(Of course, they’re rooting for Cook, but don’t want to admit it. Checking our iTunes accounts, I find Innocent and Billie Jean on their playlists.)

I have no interest in seeing younger children on Idol. I don’t enjoy seeing the stress playing out on little Achie’s face – nor seeing Randy blather all over him in such a friggin’ creepie way.

I also agree that less horrible auditions, and more back stories in Hollywood would be great. Although I do have friends that only watch the horrible auditions, and that’s it.

Not sure how to fix it — if they can. The show may simply have run it’s course.

If they aren’t going to up the age, I sure don’t think they should lower it any further. If they do, they will lose me and I believe, many others as viewers. It would be interesting to see whether the loss of adult viewers would be offset by the numbers of younger viewers they might pick up. I sitll maintain even if the numbers balanced out, which I doubt, the younger viewers would not be anywhere near as loyal.

I think everyone is in agreement, that the age needs to be upped to 18.

I don’t see the prodcuers doing this at all. They have to keep some 16 and 17 year old contestants on the show to get the tween demo. AI doesn’t want to only cater to adults.

The posters on this board are not a representational sample of AI viewership anyway. A lot more are younger and/or are casual viewers.

I think everyone is in agreement, that the age needs to be upped to 18. Simon who used to pan the younger contestants, such as Diana DeGarmo has done a 180 degree turn. And, yet, he is the one who tells the truth? Spare me.

I agree that 18-30 is appropriate and probably easier for the producers to work with logistically. I’m not up for more precocious young teens competing on AI.

As the parent of a 16-year-old I don’t think the particular stress generated by AI is good for someone that age. Plus, there are loads of school related competitions for students. State solo/ensemble is a huge deal up here for kids who are musicians or singers. They need to go that route where the adjudicators are more encouraging and they have the support of their teachers.

And shame on me for not noticing “David Castro” Egads.

hence Clay Aiken being considered more popular than Kelly Clarkson.

abby, I’m going to disagree with you on that. I’ve always felt that Kelly has been considered more popular than Clay. She has sold a TON more CD’s than he has. Her songs (even the old ones!) are all over the radio. I can’t tell you the last time I heard a Clay song on the radio. It’s been years.

I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t like the idea of lowering the age of the contestants, but sadly it might just work.

If that happens, I doubt I’ll watch the show anymore. The pressure of the show is WAY too much for a 14 or 15 year old to handle. I really think the age should be INCREASED to 18. Get the kids out of high school before putting them through the Idol wringer.

Edited because I can’t quote correctly.

I don’t like the idea of lowering the age of the contestants, but sadly it might just work. But it would be a bandaid if they continue to fine tune the show too much. They did alot of stuff wrong this year and last where they lost their audience after an insanly popular season and tour. Can’t put that genie back in the bottle.

As for American Jr. That was a bad idea, and I watched it, but for the laugh factor, not the talent.

One tweak they can do that is obvious is less creepy auditions and more Hollywood week. The numbers certainly say so.

Hardly any kids watch TV these days.

I’m not sure what your source is for this statement. Has there been a study done on kids watching TV?

I’m questioning this because I have a 14 year old cousin (female), who is an avid Idol watcher. She watches other TV too, but I know that she loves Idol. Also, my mom and sister-in-law work in a junior high school and my mom is CONSTANTLY telling me about all these TV shows that are so popular these days. I know that’s a pretty small sample, but the kids that myself and my family know do watch TV. They play video games, too, but they do watch TV.

Also, American Idol has an audience that skews a bit older with 29% of the total audience between the ages of 35-49. The tweaks for next year promised by FOX executives at the upfronts will surely include attempts to woo back younger viewers. No wonder Simon Cowell wants to lower the audition age to 14.

Every advertiser on the face of the earth wants the 14-21 y.o. BOY, not the girl, but the boy. They don’t realize that the boys are off playing videos and games. Now, if they really want to capture that age group why don’t they turn AI into a video game?

It’s absolutely backwards thinking, and Cowell is guilty of this too, to believe they will attract the 14-21 y.o. to the TV. Hardly any kids watch TV these days. They’re in the chat rooms, playing games, on the cell phone. And the move by AI to lower the age to 14 won’t work. They should bring back “Junior Idol” … it wasn’t a bad show, they just didn’t give it a chance.