever heard any of his own self-deprecating humor? He is definitely NOT politically correct-and doesn't apologize or kiss butt when the particular guest may be on his show, unlike some other hosts. He routinely rips Martha Stewart and ladies of The View to shreds, yet also routinely appears on their shows (and vice versa) with which I would guess an "understanding."
Many times he goes to far and is over the top, but I commend him for not being afraid to take risks.

P.S.-If he were really homophobic, I don't think he would allow himself to be portrayed the way that he is in the animated series Pale Force.

Posted by Mr. Furley

Apr 11, 2008 5:56 PM

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To be honest, I don't watch him much. I watched a little post-strike, and I watch anniversary shows and awards shows etc. I tend to agree with Mr. Furley. He doesn't let anyone out of his sights. There's a difference between comedy with gay people in it and comedy that is hateful towards gays or any other group. It's a thin line, but I've never felt anything I've seen him do was homophobic.

It's all a matter of perspective, too. I think I could make an argument that Will And Grace was practically homophobic, with its broad stereotypical portrayal of the character Sean Hayes played. I couldn't watch that show for the same reason you and your brother stopped watching Conan, Sonnet.

I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying I've never seen Conan be unfair or hateful to any particular group.

Posted by TV Gord

Apr 11, 2008 9:56 PM

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I won't watch any show that tries to make Exxon/Mobil look like some type of hero company! So they gave out a couple of dollars of their billions profit. How about giving it back to the American people at the pumps!
Posted by cindybrennan Apr 14, 2008 12:29 PM Report Abuse

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