Ratings: American Idol up 18% from last week

by Rickey
March 2, 2012 at 11:26 am

Update: American Idol adjusted up to 5.4 and 18.27 million viewers.

American Idol had a 5.3 adult rating last night up 18% from last week. It had 18.3 million viewers.

Idol is normally adjusted up a tenth, so the show could tie The Voice’s 5.4 rating on Monday. OMG! I think we’re finally going to get our dogfight! (I expect Nigel Lythgoe to start tweeting again soon).

Idol also beat NCIS in total number of viewers.

The Big Bang Theory was a repeat last night.

The rest of the numbers:

From FOX_Research:

@AmericanIdol was the top program of the night in Adults 18-49 (5.3/15), Adults 18-34 (3.5/11) and Total Viewers (18.3 million)

Versus last week, #AmericanIdol is up among A18-49 (+18%, 5.3 vs. 4.5), A18-34 (+21%, 3.5 vs. 2.9) & Total Viewers (+17%, 18.3m vs. 15.6m)

Last night, #AmericanIdol delivered its highest number of Total Viewers (18.3 million) on a Thursday this season

American Idol Ratings1 Ratings: American Idol up 18% from last week

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34 comments

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tsbeautifull

i cant watch american idol i keep skipping the songs and the bla bla bla stories. and IMO the singers in the voice are more talented. they may not be a appealing to the eyes as american idol singers, plus they are too old for teen gals to swoon over.i can put the voice on repeat while i fastfoward on idol. its too boooring

Joystickenvy

I'm glad to see idol ratings up, but most of the competition was in repeats, so it's a bit of a hollow victory. I'm hoping the decline has leveled off and the show can hang around the 5 mark.

Rickey moderator

@Joystickenvy I think it will level off in the mid 4's. The show last Thursday was very exciting so it deserved the ratings uptick, but there are no longer any compelling storylines on the the show from my perspective. The "Top 13 Reveal" is an exciting storyline on it's own.

JayejayeHorton

you are the star my cousin deandre you are gonna go far and strong love ya cous

chessguy99

It is going to get interesting the next few weeks. The Voice goes from the most exciting part of the season, the blind auditions with all that lovely judge banter; to the horrid battle rounds, where no matter how good you sound, your fate was pre-determined. Idol on the other-hand, gets into their finals, where the production value is jacked up and the interactive part of the show ramps up. Idol could find itself in a commanding position in four weeks.

Rickey moderator

@chessguy99 Don't rule out the Battle Round just yet. But next week should be exciting since it's Idol which has come alive again.

djfabian

Idol remains king and far more interesting . its far more interesting watching "regular joes" duking it out week after week to win the whole thing....The Voice format is just far too contrived and has too many washed up wanna be musicians looking for second third fourth chances.....over 3 million more people watched Idol last night than The Voice so I hardly call it close regradless of the coveted 18-49 demos

@djfabian Don't The Voice have more "regular joes"? I mean having an age range from 15 to 28 isn't regular, lol.

Mikhail XO moderator

1 Like

@djfabian blah blah blah...both shows are good, both have their adherents...I feel strongly that The Voice is better quality. Idol had 10 more years to market their brand so based on this, The Voice is doing much better.

djfabian

@Mikhail XO I actually find the whole Voice concept and production quite tacky. It was only the other night watching Idol my friends and I noted just how far Idol has come and how straong production values are as well as the young talent when u flash back to season one and remember some of the contestants and format at that time.....Idol remains an incrediblly well produced show and its a shame it doesnt get more credit for that

Joystickenvy

@djfabian @Mikhail XO @crackinthewall Have you looked at the album sales of Idol winners lately? In ten seasons the show has produced two bona fide "stars" in terms of total album sales....Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson who have both sold around 12 million total. The next best selling winner: Fantasia with just under 3 million in sales, putting her below non-winners Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry. The Jury is still out on Scotty McCreery, his debut has sold just under a million, which is the best start for any winner since season six's Jordin Sparks, who's debut sold just over a million, but she hasn't done anything since. By contrast Carrie's debut sold 7 million copies. David Cook did slightly worse than Jordin Sparks and both Kris Allen and Lee Dewyze have sold not just less, but much less than non-winners such as Kellie Pickler, Bo Bice, Josh Gracin, Elliot yamin, Mandisa and Bucky Covington. William Hung sold more records than Lee Dewyze.

The point of all this...it's been awhile since Idol turned out a winner who became a bona fide singing star. None of the singing shows are as popular as idol was in it's heyday, so it's no real surprise that the shows aren't churning out stars. The Voice has only had one season and they didn't have a Kelly Clarkson. It really proves nothing.

Mikhail XO moderator

@djfabian @crackinthewall

Based on your argument, please explain what happened to Lee Dewyze? Ruben Studdard? and countless other Idol winners? The Voice had one season only with little pre-show hype and now they are giving Idol a run for their money ratings wise...the Idol brand had 9 seasons of marketing before they produced the bungle that is Lee Dewyze. The Idol over-praising, self- absorbed judging panel from Idol could learn a lot from the judges of The Voice.

djfabian

@Mikhail XO @crackinthewall X Factor US was just plain BAD....I stick to my guns that the American Idol Production is stellar and is miles ahead of all the other shows including the overproduced mess they call The Voice. The Voice is more about the 4 stars ...no one cares who wins because they arent gonna amount to anything....what became of last years winner....maybe he is in line behind that girl who won X Factor US for unemployment

Mikhail XO moderator

@crackinthewall @djfabian 'Tis true! Idol is certainly deficient in production whereas XFUS may be a bit over-produced...the Voice to me, is strongest with regard to production value. The singers get some free reign and the songs seem better suited to them. The banter between the judges is authentic, unforced... and they seem to have a less serious and more friendly relationship with the contestants. Randy and JHo's forced banter and drivel is snooze worthy, uninteresting and at times, nonsensical. Neither of them possess a sense of humor nor do they command the respect of the audience, the viewers.

crackinthewall

1 Like

@djfabian if we're talking about production, Idol is clearly behind The Voice and X Factor. Idol doesn't really allow much room for the contestants to deliver an interesting performance. Have you seen Kitty Brucknell's (X Factor UK) live performances? They're willing to adapt the stage to the individual contestant's preferences. Same as with The Voice. Vicci's Dog Days Are Over was glorious. Idol on the other hand is so rigid that the contestants must choose only between a piano, a guitar or dramatic lighting/flamebackground, etc. Then there's the judge's banter, judge's relationships with the host, contestants, etc.

Rickey moderator

@djfabian @Mikhail XO You really need to take one standard and go with it. Total number of viewers is only good for press releases, since again the demo rating is what advertisers (the money) look at.

A few years ago, DWTS easily beat Idol in total number of viewers week after week -- and of course we countered that Idol had far better adult ratings. So I am immune to this total viewers argument. Idol has lost that metric to NCIS, The Big Bang Theory and The Voice this season, but the most important number is still the ratings.

I agree with Mikhail that production is what has caused the ratings decline this season. I don't know what Nigel's status is as far as him owning the show, but if he's just an employee, he should be fired at the end of this season for destroying the franchise. A 35% drop from last year (when Idol has traditionally dropped only 10-20%) should be unacceptable to any loyal fan. This season has just been full of excuses from Nigel as to why ratings went down, but obviously, he hasn't claimed responsibility and just blames everyone else -- like how "bad" The Voice is, etc (which doesn't make sense).

Mikhail XO moderator

@djfabian I feel the main problems with Idol lie with the production. Nigel needs to take an extended vacation...or hand over the reigns. He's burying this show, last night's ratings withstanding.

ArchieSue

YAY!!!!!! Idol is back up!!!!! I am so happy, now Big Bang Theory needs to be on repeat for a couple of more weeks, lols, j/k. I love that show too, I just watch it the next day.

aquayers

1 Like

Yippie!!!!! Great news. :D :D

Mikhail XO moderator

1 Like

Where's Julie? Julie...it's GOOD news--come back! rub our noses in it!

Rickey--get rid of that pic of your girlfriend....errr...boyfriend Deandre^. He looks like the NY cat lady...ugh!

p.s. I'll email you later. Thanks. Sometimes it's hard for me to get into hotmail at work...long story. All good. :)

AprilJ

2 Like

@Mikhail XO

Deandre is hot. Even for the married with small children population :)

laff

@AprilJ Oh, uh, ewww. No no no -- not hot.

Rickey moderator

@AprilJ @Mikhail XO This comment. I can't.

ArchieSue

@Rickey Hey......lols ...I got that Rickey. I don't care what team he is on. :)

Rickey moderator

1 Like

@AprilJ @Mikhail XO I was just getting flashbacks from the David Archuleta days on the blog, where comments like this were very common. :)

AprilJ

3 Like

@Mikhail XO @AprilJ @Rickey

Lol. I kinda figured... but for the record... they are doing a very good job with the editing - for my sake anyway. Slitting wrist now... j/k

Mikhail XO moderator

@AprilJ @Rickey Can't speak for R, but I'm not offended! You can like him all you want...but FYI...I think he likes 'bois'.....

AprilJ

@Rickey @Mikhail XO

Offensive?

Rickey moderator

@Mikhail XO "Crisis Averted"

Kaylo

1 Like

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!! When two shows are tied, do you use Number of viewers to determine the Number 1 show (B.T.W This shows how low We Idoloonies have stooped. Celebrating a tie with The Voice *Sigh*. Im embarrassed )!!

Rickey moderator

1 Like

@Lombe I think they're just tied. But most likely they will take the number of viewers for the adult demo and not total viewers for tie-breaker.

Kaylo

@Rickey Ahh. Ok, I thought if two shows have the same rating, then they have an almost identical number of viewers in the Adult Demo.. Anyway, B.T.W your prediction that Idol wouldnt have the Best rating or Highest Number of viewers is wrong. Atleast I have something for me to rub in your face until next Monday.