American Idol Finale Ratings: Lowest Results Show Ever

"American Idol" averaged almost 29 million total viewers for its two-hour season Finale Wednesday night, enough to easily win Wednesday's ratings — but not enough to save it from being the lowest-rated "Idol" finale ever.

An average of 28.8 million viewers — more than the other major networks' combined audience — tuned in to watch Kris Allen upset Adam Lambert, according to Nielsen Media Research

As The Live Feed's James Hibberd and Nellie Andreeva note, this was the lowest rated "Idol" results finale in the show's eight-year history:

Those would be astonishing numbers for any other series. But for the juggernaut "Idol," they are only good enough for last place among its finales, behind the first season's ender when an average of 23 million viewers (10.8/30 in 18-49) tuned in to see Kelly Clarkson crowned as the first American Idol. It was down 12% from last year's finale among 18-49 and 9% in total viewers.

Tuesday's performance finale also registered as the lowest in the show's run.

Comments

[skybar]

American Idol: Ritual humiliation followed by the foisting of yet another mediocre talent upon the world.

[skybar]

Good riddance, please.

[RODERICK098]

They have to change the method of voting. Adam lost due to a concerted effort by Fox news and the evangelical movement to make sure 'the gay' guy loses. It is preposterous that someone as mediocre as Kris(he would have been my third choice) wins oover Adam who was miles above everyone else on the show. A complete sham. Maybe one vote per phone number. There are rumours that some of the calls for Kris were being generated by some computerized phone in system. Also the fact that candiadte are allowed to play to the evangelical base(e.g Danny) should not be allowed. We should know nothing about their personal lives if this is a true singing contest and not a show where bigots win over non-bigots.

[MiraMcB]

Something is definitely stinky about the whole thing. If Wednesday night was the lowest viewing Finale, I'm thinking Tuesday night was equal to or maybe slightly less than? So... how then, did they log over 100 million (a third of the entire U.S. population) voting calls unless there was some serious scamming going on somewhere.

[wdw505]

at least the guy won

laughing

[Girl28]

Did the people cheering on the demise of American Idol read that 29 MILLION people watched the finale, which was enough to beat all of the other major networks combined? So, I don't think American Idol is going anywhere for a while.

[Calylily]

I really like American Idol, but the truth is, ever since Nigel left, it has lost it's charm.

Nigel is a guru when it comes to knowing what audiences want and don't want. The changes they made this year have just turned us off, starting with Kara as the 4th judge. The beginning of a downfall hiring someone who has no substantial background to qualify her as a judge. Songwriting, so what! And then, at that, she writes a song for the two finalist but only in the key that Adam can sing - !! What was she thinking? She even admitted it after it was just too late! Who does that?

She's just not enough to validate as a judge - the others have been in the nitty gritty of the business most of their lives and KNOW what is good and great and terribly bad. When Kara speaks . . . we change the channel. We just do not give a rip!

[Girl28]

Yeah, I noticed that she told Kris that the song she co-wrote was too high for him. Why would they do that, unless I guess they just assumed Adam would win?

[AZ AF VET]

I missed it, I was watching MSNBC.

[zinc11]

I still say the problem with Idol is allowing multiple votes. Sorry but this kind of voting doesn't reflect "who is the best singer," but rather which voting block is sending the most multiple text messages and making multiple phone calls. The other voting problem is that once the show gets down to the last , say, 4 contestants, it becomes more a contest, not of "who is the best singer" but of voters taking the results "personally." It's now about "my" idol is better than "your" idol and the "voter" winning.

[HesDanTheMan]

I could not agree with you more. I've said all along the voting needs to be limited to a certain number of calls per phone line. Make it fair for God's sake! It is just a popularity contest and not who has the most singing talent!

[ikeamama71]

You know, do they track Tivo or DVR? I wonder if times have changed and if the ratings are relevant anymore. I know I recorded the finale and watch it later that night...

[SoYaThink]

Get rid of Kara, and your viewership will totally increase!

Nigel Lythgoe, one of the original creators, and who bowed out last year said this week that he would NEVER have added another judge!

And, that is why he gets paid the big bucks!!!!

Come back, Nigel, and do some very needed housecleaning on American Idol!

[Tony Rome]

29M. As compared to MSNBC's 400k

[Taliese]

And I hope the ratings continue to decline. After AI Season 5's Taylor Hick's debacle, I'd had enough. Here's to hoping AI will meet its end next year with even more embarrassingly low ratings. All we have to do is keep NOT watching and it will go the way of the Dodo.

[zinc11]

Yep. Taylor Hicks all over again. Bubblegum wins out over substance.

[givepeace05401]

Have we become so cynical, so “hip” that there is no room for light, family friendly entertainment? Sure it’s corny and to some even cheesy, but so was:
Sonny & Cher
Donny & Marie
The Brady Bunch Hour
Those old summer variety specials (I use to love Lola Falana)
The Hollywood Palace
The Nat King Cole Show
The Judy Garland Show
And the list goes on and on.

While the last two seasons of Idol have killed my passion for the show, all in all I continue to enjoy it.
For all the poor to mediocre performance there are still some great ones that remind me what true talent is. Fantasia’s Summertime and You are always on mind and this year Allyson’s Poppa was a rolling stone to name two.

[cindyfromfalls]

I agree. The comments of those who would assume if you like Idol you are a wasteoid are so condescending --if you don't like it don't watch it but don't assume that not watching shows like Idol makes you any better or smarter than those of us who do. We progressives have taken many well-deserved hits for attitudes just like these.

[givepeace05401]

Hello Cindyfromfalls,

I checked your profile before responding to ensure I wasn't engaging a "troll". While I don't think it is just we progessive who have taken to ridiculing Idol, sadly I have to agree with you on the attitude issue. When did name calling and ridicule become the norm. Yes both sides do it, but I expected more from my liberal/progressive community.

I find it very disheartening to read (or watch) the whole I'm smart, you're dumb discourse. Personally, I find it easier to begin most discussions with the assumption that people are good and see where that takes us.

As we say in the South (Bronx), if you have nothing civil to say, don't say anything at all.

[wdw505]

well you should just take hits for labeling yourself "progressive"

[Taliese]

I love light family entertainment, which is why I watch Dancing With the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, The Biggest Loser and America's Got Talent ... et al.

My beef is with Idol. So it has nothing to do with not liking light family entertainment lovers.

Quite simply, Idol s7cks.

While I know there's a certain amount of producer-i­nterferenc­e in all of these shows, American Idol jumped the shark with it. The entire premise of the show is downright deceptive. There are voting problems, pimping problems, along with a number of other issues---too many to list here.

Bottom line, this joke of a show needs to go away.

[newyearsday]

Though it's gimmicky to draw it out for two hours, I agree it was a pretty entertaining show, the awards portions especially. But what's weird is how the number of votes cast was a record high but the viewing numbers were record lows for the two nights. Which can only mean multiple votes per person. If you've done all your homework for the night, I guess spending hours dialing in for Kris would beat out the adults who took the time to vote for Adam. I'd never cast a vote but was able to get through twice for Adam with only three tries.

[mediamarv]

AP is quoted in the SF Chron today as saying the finale was a ratings winner, no mention at all of the lowest number of viewers.
WTF??