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Fox’s American Idol reigned supreme last night while the other networks turned off the lights following the end of the February sweep on Wednesday. The two-hour Idol broadcast, which revealed the Top 13 finalists, drew a 8.1/23 in adults 18-49 and 25 million viewers. With no original competition besides a new Rules of Engagement on CBS, Idol was up 13% in the demo from last Thursday (15% in viewers) to hit its highest marks on the night this season in 18-49 and total viewers. Versus the comparable episode last year, which was less dramatic as cuts had been made gradually and not in one fell swoop as they were this year, Idol was up 29% in 18-49 and viewers. Fox logged the highest-rated Thursday night for any network in four years. With a Big Bang Theory repeat as a lead-in, Rules of Engagement (2.3/7) was down 18% from last week when it followed an original Big Bang to hit a series low with a regularly scheduled telecast.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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The show was passable through the first several weeks of this season, when the segments were pre-packaged and judges’ comments were kept to a few short snippets. But now, at this stage of the competition, the show is completely coming undone. It used to be fun to watch because these kids who really have no ACTUAL talent (save about six individuals over ten seasons) would all get up and sing, only to have Simon set them straight and make those of us watching at home feel vindicated. Now, these talentless, delusional kids get up there, belt out a few verses of some over-used ballad, and then the judges all blow smoke up their asses. It’s the most vexing and hollow feeling as an audience member, and Randy Jackson in the Simon chair is a bit like John Stamos filling in for Charlie Sheen. Definitely NOT winning.
Prediction: despite the massive numbers of last night’s two hour installment, the ratings will now rapidly decline for the duration of the season, until finally, the brass at Fox – are you listening, gentlemen? – will be forced to examine the wisdom of anything more than ONE additional season (#11). If FOX drew a box around the future of the show – like ABC did with Lost, then and ONLY then might an audience show up for one more tour. Otherwise, we are looking at a very tired format that will be completely outmaneuvered by its own sibling competition in X Factor USA. At least there, we’ll have Simon back in his chair again, setting the record straight as the unbridled arrogance of America’s wannabe generation is on full display for him to joyfully eviscerate.