Once a guaranteed ticket to showbiz, Fox's American Idol has hit a very low note. The "one-time ratings juggernaut," as the New York Times describes it, is registering its lowest ratings ever this year. Last night, just 8.4 million viewers tuned in, giving the show a dismal 1.9 rating in the 18-49 demographic — a "psychological blow to the series" that once regularly brought in double-digit ratings.
Fox revamped the singing talent show this year by bringing in a new set of judges, a different production company, and a shiny new set to reverse its steadily declining ratings, but so far, those changes haven't helped. So, why is a show that produced singing stars like Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood not resonating anymore? Blame the competition:
The precipitous drop has been driven by several factors, one being a literal factor: the show The X-Factor, the short-lived similar singing competition Fox tried three season ago, which succeeded only in diluting the appeal of Idol. (X-Factor has now been canceled.)
Read the rest of the analysis at the New York Times.
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