"Idol" Slides Away: Loses 1.2 MILLION Viewers From Last Week

A night after Tuesday's much-discussed on-air blunder by "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul, the results show of the talent show lost 1.2 million viewers from the previous week.

With "Idol" (22.1 million viewers vs. 23.3 million) already having dropped in nearly every episode in recent weeks, however, that means the reality show has once again hit a five-year low. A year ago, the show averaged 29 million viewers.

On Tuesday's episode, a last-minute procedural change resulted in the judges critiquing contestants' first round of performances instead of waiting until the end of the second round. Abdul gave a negative review of contestant Jason Castro's two songs.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Anonani]

Get over it! There was probably something better to watch in that time slot! Besides if Brooke had stayed on even one more week, I would have tuned out permanently. This is a singing competition not a congeniality competition! Brooke should have been gone long ago!

[ObamaEdwards]

Contrary to the belief of TV producers, not all Americans are dying to watch a panel of self-involved pill poppers trashing the dream of mediocre singers. Surprise!

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

good does this mean america is waking up? I hope so.

[citizenofmars]

Non-stop Mariah Carey wanna-be's and three judges who are obviously mental cripples do not maketh a long-running show. America is sick to death of all this neo-Pat Boone-ness. Make 'em at least WRITE their own songs. Who cares if these plasticized clones can hit all the high notes or not? Only brainwashed morons who believe this circus of mediocrity displays real musical talent. How much recycled pap can we handle? Here's an idea for a show- American Idol Boomer Edition. Yes! You gotta be at least 50 to get on it, and you have to perform your own material. Want make-up? YOU do it. Dress like you want. Let's have some judges we can relate to. Like Elvis Costello, or Debbie Harry, or Steve Vai. Do it right, with real people and real music, real bands. And don't let Simon within 10 miles of the studio...

[1question]

The show is a fake...!!!

Judge(s) attending pre-show rehearsals...what is the point in that...!?!?

Phony judge(ing) comments...predetermined well before the "live" show.

Secret voting totals allowing "voters" to vote multiple times.

Pre-taped show segments inserted into what is supposed to be a "live" show i.e. quest performances, the phony call-in segment, some pre-song performance Q & A etc...

The show needs to:
1. dump both Randy and Paula
2. use only authentic live performances by everyone
3. 86 the sorority "girls" down in the pit with the fake waves above the head
4. get rid of the standing ovation after EVERY performance...
5. keep the judges away from the contestants and rehearsals
6. get back to true amateur contestants...no previous CD releases or contracts
7. new host...maybe rotating previous idol winners
8. no more "mentors" that haven"t had a hit record since Bill #41"s White House hummer(s)
9. pick a final twenty based strictly on talent...NOT others factors (gender, race, age...sex appeal)
10. 1 (one) phone vote per land line phone use only...publishing totals on web site 24 hrs after result"s show

Go back to the basics from the first season...and what"s with the cheesy product placements and fake commercials...!?!?

[AmandaRuth]

I love Jason, I hope he wins. I am so glad Brooke is gone, she was boring.

The problem are the mentors - I like Neil Diamond, but he is too old-school for the target AI audience. Also having the show once a year is getting old, they should try every other year.

[heretical_eggs]

This is a good thing.

[TurgidCaterwauling]

You can see how the tweenies might make Castro and Artichoke the top two. Won't that be a finale?
High school choir boy licks his lips as he belts out another breathy song with his eyes closed vs. I'm too mellow to perform as if I care.

[observing]

People aren't that interested in the elimination show. Everyone I know Tivos the show so I don't know how they include that.

[auramac]

Wow! Brooke has an album from 2006- sounds good, but I expect the next one to be much better:

http://brookewhite.com/

[kellygrrrl]

why are people surprised that the American public would vote for non-talents who seem "cool" while letting really talented performers go home?
I mean, we are talking about the country that put Bush in office -- twice

[SweetAngie]

Apples and oranges . . . ! ? !

The people who are jamming the voting lines are Tweens . . . they're not old enough to vote in an election - and were in grammer school when Bush ran! Sorry, that makes no sense at all!

The really sad thing is . . . the finalist will probably be David A. and Jason. Why? Because they are the Tweens idols. That is enough reason to stop watching a now, really bad show!!

[Colmore]

As soon as Jason Castro was the first one to be told "You are safe" my TV was switched off, and I am done watching the show. It is no longer a talent show when a thin, reedy voiced dweeb like him is in the top 5. More talented kids were sent home months earlier, during the try-outs. I fail to see what this kid has that is so special. He can't sing, he is not that good-looking, his hair looks like HELL, with straw intertwined. I remember one of the last interviews when two young guys were the last two interviewed. Simon wanted the dark haired kid, with the strong voice, but was out voted by the other two. He was a really nice kid, with curly black hair, horn-rimmed glasses and a GREAT voice. Obviously, they did not think he had the "look" to win the contest. With contact lenses this kid could have been very popular, he has a great personality. But they sent him home. "Ringlet boy" (my name for Jason) does not belong in this competition. He is so in love with himself, I think he is responsible for many of the calls for himself. It is over for me. Sanjaya was bad enough, but Jason is a joke.

[auramac]

Neil Diamond is a great songwriter, as evidenced by his undeniable success. To say otherwise is simply ignorance. The show, however, was boring, and I don't know how many viewers they'll lose by next week, but with Brooke gone, I may be one of them. It's gonna get worse.

[theidaexpress]

This doesn't surprise me, as the most recent installment of the show left me bored out my mind. Neil Diamond week? Are they running out of decent composers already?

[deedrdo]

for some inexplicable reason, i enjoy watching this show.

this year i'm less interested mainly because the voting seems to have been hijacked by the tweens, more so that in previous years. if they don't address it for next year i may be an ex-AI viewer.

in terms of talent, christy took way too long to get the boot and jason should have been gone long long long ago. just my opinion.

i think you should get one vote and not be able to speed dial for an hour for your favorite. i also think the judges should have to vote and justify their existence and have that vote count for 50%.