American Idol Ratings Hit Below the 20M Mark

EW is reporting that they got 20.7M: EW Article

Still that is down by 26% which is a major OUCH!

As I said in the headline thread, they have to stop the over the top pimping this year.

I know earlier in the week I said I didn’t think that it was that bad this year compared to previous years, but that was before they had a complete repeat of last week.
1) OTT Pimping for the pimpee of the week? Check!
2) Pimpee of the week getting two pimp spot performances? Check!
3) Pimpee of the week being paired with the week’s “psycho” performer to “scare” people into thinking the best of the night might get through? (Vote! Vote! Vote!) Check!

BTW If that 15.27M number holds, that’s like a 42% drop from last year when the show was on a Thursday as well.

A lot of people are giving up on Idol. My sister and her two kids have thrown in the towel this year and don’t watch any more after three seasons.

Somewhere, Nigel just gave a little smile.

Meanwhile, over at Idol central, a group meets to “retool” the show (and Cowell keeps muttering about how they shouldn’t have let in so many “ugly” girls).

Anyone want to join me on the knoll? Because I think the principal players are beyond over it so they’re throwing their own show under the bus on purpose. I mean, they couldn’t seriously think that this group of 36 is their fifth-best group evah (let alone first-best) or that the changes that they made to the semis format and the judging were well-advised.

That or all the half-assed coasting that they’ve done lo these many years has finally caught up with them. This season has been awful thus far, and I don’t see any real promise of it getting better.

If Survivor wasn’t On Demand I would have watched that instead of Idol last night.

BTW If that 15.27M number holds, thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s like a 42% drop from last year when the show was on a Thursday as well.

I did a little more investigating–that number is FOX’s ratings for the whole night. After re-reading the paragraph 3 times, I realize I misread it…

I added more numbers to the post, though.

I hate when Marc Berman takes a day off! Heh.

Gah. As a huge defender of Idol–I loved my Season 3 and Season 6–I have to say that so far, I HATE this season.

I’m not surprised the numbers are down

There, I said it.

Can they bring Nigel back immediately?

This actually makes me a little anxious.

Well, when people who have watched Idol for years are saying how much this season sucks, is it any wonder people are bailing out? I only started watching last season, but I was hooked. This year? I watched the auditions, watched only the performance episode last week, this week I only saw some performances here, will not bother with either of the full episodes.

It looks like Nigel quit at the right time. Now he’s going to come out of this smelling like roses.

This season does suck, and there are concrete reasons why. In previous seasons, when there has been a top 24, Nos. 13 through 24 are considered expendable cannon fodder. With a top 36, you’ve doubled the amount of cannon fodder — a 100% increase in suckage.

Add to that the “one and done” format. Now, instead of 12 performances a night over two weeks, where half of those people are going to make the Top 12, you have 12 performances over three weeks where only one-fourth of the group is going to get through. That is a 75% suckage quotient, spread over three weeks.

Oh, and if you have a favorite, you’ll be seeing two fewer performances out of that person than last year, when everyone sang every week.

And add that to what is shaping up to be a subpar year talentwise, with judges overpimping people who don’t have nearly the level of talent as a Carrie Underwood or David Cook, and I can see why some people would rather change the channel.

In short, the producers have done nothing to improve the show; they’ve only made it worse.

Can they bring Nigel back immediately?

YES! PLEASE! Nigel was so underappreciated. He always got the blame for everything, and most of it wasn’t his fault.

I’m worried about this. When was the last time Idol was so low?!

People are getting fed up with all the stupid backstories (Danny), gimmicks (Normund/Bikini Girl), and confusing changes. It’s too late in the game to alter the formula. Too bad they couldn’t figure that out.

Oh, what I would give to have Nigel back…

lol Kirsten, you never fail in making me smile… can we get you to write te jokes for Ryan…

seriously one will think this year have to be so much better… they actually are singing song from this year so why so low??? My family (dad, mon and lil sis) are tuning more than Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m, but neither of then have a favourite like last year… is just that so far even when the person that I like didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t made it I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t feel like is the end of the world… so I will said maybe we are just emotionally turn out if this year contestants…

Even though I like kara, I think the 4th judge was a bad idea. Having her snap at Simon just doesn’t work.
They better be careful because Idol used to be a respected “brand.” This season is hurting that. And while the ratings went down last season, the Davids finale brought back 30 million viewers.

At this point, I don’t see an Adam/Danny finale achieving that. Or a finale of any of the people I’ve seen on the show so far.

I think they maybe underestimate the effect that this “new” voting system has on the viewers.

The previous years there was a small part of the audience that was frustrated if their favorite had to leave.

But now with only the votes for the 3 top people count at the end, there will be a lot of more people, who lost interest, because they feel left out.

More Info on raitings:
Oscars, Red Carpet Give ‘Idol’ Competition

But the big winner was ABC and the telecast itself, which defied media gravity by gaining 13% more viewers and finishing first, with a 12.1/29 rating and share. The “Oscars Red Carpet” show rolled up third place with a 7.2/19.

Of course, as far as gold statues go, it’s Emmy Awards, not Oscars, that may in order for dramas such as Fox’s “House” (fifth, 5.5/15) and ABC’s “Lost” (sixth, 4.4/11), which manage to be original even though both are now half a decade old.

Yet, it’s not the red carpet, red- and orange-clad dancers, cream-colored dresses or gold statues that usually define prime time. Instead, it’s green, as in cash. And the media money model that’s kept the networks competitive is the low cost and high ratings of reality TV. And this week it wasn’t just Fox’s “American Idol,” which was ranked second for Wednesday’s two-hour version (9.1/23) and fourth for last night’s episode (7.0/19 in the fast-affiliate ratings), or CBS’s “Survivor” (a fast-affiliate 3.9/11, which would tie it for ninth) but Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” that made the list, as it rode its “Idol” lead-in to tie for seventh, with a fast-affiliate 4.3/11.

Boring singers crappy backstories old sucky format = no big surprise here. Plus, a lot of people are feeling let down after the highly-regarded season 7, especially now that it seems we’ve cut back on the whole original singer/songwriter schtick and are returning to the karaoke show concept. Still, even season six, which was considered shit in the wake of the amazing season five, at least had the incredible Melinda Doolittle and Blake Lewis, who kept the show interesting.

I’m going to go ahead and blame this all on Simon Cowell. He was the one who constantly complained about the lack of drama and personality last year, and who probably is majorly responsible for the hyped up backstories and crazy contestants this year (no matter what Simon says on screen, I’m 100% positive that he made the final decision to send through Tatiana and Normund. None of the other judges have anywhere near that power. If Simon had put his foot down, I’m sure neither would have gotten through). What Simon didn’t realize is that while there may have been little talkback last season (and really, whose fauly was that, after the way Cook got treated?), Jason’s and Brooke’s and Cook’s and Archie’s and Carly’s music all had a LOT more ‘personality’ than any of this year’s contestants (except for maybe Adam and possibly Anoop). Taking old songs, rearranging them to fit your genre, and then singing the heck out of them every week is great television. Yapping about gays and Twilight and comedy and dead wives is not.

In spite of all the manipulation and pimping in seasons past, there was always an outstanding early performance that brought the WOW factor, due to the contestant’s sheer vocal talent and/or charisma… I’m sure everyone has their own personal faves, but for me, it was Bo Bice with Whipping Post, Elliott Yamin with Moody’s Mood for Love and David Archuleta with Shop Around, and Imagine, that drew my interest early and kept it throughout the season… performances like that set them apart, and sparked lively debate around the watercoolers the next day, with discussions centering around how great they were, and the odds of them taking it all…

There has been no “watercooler performances” to spark that kind of excitement and interest for me this season, and I’m doubtful it is going to change.. I am a lover of good vocals, and natural talent allowed it’s moment in the sun – commerciality et al be darned – anyone in this day and age can be groomed and auto-tuned to fit whatever mold a label needs for them to fit into to sell CD’s and digital downloads these days, but Idol always gave you a sense that in that Top 12 pack, there were a few truly talented singers who, with luck and the right backing, could be a star…

I’m all grassy knolled and manipulated out this year, I guess… I just want those watercooler moments back, and for “drama for the sake of drama” to be given the kibosh… let the talent speak for itself – we the mainstream viewing audience are not all as gullible and brain dead as Idol seems to think – that is what I like to believe anyway …. we can get it right all on our own – without the manufactured drama and OTT pimping of music personalities instead of true musical talent.

Idol is no longer must see TV for me, and I am ambivalent, to say the least, regarding its future.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m going to go ahead and blame this all on Simon Cowell.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Simon has his own agenda.
Maybe he hope if Idol crash he can establish his own show.

I wouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t be surprised if Simon has his own agenda.
Maybe he hope if Idol crash he can establish his own show.

I believe his secret agenda is to bring The X Factor to America by 2011 and either compete with, or kill off, American Idol.

There seems to be a fall-off for other shows too, but it seems AI’s trajectory is steeper.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m going to go ahead and blame this all on Simon Cowell. He was the one who constantly complained about the lack of drama and personality last year, and who probably is majorly responsible for the hyped up backstories and crazy contestants this year (no matter what Simon says on screen, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m 100% positive that he made the final decision to send through Tatiana and Normund. None of the other judges have anywhere near that power. If Simon had put his foot down, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m sure neither would have gotten through).

Yeah but the thing is, Nick/Normund may have been a gimmick but he could sing and he entertained. Tatiana was the DRAMA Queen, but she had a decent voice – at least as compared with a few of those who performed last week. Drama and personality contestants have always been there. Sob-stories have always been there. Heavy pimpage of favorites has always been there. It just seems like everything is MORE! Like they feel that have to beat us over the head with it.

What gets me is the number of singers they put through who actually crashed and burned in the semis this season so far. And there’s no way to make a connection to someone you may like when you get one shot, and then they’re gone. There’s no chance to build, no anticipation.

Also, it just seems like they’ve stopped pretending it’s not all about money. In addition to performing, the contestants have to record iTunes downloads to make even more money for the AI franchise. At least it used to feel like the contestants matter. Now I feel like the contestants are being treated as mere commodities.

Maybe the game isn’t fun anymore because viewers are all too familiar with the tactics and are tired of being manipulated.

I don’t know how to describe it. I do know that I’m the only one in my office who still watches the show. It used to be big water cooler conversation around, especially season 5.

The thrill is gone.

The numbers were probably down because a.) people didn’t know it wasn’t going to be on on Tuesday and they were thrown. b.) it was on opposite Lost, which is getting very good

I don’t think the show is going anywhere anytime soon. But this season is crap.

Last year was the best season if you ask me.

Maybe America finally found their one true idol and now they’re done.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m going to go ahead and blame this all on Simon Cowell.

As much as I love Simon there may be something to this. Isn’t America’s Got Talent one of his shows? And all that show was, was pathetic sob stories and drama between the judges.

I’m not ready to jump on the “bring Nigel back” train yet though.

I believe his secret agenda is to bring The X Factor to America by 2011 and either compete with, or kill off, American Idol.

wouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t be surprised if Simon has his own agenda.
Maybe he hope if Idol crash he can establish his own show.

The thing is once idol dies the genre is pretty much gonna die too. I mean Idol was in a league of it’s own, I don’t think Simon is naive enough to kill a cash cow to have some vague hope of his Xfactor USA being near the hit idol is at THIS juncture. I just doesn’t happen that way.

I think they got scared and tweaked too much.

Even though I do like Kara, she’s the kinda gal I could see myself going out to a karaoke club and throwing back a few and dancing on the table, but I don’t think her gravitas as a singer/songwriter/insider is making itself evident. Her little swipes at Simon seem kittenish, and her bitchslapping of bikini girl looks catty in retrospect. I think 4 judges just doesn’t work on the show.

This kill nine in one fell swoop before we really get to hear them sing more than one song in it’s brief idol entirety is cruel and doesn’t serve the viewers well. How many of us would love to give at least half these guys another shot? I know I would love to see Jesse, Matt G, even Jasmine, at least one more time, the sudden death match is just not good, and we haven’t had the time to bond with anyone.

The talent is not cutting it. Somebody fugged up big time if the best we can get is the top 6 we have at this moment. I wouldn’t pit any of them against any of the top 6 of any previous year. That’s just bad.

I understand that idol couldn’t remain static, that something had to be done, but I think the changes that they made were not the changes the viewers are clamoring for.

I think that one of the wild cards should be viewers choice.

The fourth judge predicates that Simon will have a heavy hand in the process, and he is the worst judge of talent imho. I would rather have Randy and Paula pick because they look beyond superficiality that Simon just doesn’t. His argument for the pretty girl with the lesser voice during the chair round illuminates that big time. Give Simon some tits, a nice ass, and some hair and he loses his hearing.

I have loved this show every season because usually by this time there is at least two people that excite me enough to tune in the next week. Season one was the tandem of Kelly and Tamyra, even Justin had his charm. Season two was just chock full of talent that I could make a good argument for any of the top 5, they were that talented. Season three would make this group look anemic. The so called divas, George Huff, even Diana Degarmo totally talented. Season 4, Carrie, Bo Bice, Connie (say what you will about him, and I usually do, the boy has something, pit sniffing and all). Season 5 was a freaking smorgasbord of talent. Taylor, Daughtry, Elliott, Pickler, Paris, we are probably talking about the deepest pool only possibly equaled by season 7, The Davids, need I say more? Jason, Brooke, Carly, Michael, Syesha….Season 6 probably my least favorite still gave us Jordin (a serious rising star), Melinda (best voice of her season, quite possibly all seasons), Chris Sligh, Phil Stacey, Lakisha. I just don’t see that happening this year.

The reason I am so gloomy is not just about the numbers, because the decline was imminent, but because this time they are totally justified. When last years numbers were declining I was surprised because the talent was there, this year, not so much.

With all due respect of the top six that we know so far, maybe one of them has a shot at winning. Danny can’t, Alexis won’t, Allison shouldn’t. Kris will not, and Michael Sarver shouldn’t be there period. I am gonna start sitting shiva now.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not ready to jump on the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“bring Nigel backà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  train yet though

Neither am I.

Maybe America finally found their one true idol and now theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re done.

Which season was that? The Claymates have been proclaiming idol found, game over since 2003, and it wasn’t true then and it isn’t true now. I think it probably has more to do with seeing the strings, the man behind the curtain, or finding the cheat codes.

The numbers were probably down because a.) people didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know it wasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t going to be on on Tuesday and they were thrown

I don’t know… Speaking only for me, when there is true interest in watching a show, I make it a point to know when it’s airing.. done it in seasons past with Idol, and other shows that were must see TV… like a poster said upthread, when the thrill is gone, I could care less about making time to find those things out… and perhaps that is Idol problem this year… a combination of factors has killed that excitement, that feeling of “gottawannahaveto” see Idol that fueled the high ratings in seasons past…

I have reached my saturation point with the show…. after years of knowing how highly manipulated the show is, and being a willing participant in the whole scheme, years of seeing singers who I felt were head and shoulders above the rest in talent and potentially high commercial appeal getting short shrift by TPTB has burnt me out on the whole shebang… I have my list of faves from the show I will continue to support, but the Idol machine on Tuesday and Wednesday or Thursday nights – not so much.

I don’t think it would be much better at all if Nigel was involved. The problems go deeper than that, through the entire executive production. And yes, Simon sure isn’t helping either.

I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t think it would be much better at all if Nigel was involved.

Yeah, I’m not ready to give Nigel that much credit at this point, either.

I think a lot can be blamed on the whole change in format, as well. I knew this all was going to happen because I’m an overinvested Idol maniac. However, for the average viewer, this is all new.

You’ve got mediocre talent replacing better singers this season. There are more contestants, and all of this just seems long and drawn out.

People hate change, there’s nothing to hold their attention, so they’re beginning to bail.

If neither Felicia or Matt Giraud (I’m giving him another shot) grab my attention within the next week or two, I will not be tuning in this season.

I’m almost certain that none of the 6 people who’ve made it thus far will inspire me to watch this show and vote religiously.

So what changes should be made for Season 9?

There are probably many reasons, one as simple as natural audience erosion. Most shows, even award winners, lose steam as the years go by.

Another reason might be that the audience has caught onto the inherent contradictions the show throws out: Simon gripes about Sanjaya, about Nick, about Tatiana, but he was one of the people who put them through to the voters. They tell contestants to get out of the “box” then promptly shove them right back in. “Challenge yourself, try a harder song.” is followed by “Nobody should even try Mariah Carey!” Each season is “the best ever!” Contradiction after contradiction.

On top of that, and I don’t necessarily think this contributes to ratings so much as it contributes to an overall meh reaction to the contestants, this is a show that treats its own stars like disposable tissue. Why should the world take their post idol career seriously if the show doesn’t? There has been some movement this year with Brooke appearing to promote her single but for a long time the special musical guest was the mentor or somebody with only a tangential relationship with the show. I’d like to see them invite back those who have NEVER been invited back, such as Josh Gracin, Bucky Covington, Chris Sligh, Diana Degarmo, Mandisa, Melinda, etc etc. They aren’t A List and have never been invited back but they have interesting new music and updates to give. Own your history, AI, with all of your former contestants who are working, not just those you want to acknowledge. Besides, I heard Simon needs some help figuring out what Bucky is up to lately, LOL.

It’s only one rating that showed such a steep decline, we’ll have to wait and see if this is just a blip or something more long term. I do think, however, that they over-reacted about the ratings last year – the ratings were actually pretty good, and there were more viewers towards the end with more people watching the show for the last performances and the finale than Season 6. I think the ratings dipped in the middle of the season because most people watching the show knew quite early on (by Top 10) that it’s going to be a David vs David final, so there wasn’t that much interest in watching the long slog towards the climax, but they were interested in what happened at the end. The show worked fine, the producers didn’t have to change much except just a little tweak here and there, what we got instead is a big overhaul which doesn’t work and annoyed a lot of people.

I think it should be said that the reason the show worked is because people get personally invested in the contestants, they feel that they are the ones creating a star. The more seasoned watchers of the show might ridicule such people, but they are the backbone of the viewerships. You can’t really get personally invested in someone like Normund, he is just someone who might entertain you for a couple of minutes, not someone whose career you might watch with great interest over many years.

To me, I’m not surprised by the ratings.

Everything just feels thrown together this season. The new changes aren’t like previous changes and aren’t helping the show, but instead hindering them.

And it feels like a whole new show and I guess I just don’t care as much because it feels like they don’t care as much.

The playing of instruments thing was golden and I’d love to know why that went to hell in a hand basket.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I HATE HATE HATE the new semi format. Thankfully semi’s may have dragged on longer but we got to see growth in contestants and we got to make a connection with some more than now. My “eh” attitude to a lot of the people is because I barely know them. By this week I might be comfortable to say I just love Alexis Grace, but I can’t because three weeks from now I’ll have forgotten about her pretty much. I miss that growth we saw from week to week. As much as I love the wildcard round being back, the wildcard round could avoid losing a lot of our favorites. I realized come wildcard round it is going to be HARD to choose just three out of some of the potential candidates.

I’m not surprised viewership is down, right now the only saving grace for me is Adam and the sincere hope that the show has some surprises left in it.

Please get better Idol… I mean I suffered through season 3 and 6 and can still say I found one positive contestant out of all of it to rally behind.

On top of that, and I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t necessarily think this contributes to ratings so much as it contributes to an overall meh reaction to the contestants, this is a show that treats its own stars like disposable tissue. Why should the world take their post idol career seriously if the show doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t? There has been some movement this year with Brooke appearing to promote her single but for a long time the special musical guest was the mentor or somebody with only a tangential relationship with the show. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢d like to see them invite back those who have NEVER been invited back, such as Josh Gracin, Bucky Covington, Chris Sligh, Diana Degarmo, Mandisa, Melinda, etc etc. They arenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t A List and have never been invited back but they have interesting new music and updates to give. Own your history, AI, with all of your former contestants who are working, not just those you want to acknowledge. Besides, I heard Simon needs some help figuring out what Bucky is up to lately, LOL.

Niall,

I couldn’t agree more. AI treats the majority of it’s contestants like a sac of potatoes once the show is over. For example, there are some very talented people like some that you mentioned, Diana, Mandisa, Melinda etc.. whom have had albums out, currently have albums out, or will be releasing an album soon that would love the exposure of a return visit. Most people didn’t even know Diana released and album and look how that turned out. She BARELY lost to Fantasia and they completely act as if she was never on the show. They didn’t have a single clip of her during that montage. Mandisa, was ridiculed mercilessly so much so that Simon was IMO browbeat into apologizing to her. Yet, when her debut album came out…nothing. (It was a good album, and she has a new album coming out soon). Melinda, arguably one of the best vocalists to ever grace the AI stage…no mention of her being invited. She could definitely use the exposure. Her album is fantastic.

AI goes for big names (and it’s understandable) but they can also balance it out by respecting those who were on the show and kept it going.

I am actually glad the ratings are incline. Us internet boarders have been complaining for awhile about top 36 format, 4 judges, and gimmicky backstories instead of talent. The PTB no doubt discounted this as the musings of overly critical super fans. Now they have irrefutable evidence that their show is circling the drain.

The producers truly do not grasp the fundamental principles that made this show so enjoyable — we enjoyed seeing nice and talented people legitimately pursuing their dreams. We liked good singing. We liked the focus of this being a real talent show. We also liked the concept of a level playing field — the idea that even a waitress from Texas can be star. The variables that were most important were the celebration of real talent, and a sense of fair play.

This season, each of those principles have been methodically eliminated, and replaced with bickering, self-indulgent, and redundant judges, unappealing and unbalanced contestants, and pimping so OTT that even average viewers are starting to take notice. The wholesome sense of fun of watching young people try to make dreams some true has been lost. This season feels alternatively mean-spirited and condescending.

This season, each of those principles have been methodically eliminated, and replaced with bickering, self-indulgent, and redundant judges, unappealing and unbalanced contestants, and pimping so OTT that even average viewers are starting to take notice. The wholesome sense of fun of watching young people try to make dreams some true has been lost. This season feels alternatively mean-spirited and condescending.

ITA. They’ve sacrificed that for these “personalities”. While it creates some buzz on the internet, it’s not sustaining viewers. There are so many other reality shows that cater to the drama much better. The producers are not crediting the audiences’ intelligence in wanting to seeing legitimate talent growing and succeeding.

I don’t even watch the show live anymore, just here (thanks for the videos, mj!).

Count me in with those who think the current format is a step backwards. How can the audience develop any sustaining interest in these singers when they’re not performing regularly? Absence doesn’t always make the heart grow fonder. Just ask all those shows that were cancelled after the writer’s strike. For whatever reason, these contestants are not doing well with the do-or-die format…maybe that’s what’s causing all the choking.

Geez, I just realized if Matt G. makes the wildcard round, we’ll have to hear that Coldplay song again :/

And yet no one mentioned that they are still No. 1. Every week, it’s another set of doomsday prophecies on this topic.

The tweaks are not working because no tweaks will help the ratings. People get tired of reality shows like this. AI is simply not fresh anymore, and it won’t get back its freshness. It can still be a top show, but it won’t return to its original numbers.

And add that to what is shaping up to be a subpar year talentwise, with judges overpimping people who donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t have nearly the level of talent as a Carrie Underwood or David Cook, and I can see why some people would rather change the channel.

I disagree. I may hate the format this season with a passion but I like more people than I did at this point last season. Obviously Carrie and David have talent but David wasn’t all that until he did “Hello”. I didn’t watch season 3 or 4 and am not that big of a Carrie fan so don’t know at what point she made an impact. I think it’s too soon to tell how good the talent is and will likely be a mix like every one of the seasons to date. We’ve barely seen most of them and that’s the root of the problem for me. I don’t care all that much about pimping but would like to see everyone if you’re going to make me pick 3 out of 12 every week. We’re going to get to the top 12 barely knowing most of them.

I agree with Jimmyboyd that it’s probably not the format or any other changes this year that’s causing the ratings to drop. It was bound to happen sometimes and maybe people are more concerned about what’s going on in the country right now. I use shows like AI as a diversion but life does intervene at times. I will be interested to see if there’s a significant drop next season.

Ratings are sharply declining? GOOD

Get rid of Kara. Get rid of this Top 36 format. Get rid of these God-awful singers.

I rewatched the opening semi-finals night of season 5 (just to purge the memories of this abomination of a season from my brain) and it was so refreshing. Talented, non-wringers giving show-stopping performances.

Wherefore art thou, Idol?

Meanwhile, over at Idol central, a group meets to à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“retoolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  the show (and Cowell keeps muttering about how they shouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t have let in so many à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“uglyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  girls).

I think Simon is such a jerk! Yes, appearance is important but to call any of these young ladies “ugly” is so condescending. This is not America’s best models. Not every talent has to look like Katherine or Carrie. You bet this program needs to be “retooled”; however, Cowell needs to look at the real mistakes made this year.

I didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t watch season 3 or 4 and am not that big of a Carrie fan so donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know at what point she made an impact.

I’d say probably Top 11 week when she did “Alone”.

I liked a lot of people last year than I do this year. Which is funny since last year was the Year of the Missing Backstories. You hardly knew anyone or their background so all you could focus on was the little snippets of personality they showed and their performances. All I know is that with the changes this year (with the format and more drama), I kinda hate more people now coming into the Finals. that’s for sure.

Interestingly enough, with their backstories, I should care for more of them but I’m surprised to be so meh about most of them this year.

I’m not surprised at the falling off but I am still hopeful the season will get on track once this weird semi-finals segment ends. Once we have our final group, I feel that the show will get its mojo back; that’s when it “really” starts. Right now, I’ve given up and am just taping it. It’s like a very long and slow Hollywood Week.

Then if weirdly unlikable Kara grows enough humility to shorten her speeches, things are gonna settle down. There is always some good talent, even on an off-year. We’ll each discover somebody or another. For me, I think Lil Rounds and, if he gets called back and learns his lesson about song choices, Anoop Desai are the ones to watch.

^^^ ITA

I think the biggest mistake was the overpraising and reaction to Danny’s performance. It was such a turn off to so many people.

I think a lot can be blamed on the whole change in format, as well. I knew this all was going to happen because Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m an overinvested Idol maniac.

Having watched AI since Season 1, the term overinvested Idol maniac seems to apply. Sadly, my daughters and two of my best friends have given up on this show.

Thereis a large portion a casual viewer not really fallowing what happens to contestants after the show it is out of thier minds till it on again . These are the ones jumping ship?One thing that nonone has braught up is this :good or bad last years top 5 and most in the top this year all look like they could pose for a magazine.Do looks trump singing for some?

It does seem they are trying to go gung-ho for the teenybopper audience, and that does seem to be backfiring.

If they raise the age limit (say to 18-35 or something) for season 9, would that help out?

The first group was TERRIBLE. They have waaayyy too much crap in here and there’s too much time between seeing the ones you care about.

Also, it looks the same. Same old songs, and the over the top praise of Danny made everyone go WTF?

They also lost the older teen/college/young professional viewers in big numbers previously. Now they are losing the “Grandmas”. Revealing the top 36 was a lot “Gay” and “personalities” and that lost my Grandma and her bible study group. (She is looking for another Clay Aiken)

They should have picked 18, gone to a bigger brighter stage, and made it young. That’s who are their peers and who is going to buy their music.

Revealing the top 36 was a lot à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Gayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“personalitiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  and that lost my Grandma and her bible study group. (She is looking for another Clay Aiken)

This cracks me up.

AI ignored the chance it had to reinvigorate itself and to regain relevance my moving away from the singer/ songwriter focus of S7 and back toward pop kids and divas singing karaoke style. It makes sense that they wouldn’t have wanted to highlight a rock singer again this year, but are you telling there wasn’t a Brooke or Jason somewhere out there in the waves of auditioners?

On a separate note, I think the putridness of this season may hurt the perception, in some quarters, of some of those who have already come off the show. Cook said he is tivoing the season, and I don’t know if his bandmates watch the episodes with him or not, but I can see them giving him all kinds of shit when they see it as he vainly tries to protest, “But, it wasn’t like this last year!”….

Cook said he is tivoing the season

I think Cook is being, um, “polite” with this statement. Heh.

I think Cook is being, um, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“politeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  with this statement. Heh

I don’t know, I could see them getting drunk while they screened it on the bus….

But, anyway, I used that as a lighthearted example of what may be the impression of those who are inclined to be exceedingly skeptical of a David Cook (or Chris Daughtry) because of the Idol taint. Maybe somebody like that hears a song– Barbasol perhaps– on their local station and they decide to be a tiny bit open-minded about this new artist who was on Idol because, after all, they never actually even watched AI– they just sneered at it because they were supposed to sneer at it.

So not only are they thinking about downloading Barbasol but also possibly even checking out some of the guy’s other songs. But, first, they decide to flip the channel to American Idol one night because maybe it’s not as bad as they always assumed it was. And then they tune in to S8 and see what looks like an off-night for a daily karaoke contest at a local community center….

I’m not say this is going to happen on a scale that could be career-ruining or anything. I’m just saying that it could seal off some people’s minds that might have been inclined to crack open a slight bit otherwise.