American Idol Ratings Skid Continues: 5-Year Low

The "American Idol" ratings slide continues. Wednesday's results show — where forgetful Jason Castro got sent home — was a 5-year ratings low for the show, according to the Hollywood Reporter's James Hibberd:

"Idol" (22.9 million viewers, 8.2 national 18-to-49 rating and a 21 share) continued to decline at a time of year its ratings usually increase. Aside from its "Idol Gives Back" special, "Idol" has not shown any week-to-week growth since February. Lead-in " 'Til Death" (6 million, 1.9/6) was average, but "Back to You" (7 million, 2.1/6) hit a series low.

The entire season of "American Idol" has been dogged by low ratings — from the lowest-rated premiere in four years to losing members of key demos to losing 1.2 million viewers from one week to the next — prompting Fox to survey audiences about possible major changes to the show, including removing host Ryan Seacrest.

Despite the ratings slide, "American Idol" consistently wins its time slot, just at lesser numbers than in past years.

Comments

[sher2x4]

I feel so un-american
I've never watched American Idol,
and never will.

[dartagnan]

The shows are TOO DAMN LONG, especially the results shows. Ten minutes of entertainment and 50 minutes of commercials. Who needs to watch that when you can go on-line the next day and get the results?

[jgalvan]

You hit the nail on the head.

[Photofarm]

I think the biggest problem idol has is the unlimited voting. I like the Dancing With the Stars voting format where people are given a certain number each week. The number of votes goes down as contestants are limited.

I think the biggest problem is the judges seem to be inconsistant, and sometimes confusing in their comments. I also think they need to get voice lessons to help improve the singers technically, it would help save their voices.

David A may very well win this year, but his voice won't hold up because he doesn't have the techniques down right to sing without straining his vocal chords.

[theidaexpress]

It is just boring! David and David are the same each week. Syesha can't sing, and just screams her songs. Pot boy would just strum on the guitar and Brooke was constantly doing bad impressions of Carly Simon. They said at the beginning of the season that this was the best group of singers--they couldn't have been more wrong.

Not that any of this matters of course!

http://www.theidaexpress.com

[Gmoney1]

The songs are corny, the singers are average, Simon is getting too easy, Paula is suspect and Randy knows there are no winners in the group - you can't fool the public - get real, get some real male singers and get some women with soul and range that is real - stop the pretense -

[Jacob77030]

I'm just glad they got rid of that ugly-looking girl with the dreadlocks.

[bitterspinster]

The first 2 seasons were good but it has been downhill since then.

[NURREDIN]

Who cares? From the beginning this show has been nothing more than watching a bunch of glorified Karaoke singers. They don't write music, they don't play instruments.It's about the drama, not about art. Come to Vegas, and you'll see musicians twenty times better than that drivel, playing for two drink minimums. American Idol is a croc. And who the h*** said Paula Abdul has any talent? She sang like a frog on helium twenty years ago! Randy Jackson is a washed up bass player,and Simon gave us the Spice Girls, one of the most talented groups on the planet. Give me a break. It's all been media hyped B.S. from the beginning. Pull the plug.

[RedWhiteandBlueState]

22.9 million viewers. That's a lot of people focused on the same thing at the same time. I don't care what your metric is. I for one am rather sick of the 24 hour CSI & Law & Orders sucking up the airwaves.

[shadow322]

Ryan is not the problem! It is this type of poor judgement that is doing them in. The owners have turned it into "International (pro/semi-pro inclusive) Idol" while trying to continue selling it to us as "American Idol" and all it implies. That is the problem - not Ryan! What fools. Their parents are probably the ones who took Star Trek off production for lack of public support during their third year. Idiots!

[Anonani]

Ryan Seacrest is NOT the problem! Whomever the someone is who is deciding the format of the show is responsible. Not only that, when the voting public disregards talent and votes based upon whatever they vote on (sic Brooke and Jason) and vote off the best singing talent...what do you expect. My water cooler conversation goes something like this: "How is it possible that Jason and Brooke are still in the competition?"

[ahsaki80]

At 28, I'm supposd to be part of the group who's watching this crap. It's fake, scripted, and very immature. The awful auditioning, silly contestants, and phony judges make the show unappealling to mature adults.

[girlfrombrooklyn]

I must admit I am watching this year - I skipped the last three. The problem is that we now know that the future for the winner is dim at best. When it becomes obvious to the viewers the winners will only succeed at losing record contracts and canceling unsold tours, then the show seems pointless. Maybe Survivor is still a hit becuase no matter how silly the show becomes, the winner still walks away with one million dollars. Oh, the one reason I am still watching is David Cook...but I predict the other David will win.

[Photofarm]

I don't know why you say the future is dim at best. Carrie Underwood has done great, Kellie Pickler, Bo Bice, and Chris Daughtry have done well musically without winning.

[twofish]

How to fix it? Better music, not strings of stock chords and phrases. Better singers, not whiny adolescents imitating each other. Instead of the "judges," 3 chimps with punch boards attached to computer voice chips that endlessly spout the same cliches. "Pop" music is in a tailspin and this show reflects it.

[AndrewMT]

Season 6 is where the show started to go down hill and I am also very happy.
Let's hope that next year they will have all time low ratings.

[aquarius2001]

FINALLY!!!! Please Cancel this stupid show!! I used to love Idol...but now, it's gone on far too long!! It's scripted and most of the so called "amateurs" have already had previous deals that went bad.

[PatA]

No personality this year. I quit watching it. Boring.

[Quotato]

Those singers can't sing from their diaphragm---nor can they spell diaphragm (without a spell checker).

[Bulbul]

You just said the most important factor for singers. That is first step, for singing flawlessly. If they did, it would not sound as a high pitch scream...

[InternationalObserver]

Oh. I thawt she ment singers shuld be abel to spel well.

[Mark701]

Oh thank God, thank God, thank God. This show is possibly the worst thing that has ever insulted a television screen. I'll be happy to pay for the tombstone when they bury this thing in the trash heap of "wicked bad ideas"where it belongs

[Felicty]

As much as I enjoy parts of this show, this generation of performers strike me as litle runts racing to a finish line.