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“American Idol” Ratings Drop to Scary Level, “Glee” Still Solid

Updated: In the final broadcast ratings, the “Idol” 18-49 demo figure climbed slightly higher to a 6.2; total viewership was at 17.50 million. Though better than the dangerously low fast national numbers (as reported below), the show’s performance is still alarming. With the show already bleeding viewers and popular judge Simon Cowell departing at the end of the season, things could get quite disappointing come next year’s tenth season.

Also interesting is the fact that “Glee” dominated “Idol” in women 18-34 (6.9 vs. 6.2); it also won a tight race among adults 18-34 (5.0 to 4.9).

The ongoing ratings decline for this year’s “American Idol” took a scary turn Tuesday, as the show came dangerously close to falling below a 6.0 adults 18-49 rating.

Off hours of 5.6 and 6.5, this week’s show was good for a 6.05 in the fast nationals. Viewership was also way down–the show that was once able to accurately brag about entertaining 30 million viewers an episode only attracted 17.08 million Tuesday.

Even a slight drop next week, which has been the trend this season, would bring the show below the 6.0 barrier and bring it into the realm of “normal” television shows.

According to TVBN, the show hit its lowest performance show numbers for adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and total viewers since season one, which aired as a summer special.

With a lower “Idol” lead-in and less pre-episode buzz, “Glee” dropped to a 4.9 rating with 11.89 million viewers.

Elsewhere, CBS’ reliable Tuesday lineup was a bit soft–“NCIS” posted a 3.1 with 14.83 million viewers, while “NCIS: LA” was at a 2.9 with 14.22 million and “The Good Wife” garned 12.94 million viewers and a 2.4.

ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” results show net a 2.4 and 11.92 million watchers, leading into “Lost” (9.50 million, 3.9) and “V” (5.58 million, 2.2).

NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” was solid with a 3.2 and 8.34 million, while passable “Parenthood” won its timeslot in the demo with a 2.6 and 5.96 million viewers.

The CW’s “90210” performed terribly, posting a low 0.7 adults 18-49 rating with 1.62 million viewers. The scary loss of interest in “90210” is providing no optimism that the show will continue past next season (for which it has already been renewed).

Sources: Nielsen, TVBN, MediaWeek

Written by Brian Cantor

Brian Cantor is the editor-in-chief for Headline Planet. He has been a leading reporter in the music, movie, television and sporting spaces since 2002.

Brian's reporting has been cited by major websites like BuzzFeed, Billboard, the New Yorker and The Fader -- and shared by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj.

Contact Brian at brian.cantor[at]headlineplanet.com.

Comments

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  1. Karma.

    I stopped watching when Siobhan got robbed. That issue was ignored… so we ignored the show too…

  2. Season 8 was awesome. Season 9 sucks!!!! Hate the judges (nobody cares about simon anymore…need an all new panel), all the contestants are boring. They need to clean up and start everything from fresh to keep this show going…..

  3. I stopped watching since Didi left! How stupid the judges are for not saving Didi, and using the save on Michael instead! It didn’t make anything good.

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