"American Idol" Ratings Drop 10%, Still Wins

NEW YORK — An estimated 30.1 million people watched the season debut of "American Idol," which left Fox's entertainment chief "relieved but not satisfied."

Wednesday night's two-hour show, which introduced new judge Kara DioGuardi and was noticeably less intent on humiliating the talent-deficient, was the most-watched prime-time program of the TV season so far, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Yet it was down 10 percent from the 33.4 million who watched the 2008 debut. The 37.4 million who watched the 2007 debut represents the series' high point for opening nights.

The decline is consistent with what is happening on broadcast TV this season, said Peter Liguori, Fox entertainment chairman. A hangover from last year's writers' strike and the increased use of digital video recorders means that year-to-year growth in live viewing is the exception rather than the rule.

"We're unsatisfied because within the `Idol' universe, you never want to see year-to-year erosion, ever," Liguori said. "With all that being said, I think we're optimistic about the show's performance from this point forward."

Of the 20 most popular prime-time programs at this time last year that returned for another season, 14 have lost viewership. The six shows that have increased their audience this year, such as "NCIS" and "Two and a Half Men," are all on CBS.

Before "Idol," the most-watched prime-time entertainment show of the season had been the season debut of CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," seen by 23.5 million viewers on Oct. 9. Until Tuesday night, the most people gathered around the TV for a single show was the 27.8 million who watched the Indianapolis-San Diego NFL playoff on Jan. 3.

"American Idol" was praised by one of Fox's rivals, CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler, on Wednesday when she cited it as a reason advertisers stick with broadcast networks.

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"You don't find these kinds of numbers on cable or any other medium," Tassler told a meeting of the Television Critics Association. "Network television still works when advertisers and audiences respond to creative, high-quality content."

Liguori said the effort to be more "aspirational," or focus on the personal stories and dreams of would-be idols, should help the show appeal to more female viewers in its eighth season.

Fox is also cutting its run of tryout sessions from four weeks to three to spend more time in Hollywood, he said.

"Our anticipation is there should be greater strength from this point forward," he said.

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Associated Press Television Writer Lynn Elber contributed to this report.

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Fox is a unit of News Corp. CBS is a division of CBS Corp.

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On the Net:

http://www.americanidol.com

Comments

[walleymr]

And may this karaoke match keep dropping in the ratings.

[dmsdzinr]

This show has run its course. Time to retire this TURKEY.

[mamacat]

What is "American Idol?" Is that the contest Dubya won in order to become dufus-in-chief?

[walleymr]

It's glorified karaoke.

[Suzique]

This and all the prime time reality shows are pure drivel. No wonder the history channel is watched almost constantly.

[drewziGNY]

How many times has Idol jumped the shark?

[Charity]

actually, i thought bikini girl was pretty funny. she didn't take any c r * p from kara who simply would not let it go - it's a given that she could out-sing a rank amateur and the first time she did it was amusing. the second and other times were just superfluous and basically, she showed her a * s much more than bikini girl....wh­o remained somewhat cool thruout the whole thing.

and p.s. - bikini girl sang a whole lot better than some of the others who were allowed through, though there is no way she makes it beyond the first night in hollywood. still, an amusing bit, if not for kara acting - emphasis on "acting" - like she was horribly offended by the girl. jealous, more likely.

[Sandy248]

When Kara started singing, she looked like an aging pop star trying to hold on to her youth or something. I'm just glad Paula hasn't tried to sing.

[stell]

They're running out of ideas. Cowell brought in another judge to undermine the other two. The show was beginning to be criticized for being too negative, so they started this season with Barack Obama-like commercials about "bringing people together" and being positive. I guess if the choice is between laughing at other people's misfortune in order to feel better, or feeling good for someone's success, they chose the latter.

[DeAnnaClaudette]

Actually, I think the new judge is so that when Paula leaves, people will already be used to her. Paula isn't really happy with the Idol people and I think that when her stalker killed herself outside of Paula's house, it pretty much did her in. I don't expect her back after her contract ends. Simon and the producers went against her wishes when they allowed the stalker to audition for Idol.

[newdreams]

Exactly. When we saw the ads for the upcoming season with the addition of the new judge, my family knew immediately that they were easing Paula out. She has been nothing short of a train wreck the past several seasons, plus the show itself has become known as karaoke/amateur talent show for people who have no idea of what real music is.

I just can't watch Paula do those degrading 'spontaneous' dances to some boy-band guy pitching himself with excessive runs.

[rasquache]

That "singer" looks like a cheaper f--k than this broad www.examiner.com/x-1403-LA-Relationship-Examiner~y2009m1d14-Going-once-going-twice

[Archivist1000]

She is the Sarah Palin of American Idol ... cheap and talentless, trying to get by on her 'looks' ... though I thought her posture was pretty bad, and she sounds stupid... When girls try to get attention with their bodies in an innapropriate setting like this, you know they have nothing else to offer.

[Lulubelle1]

I've never seen American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, The Apprentice, Survivor, or any of the culturally dominant "reality" shows. I don't look down on people who watch (since that's a lot of people, many of whom I like). Apparently I have a pretty huge hole in my popular culture knowledge. There goes my shot at Jeopardy. (LOL, but it really COULD come up in a Trivial Pursuit-type situation.­)

People must get something out of these shows. It's just beyond me what that something might be. Perhaps I've gotten the wrong impression from my brief glimpses of the shows, but the participants often seem inane or needlessly melodramat­ic/immatur­e. Obviously, footage is heavily edited to provoke the biggest reaction per show, and from what I've been told, the selection and elimination processes don't appear to be structured to produce the "best".

It's been somewhat awkward to have only osmotic familiarity with the shows. At one time, I was the ONLY person in my workplace (40+ people) who wasn't in the "Survivor" pool. It was really odd to come in to work the day after the show, and have no clue what everyone was talking about, or who the people pictured on the standings bracket poster were.

Good thing I'm comfortable being an outlier... I'm mystified by the apparent appeal of the reality show cultural phenomenon.

[DeAnnaClaudette]

It's simple - I like to watch people dance. I like to hear people sing. I don't watch Survivor either, but I do watch other reality shows and it's simply entertainment, and for many, escapism.

[patrickgarret]

Amen! I'm so impressed the previous poster doesn't partake in popular culture. YAWN.

[susou]

If anyone has seen yesterdays or tonight's episode of American Idol, you will notice how few untalented people are featured. The show is actually showcasing more people who have talent... and some who have talent, but aren't good enough...

Check out the new season, it's going to be a good one.

They've featured many contestants who have good stories and the show is suppose to be going in depth more with the contestants so the audience can get to know them better...

We'll see how it turns out.

I like the show. There's something for everyone, I suppose.

[DeAnnaClaudette]

I've been begging for this for the last 3 seasons. I'm glad that they are cutting down on the clown acts. It's so much more tolerable than it has been over the years.

[aquarius2001]

Sorry I'll pass. I'm hoping they cancel this show so I don't want to add to their ratings by watching. Plus, clips are on Youtube.

[me again]

Boring....­..

[fame]

The show is stale and extremely manipulated. The regular viewers got sick of it. It had to happen some time.

[jalyn]

About the bad singers, it's staged and obvious. These people are screened, asked to participate in the "horrible singer" role, and they do it for their 15 minutes of fame. And, most of the good singers have had training, experience, are better than amateurs. So, the amateurs are few and it doesn't feel like a fair competition, not believable.

[Muzikal203]

I don't like the new judge.

[annmal]

you go girl in a bikini