April 2, 2014
e Entertainment
Last Thursday, “Idol” hit a new ratings low that would have seemed incomprehensible just 2 short years ago. The former “Prince” of primetime talent competitions sank below the 2.0 ratings barrier, scoring a 1.9 with viewers between the ages of 18 and 49 — the group that Fox sells to advertisers. Such a critical figure is surely a psychological blow to the series, which had routinely hit a double-figure rating in the same 18-49 category.
Sadly, Thursday’s show also had the smallest overall audience — 8.4 million viewers — since a previous “all time low” night during its first year in existence. Just a year ago on the same night, “American Idol” averaged a 2.9 rating, which means the show has sunk roughly 34% from year to year.
Fox executives went into this season hoping to stop the bleeding and reverse the ratings plunge of recent seasons. However, it appears that despite the addition of pop superstar Jennifer Lopez (a fan favorite back after a year away) and jazz singer Harry Connick Jr. as judges, the show continues to plummet. “Idol” has dropped at least 30% in each of its last 2 seasons, putting the show’s long-term survival into serious question.
e Entertainment
Earlier this year, Fox pulled the plug on Simon Cowell’s failed “X-Factor” series. Despite continued high ratings, NBC’s “The Voice” still has yet to produce 1 star or success story. Now it seems the best days of “American Idol” are long gone. Perhaps it’s time to put all of these so-called “get famous quick” reality talent shows out of their misery and out to pasture for good!
