Fox Considering Major Changes To Sinking "American Idol" Flagship

Broadcasting & Cable's Ben Grossman reports that Fox is considering major changes to hit "American Idol," which is suffering in the ratings compared to previous seasons:

American Idol and the executives from its network don't live in a Fox hole -- they've seen the ratings. The numbers are down, but Fox execs aren't just standing around staring aimlessly off into space like Idol robo-contestant David Archuleta.

Now, let's be clear: It's comical that anyone thinks Fox should hit the panic button for a seven-year-old show that still gets 25 million viewers despite making kids sing Dolly Parton songs with a straight face.

I got my grubby little fingers on an online market research survey Fox put into play last week, and its execs are looking at every aspect of how to plug this ratings leak. The network has been doing online polling for three years because it is cheap and easy, but now the stakes are getting higher as viewership gets lower.

"We're not in denial," Fox scheduling chief Preston Beckman told me. "It's still the biggest show on TV, but that doesn't mean there are things we can't do. The feedback from this year you'll probably see on the show next year." ...

While the survey probes whether there is too much or too little banter between the judges, other questions drill down specifically on host Ryan Seacrest. Is there too much Ryan? Is there not enough Ryan?

Read more about the proposed changes to "American Idol" at Broadcasting & Cable, or read the survey Fox executives are using to determine how to tweak the show below, embedded via DocStoc:

American Idol Market Research Survey - Get more documents

Comments

[houseofglass]

Since I am a musician/music-lover and, one of those weirdos who refuses to pay for cable television (If nothing good is on, I feel I should be doing something else), I watch Idol because it is the ONLY show on network television that offers music (besides PBS). People actually singing to entertain! Imagine that! I believe the network that puts together a great variety show that features good comedians and great singers, will blow Idol out of the water, if it's done well. Anyway, Ryan should stay on the show. He's good at what he does but, the call in portion sucks. Just add more music.

[SweetAngie]

It's simple! Get your voting updated so that it cannot be scammed.

Until that happens, people will not trust your show results - so why watch the show? As for Ryan Seacrest, I liked him unti this year - the worst year yet. Rubbing Brooke's back while she hears her results, was just too ickey to watch, so we stopped watching at all. It really makes you wonder why that woman is still there . . .

[hilaritee]

this season's contestants are not very compelling. the show feels too staid-the themes are too safe and limiting.

[WinslowLeach]

Maybe people are getting tired of having mediocre music shoved down their throats.

[dawn2dusk]

I am too busy following the election to watch AI this year, please. Young people (i am not one of them, however, I 40ish) are participating in the election process, not watching tv, duh.

I would'nt mess with the format too much if I were the producers. The audience should return next season.

OBAMA 08

[MarkInEugene]

David Archuleta has got a voice that a lot of American's love. I'm just amazed at the commentary I've seen about this kid who's probably going to be this years idol. I've heard it said that he laughs too much, he licks his lips, he's another Taylor Hicks, he's gay, he stands funny, he's not deserving enough, he's not original enough, he's just an average back up singer, he's too Christian, his dad abused him and now he's maybe responsible for Idols rating downturn. Who the hell needs the paparazi to tarnish your image, just get a bunch jealous, screwed up Americans to spew and you could fill the Enquirer for a year! All this subjective vitriol is just a lot of cr*p, and projections people are placing on this kid. What people say about David Archuleta reflects more on the dysfunctional baggage American's carry around with them than any characteristic of the kid himself. Most of the people I talk to find his singing to be high quality, enjoyable and moving...enough said.

[mamadeus]

Good points. I have only watched a few segments this year. David A. is great. So are some of the others. I also like David Cook. I think Simons company has not supported the past winners. Jordan Sparks should have been pushed more, as she could has the talent to make it big. Too bad Jordan can't go to a performing arts college and get a little more coaching.
Chris Daughtry, in my opinion should have won 2 seasons ago, and is certainly one of the best contestants they have had. He is now a star. Simon insulted the heck out of him. Could Simons
unprofessional antics have caused the AUDIENCE to finally give up on the show? Seacrest can only do so much. He will probably be the scapegoat. I fear DWTS is starting to go the same way as Idol.
Too much garbage is seeping in.

[TurgidCaterwauling]

Get rid of the call-in segment. Stupid!
When it gets down to six, let them sing two songs a night. Nine minutes of singing in an hour long show equates to a lot of filler.
Ryan is okay; he's just required to fill too much time.
Let them sing songs in their style and comfort range.
Dolly and Lord Andrew are unquestionably talented, but they are no longer 'hip.'
Artichoke is a nice boy with a decent voice; he is not, nor will he be an 'idol.' He'd make a great edition to Menuda.

[oafishcad]

Oh God another comment by an oh so glib and negative leftist. As a leftist myself, I get pretty sick of the elitist attitude many of my political comrades towards popular culture. Idol is not deep, not even important, but Dolly Parton is a great songwriter of country songs, especially Bluegrass. There's absolutely no reason to denigrate the great to make your mean little points. I certainly don't want to support Fox and it's evil (yes evil) agenda, but lay off Dolly Parton.

[Baggaratz]

I really like Ryan and I think he is the BEST part of the show. I agree the 'theme weeks' should go and that the kids should sing what they think best showcases their own talent. I also agree that it should be 'one phone, one call.' I think the show does an excellent job of finding phenomenal talent. I have been watching TV talent shows since "Community Auditions" in the Boston area in '60's, hosted by Dave Maynard!

[cheneyhasawarmachine]

its no wonder people are not watching Idol as much anymore. This president has ruined our country. most americans work two or thee jobs in order to buy food and fill up the gas tank and have no time for leisure activities. George Bush and his junta have destroyed this once great country there is no limit to the depravity he has wrought on every man, woman and child in this country. Bush should be brought up on war crimes charges at the Hague. Amerikkkan Idol and Fox entertainment are just another victim of this awful president no surprise to me at all.

[Hagrid]

Seacrest is a bloviator that needs to be voted off.
He is the absolute worst part of that program. Groping, snide remarks and just plain meanness.

Buh Bye FishFace

[DogBitez]

They need to put balance into the voting process by setting limits. Maybe only two or three votes allowed per phone number. This nonsense where every 14 year old girl in American can dial 1000 times, plus set up computer dialing, is skewing the voting process. The older adults aren't likely to put in that kind of effort, or might not be computer savvy enough, to compete. I know Fox ultimately doesn't care, because it's the 14 year old girls that will buy the albums, but it sets the tone for the show: mediocre talent sails through because it's a popularity contest rather than a quest for real talent.

I don't think there's too much talk from Randy or Simon, but Paula's word-salad ramblings drag the show down.

[Podewumun]

Ruh-roh, George!

Americans "idled" by unemployment reject "Idol". Hmmmmm

Is our childruns learnin'?

[haleywins]

Buh buh Ryan.

[LibsRway2funny]

I think the audience should be able to throw rotten fruit at the singers when they suck. And maybe a few pieces at Randy and Paula too.

Simon is always right so he should have his own basket of rotten fruit. He can throw it at the audience when they booo him, Randy and Paula when they disagree with him and at the singers when they suck. LOL!!

[Henk]

Great idea. Pump people up in a selection process, get them in front of millions of people on national TeeVee and then humiliate them, crush their hopes and dreams. Hillarious. I can't stop laughing.

[KnockedUpsuperbadvirgin]

They bitch about guys like Taylor Hicks, and yet he gives them huge ratings. They give bland contestants like David Archuleta and Jordin Sparks, and the ratings go down.

Bottom line: stop being so safe in the selection process.

[thankulord13]

Once again you White people are always making unfounded racist comments... The White guy is talented and the Hispanic and Black girl are bland... Oh great White one how the sun rises and sets upon you... You have done such a great job in every aspect of our lives... Maybe that is why the economy is the best in the 200 plus years this nation has been in existence, the war in Iraq is going so well and the gas prices are the lowest ever... Where would the world be without you oh great White One? I am for sure thankful...

[Hagrid]

Perhaps the judges need to over rule the decision of America.
Especially when the outcome is so wrong.

This is a musical talent show not a popularity contest!

[Roswalien]

Oh, and they need to publish the vote totals and have the judges give a rating (like Rock the Cradle), with the highest vote getter getting immunity from the vote.

[chronic]

People aren't in Idol any more. The show has run its course.


It should be scheduled to air every 2 years!

[Roswalien]

Here's my perspective as someone who had never watched American Idol prior to this season. I think the theme weeks are what is doing the show in. If you want a true indication of what an Idol should be, you need to eliminate the theme weeks and let the contestants pick what they want to sing. Seeing young kids sing show tunes is not a true indicator of talent (even though Syesha really found her stride). I would much rather see the contestants sing what they love so that they show what their true talent is. Now for my snarky Simon-like judgment: David Archuleta is not talented, is not 'cute', and has zero personality. A sheepish look is getting millions of tweens with cell phones to vote for him, which is another good reason for the demise in ratings. Sanjaya (even a non-Idol viewer could not get away from that) and David A.=the death of A.I.

[RussT]

The show is fixed and the votes don't really count. It needs to be taken off the air.
Bring back good shows like Sanford and Son and All in the Family! Now those were shows that provided entertainment.

[Podewumun]

Repackage "All In The Family" as a reality show?

[Yuma]

I do not watch the show any longer.
Show is fixed.

[rainydaypeople]

Ryan, Randy, and Paula need to be replaced. I'm tired of hearing the same comments year after year. I haven't watched the show for the past two years because it's boring and repetitive!

[deedrdo]

i say replace seacrest with john waters. THAT"LL take it to another level.

make the judges actually vote and justify their existence like on DWTS. they get off too easy once the auditions are over. also, figure out a way to limit the speed dialing tweens. they really wreck the results.

cut off paula's mic. she sounds like your friend that's too drunk to shut up and yet continues making an embarassment of herself.

get rid of randy. he couldn't say s#@t if he had a mouthful. 'yo dawg. check it out. i'm not sure blah blah blah.' then when simon says something that's actually observant and articulate randy is all "yeah, what he said". he's a waste of time.

let the contestants pick EVERY song they sing. enuf with the theme stuff. we want to hear them do what they believe do best.

[FCBarca]

It's been increasingly clear they have to make a change in the way the 'voting' is done...Limit it to once per phone number and have voters rank contestants instead of just voting for one at the very least.

[M.S. Bellows, Jr. - Huffpost Blogger]

See M.S. Bellows, Jr.'s Profile

Seacrest is underappreciated. He's not the talent, he's not a judge, he's not a celebrity brought in to give the contestants master classes -- substantively, he's a nonentity -- but he's the glue that holds the show together, and aside from overdoing the gibes at Simon from time to time, he's brilliant at it. He connects well to the contestants, he's tremendous at helping the losers overcome their emotions so they can sing that last song, and I think the show would wither without him.

The show has made some really positive changes over the years -- most significantly in my mind, by embracing country music, which Simon used to loudly deride but which the show now recognizes is a huge part of its base and a huge market for its winners. Even Simon has become knowledgeable, if not fond, of the genre. Wise move, and the opposite of "self-indulgent" (my favorite Simonism).

One thing I heartily dislike is the way some contestants choose Christian songs to garner votes from the evangelical demographic. It's become a reliable way for a "B-list" candidate to hang on for a few more rounds, and while I enjoy some Christian music, and respect the role that faith plays in many people's music (music IS a ministry for many), I really dislike it when contestants manipulate it to gain votes. It's the opposite of Christian (and a violation of Jesus' injunction not to showcase one's faith in public).