American Idol Beats Obama, Posts a 25% Decrease in the Demo from Last Year

By On 01/21/2009 · 11 Comments · In Uncategorized

Share on TumblrShare via email

Last night’s Nielsen fast overnight ratings as reported by Marc Berman:

-Ratings Breakdown:
Led by American Idol, Fox got over the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“humpà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  in winning fashion, with 5.72 million more viewers the second most-watched network, ABC. American Idol, of course, stood well above anything else on the evening, with 22.42 million viewers and an 8.9 rating/22 share among adults 18-49 from 8-9 p.m. But compared to one year earlier (Viewers: 29.27 million; A18-49: 11.8/29 on Oct. 22, 2008), that was a decease of 6.85 million viewers and 25 percent in the demo. Letà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s be honest: arenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t we all just a bit tired of the reality/competition at this point?

ABC’s Neighborhood Ball came in second:

Neighborhood Ball: An Inauguration Celebration (ABC)
8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 10.67 million (#3), A18-49: 2.8/ 7 (#3)
8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 14.51 million (#2), A18-49: 4.1/10 (#2)
9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 13.61 million (#1), A18-49: 4.2/10 (#3)
9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 11.54 million (#2), A18-49: 3.5/ 8 (#3)

Not a shock that Idol won over coverage of the Inaugural ball. The big news is that 25% drop in the demo from last year. But then, Season 7′s Tuesday night competition wasn’t as stiff. Even a repeat of NCIS on CBS did reasonably well against Idol:

Over at CBS, a repeat of NCIS still managed to deliver, with 11.74 million viewers (#3) and a 2.3/ 6 among adults 18-49 (#4) at 8 p.m.

And the numbers for “The Biggest Loser” aren’t too shabby:

The Biggest Loser (NBC)
8:00 p.m. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ Viewers: 8.33 million (#4), A18-49: 3.1/ 8 (#2)
8:30 p.m. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ Viewers: 8.43 million (#4), A18-49: 3.2/ 7 (#3)
9:00 p.m. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ Viewers: 11.38 million (#3), A18-49: 4.5/10 (#2)
9:30 p.m. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ Viewers: 12.71 million (#1), A18-49: 5.0/12 (#1)

Idol’s numbers are still solid, but I think the days of Idol as the impenetrable “Death Star” are coming to a close…

 
  • itsalleternal

    Those who did not tune in (maybe watching the inauguration ball) missed pretty much nothing. It may be a silver lining in the clouds as last night’s episode (except for the last 10-15 minutes) was a disaster that many missed.

  • t2

    I don’t know. I think idol is still the Death Star of ratings and will remain so for a while. NCIS/Biggest Loser are the big guns from the other networks and they still don’t beat idol. And let’s face it — last night on idol, well, not so good. I am surprised any one stayed tuned in.

    It will be interesting to see how the ratings are tonight after last night.

    Bring on Hollywood week, please.

    Maybe the real test of idol’s mettle will be when Dancing with the Stars comes back on.

  • itsalleternal

    I’m guessing ratings declined as the show wore on last night, as the first half hour (actually the first 45 minutes) were the worst ever on an audition show. (Maybe that made for the ball’s bump of 4 million viewers in the 8:30-9:00 period)

  • jpfan

    I think the ratings bump for the ball was because Obama and Michelle did their first dance to Beyonce singing At Last. And that was a terrific moment. While I like Kara, I just find there’s even less drama with a fourth judge not more. They seem to agree on almost every auditioner. It’s kind of odd. Has there even been one auditioner that caused a 2/2 split among the judges??

  • OmahaCookie

    Has there even been one auditioner that caused a 2/2 split among the judges??

    Wasn’t Bikini Girl a 2/2 split?

  • loosegoose

    I’m glad to hear at least half the show stunk. I was watching other things. The news this week that the show will do more BTS stuff with the contestants forced to live in one big house completely turned me off. I’ll tune in again on Hollywood week, maybe.

    I know, I’m a curmudgeon. So be it. I’m tired of being talked down to by Big Media.

  • loosegoose

    I’m glad to hear at least half the show stunk. I was watching other things. The news this week that the show will do more BTS stuff with the contestants forced to live in one big house completely turned me off. I’ll tune in again on Hollywood week, maybe.

    I know, I’m a curmudgeon. So be it. I’m tired of being talked down to by Big Media.

  • SpenserJ

    And letà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s face it à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  last night on idol, well, not so good. I am surprised any one stayed tuned in.

    I’m still trying to figure out why last night’s show was the first one this season I actually watched all the way through, at the time it was on. Perhaps I was just too lazy to change the channel?

  • mac

    And the numbers for à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The Biggest Loserà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  arenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t too shabby:

    Maybe they should come up with a new show: “Idols Biggest Losers”. They could pick contestants who want to lose weight and sing. Each week they could perform while working out on a treadmill! Contestants could get bonus points if they can use a musical instrument in conjunction with the exercise equipment. :laugh_tb:

  • bean99

    Last night’s show was pretty bad. There was only really one memorable performance, Adam’s. I think he needs to get out of the musical theater type singing but he has a good voice. I taped it and watched it later because I was still watching Inauguration coverage. There were many other places to watch it other than just the Neighborhood Ball so am not surprised there’s a drop from last year. A once in a lifetime event vs AI auditions.

  • dmr

    Aside from the girl with dark hair who was good, they put some of the best singers at the very end and only gave us a few minute seconds of their songs!! I think Idol needs to give us more of the ones who have promise–the ones we may actually be VOTING for!