'American Idol' Hits 5-Year Ratings Low, Over-Reaction ABounds - Page 5

TexRed · 05-03-2008, 02:02 PM

With seven seasons under their belt (almost), there's a sense of "been there", done that for some fans. Plus not that many people have 2 hours a week to devote to one show which they could easily cut a lot by eliminating hype and fluff. Lastly, too many contestants that are already music professionals takes the "discovering the unknown" element of the American dream away.

TexRed · 05-03-2008, 02:03 PM

P.S.--I don't plan to watch next year--but I guess I'll see this one through.

dream316 · 05-04-2008, 01:48 AM

Agree completely with Sue Brody. If Cook is voted off early, the ratings will really suffer, and I highly doubt I will bring myself to tune in. I don't think that Archie makes for good television, but I don't think he's driving people away either. I'm 24 and I don't care much for the Disney Channel, which I think would be an excellent fit for him. Other than Simon, I think it might be time for some new judges. Perhaps one that had a successful VOCAL career and knows their stuff when it comes to music (ex. false vs falsetto). Whitney's as big of a trainwreck as Paula, if not more so, except she can actually sing, so criticism from her seems more meaningful, hire her! And Randy's chair should go to someone with serious musical expertise, who is also funny/unpredictable. We know Simon will tell it like it is, and Paula/her replacement will be nice, why not replace Randy with someone who can come up with criticisms more "daring" and "original" than pitchy and molten hot??

LynnRice2 · 05-04-2008, 04:43 AM

Although I understand your theory (tween power voters turning off fans-of-others) I think that there are plenty of other reasons for Idol's ratings decline. As a longtime viewer, I feel manipulated, this year more than any other. If I'm going to watch a show in which I am allowed to vote for a favorite, I want to do so without feeling as if the show is pushing their agenda. Or at least I don't want to see the man behind the curtain!

BTW, I am an adult Archuleta fan. I am watching more faithfully this season because of him, and I've bumped into plenty of other fans out in cyberspace who were never viewers before, but who are watching this season because of the kid's talent. He's going places ... and I find it exciting that I get to have a part in the process. Isn't that what the show SHOULD be about?

2b17again · 05-04-2008, 05:40 AM

Oh my, how simplistic it is to blame David Archuleta and his fan base. Really. There are other obvious reasons why AI's ratings are lower this year and the people/producers at AI just need to look within themselves to find them.
It's always easy to point the finger at someone else when one can't admit their own mistakes. Go ahead, have another theme week from a bygone artist of three decades ago. Oh yea, that's great tv. I vote for David Archuleta to win and for the others to have great success, too.

padackels · 05-04-2008, 06:00 AM

I think that people are just getting tired of AMERICAN IDOL.

LynnRice2 · 05-04-2008, 06:51 AM

Cut and pasting for a buddy who can't log on:

It's silly to presume David Archuleta is to blame for Idol's failure to secure high ratings this season. Scapegoat anyone? The true reason for the slump in ratings are the ridiculous theme nights and mentors who are old as the hills and there to promote their own music. If Idol were truly interested in hearing the contestants 'be who you are', they'd let them choose their own music so that we'd all have a better idea of what to expect from them should they win. To impose a specific genre or artist on them restricts them creatively. THAT'S the problem.

David Archuleta is actually my favorite contestant from any season. I don't know where there is an impression he is pimped. As a matter of fact, I can't recall a contestant more raked over the coals by the public. From his lip licking, to his eye closing, to his extended hand, to his shyness and difficulty speaking publicly, to rumors about his 'stage Dad' father to now being held persona

leaDA · 05-04-2008, 10:43 AM

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? One contestant and/ or their fan base to blame??? ummm...NO! What if a TV series like LOST began to drop in ratings? who would be to blame? the writers, the producers? Or how about the notorious 7 year slump? when a series has been on this long, some signs of age begin to show. Idol has been much too heavy on theme nights this year, many are anxious to hear songs written after 1999. The age of the show, the 'old' music and viewer fatigue are the real reasons AI has had a decline. My guess is that Achuleta & his fans (me included) are part of what is saving the show right now.

Lexus111 · 05-04-2008, 12:15 PM

I agree LeaDA. To hold David Archuleta accountable for the American Idol ratings decline is laughable. He's the only reason I've tuned in since Kelly Clarkson won. No one since has interested me in the least. I've always believed that when people feel threatened they pick on the person they feel threatened by. It's no wonder David A.'s is their target. Don't underestimate us DA fans. We've been silently watching the campaign to discredit David A. for some time now, but no more. This only makes us stronger in our efforts to ensure his win.

soundscene · 05-04-2008, 04:46 PM

To quote Simon, "I don't mean to be rude but..." that's a ridiculous theory. And one that isn't supported by anything. Every year there are power voters. Jordin and Blake each had their fair share. Jason and Cook also have a bunch of power voters. David A. appeals to a wide audience. He's a sweet, humble, talented teenager that grabs a lot of the Heartland voters. He's Carrie Underwood if she were a teenage guy--apple pie and baseball. I think you've been spending far too much time on the Internet (which can be a cynical place; and has rarely, if ever, picked the winner), and far too little time in the real world. All the AI fans in my office (a law firm) are David A. fans. None are rabid. None are teenagers. He's got far more fans than you apparently believe he does. And I'm willing to bet that Cook has far fewer fans than it seems based on reading articles on the Internet. Bo Bice and Chris Daughtry. Two rock guys that the Internet loved--but that America eventually put

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05-03-2008, 02:02 PM	#41
TexRed Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 58	With seven seasons under their belt (almost), there's a sense of "been there", done that for some fans. Plus not that many people have 2 hours a week to devote to one show which they could easily cut a lot by eliminating hype and fluff. Lastly, too many contestants that are already music professionals takes the "discovering the unknown" element of the American dream away.

05-03-2008, 02:03 PM	#42
TexRed Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 58	P.S.--I don't plan to watch next year--but I guess I'll see this one through.

05-04-2008, 01:48 AM	#43
dream316 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 33	Agree completely with Sue Brody. If Cook is voted off early, the ratings will really suffer, and I highly doubt I will bring myself to tune in. I don't think that Archie makes for good television, but I don't think he's driving people away either. I'm 24 and I don't care much for the Disney Channel, which I think would be an excellent fit for him. Other than Simon, I think it might be time for some new judges. Perhaps one that had a successful VOCAL career and knows their stuff when it comes to music (ex. false vs falsetto). Whitney's as big of a trainwreck as Paula, if not more so, except she can actually sing, so criticism from her seems more meaningful, hire her! And Randy's chair should go to someone with serious musical expertise, who is also funny/unpredictable. We know Simon will tell it like it is, and Paula/her replacement will be nice, why not replace Randy with someone who can come up with criticisms more "daring" and "original" than pitchy and molten hot??

05-04-2008, 04:43 AM	#44
LynnRice2 Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3	Although I understand your theory (tween power voters turning off fans-of-others) I think that there are plenty of other reasons for Idol's ratings decline. As a longtime viewer, I feel manipulated, this year more than any other. If I'm going to watch a show in which I am allowed to vote for a favorite, I want to do so without feeling as if the show is pushing their agenda. Or at least I don't want to see the man behind the curtain! BTW, I am an adult Archuleta fan. I am watching more faithfully this season because of him, and I've bumped into plenty of other fans out in cyberspace who were never viewers before, but who are watching this season because of the kid's talent. He's going places ... and I find it exciting that I get to have a part in the process. Isn't that what the show SHOULD be about?

05-04-2008, 05:40 AM	#45
2b17again Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3	Oh my, how simplistic it is to blame David Archuleta and his fan base. Really. There are other obvious reasons why AI's ratings are lower this year and the people/producers at AI just need to look within themselves to find them. It's always easy to point the finger at someone else when one can't admit their own mistakes. Go ahead, have another theme week from a bygone artist of three decades ago. Oh yea, that's great tv. I vote for David Archuleta to win and for the others to have great success, too.

05-04-2008, 06:00 AM	#46
padackels Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 539	I think that people are just getting tired of AMERICAN IDOL.

05-04-2008, 06:51 AM	#47
LynnRice2 Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3	Cut and pasting for a buddy who can't log on: It's silly to presume David Archuleta is to blame for Idol's failure to secure high ratings this season. Scapegoat anyone? The true reason for the slump in ratings are the ridiculous theme nights and mentors who are old as the hills and there to promote their own music. If Idol were truly interested in hearing the contestants 'be who you are', they'd let them choose their own music so that we'd all have a better idea of what to expect from them should they win. To impose a specific genre or artist on them restricts them creatively. THAT'S the problem. David Archuleta is actually my favorite contestant from any season. I don't know where there is an impression he is pimped. As a matter of fact, I can't recall a contestant more raked over the coals by the public. From his lip licking, to his eye closing, to his extended hand, to his shyness and difficulty speaking publicly, to rumors about his 'stage Dad' father to now being held persona

05-04-2008, 10:43 AM	#48
leaDA Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2	ARE YOU KIDDING ME? One contestant and/ or their fan base to blame??? ummm...NO! What if a TV series like LOST began to drop in ratings? who would be to blame? the writers, the producers? Or how about the notorious 7 year slump? when a series has been on this long, some signs of age begin to show. Idol has been much too heavy on theme nights this year, many are anxious to hear songs written after 1999. The age of the show, the 'old' music and viewer fatigue are the real reasons AI has had a decline. My guess is that Achuleta & his fans (me included) are part of what is saving the show right now.

05-04-2008, 12:15 PM	#49
Lexus111 Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1	I agree LeaDA. To hold David Archuleta accountable for the American Idol ratings decline is laughable. He's the only reason I've tuned in since Kelly Clarkson won. No one since has interested me in the least. I've always believed that when people feel threatened they pick on the person they feel threatened by. It's no wonder David A.'s is their target. Don't underestimate us DA fans. We've been silently watching the campaign to discredit David A. for some time now, but no more. This only makes us stronger in our efforts to ensure his win.

05-04-2008, 04:46 PM	#50
soundscene Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5	To quote Simon, "I don't mean to be rude but..." that's a ridiculous theory. And one that isn't supported by anything. Every year there are power voters. Jordin and Blake each had their fair share. Jason and Cook also have a bunch of power voters. David A. appeals to a wide audience. He's a sweet, humble, talented teenager that grabs a lot of the Heartland voters. He's Carrie Underwood if she were a teenage guy--apple pie and baseball. I think you've been spending far too much time on the Internet (which can be a cynical place; and has rarely, if ever, picked the winner), and far too little time in the real world. All the AI fans in my office (a law firm) are David A. fans. None are rabid. None are teenagers. He's got far more fans than you apparently believe he does. And I'm willing to bet that Cook has far fewer fans than it seems based on reading articles on the Internet. Bo Bice and Chris Daughtry. Two rock guys that the Internet loved--but that America eventually put