This past week has produced the finale of many shows on television. Having been so involved with the finale of Celebrity Apprentice, I forgot about the finale of American Idol…and it looks like I wasn’t the only one who forgot to watch.
The two-hour season finale of Fox’s “American Idol” was the least watched finale in the show’s history with a smaller audience than even Season 1’s finale — which aired in the summer.
It was reported that 21.5-million people tuned in to see Phillip Phillips get voted the winner of the 11th season finale of the singing competition. The show was featured many well-known musical stars, including John Fogerty, Reba McEntire and Rhianna. The show also featured a performance by Steven Tyler who performed with his band Aerosmith.
Those numbers represent a 26% drop from last season’s finale, which had an audience of almost 30 million. In its first season, which was during the summer of 2002, the finale of “American Idol” averaged 23 million viewers. The first season show that crowned Kelly Clarkson the title of American Idol aired in early September when television watching is lower than the late spring.
Season two posted the highest numbers of all, with a 16.8/37 Nielson rating and 38 million viewers. This decline has culminated in a 6.3/19 this past season with 21.5 million viewers. The first number in the Nielson rating represents the percentage of TVs tuned to that station. The second number represents the percentage of people watching TV at that time who are tuned to that program.
According to Joe Flint at the Los Angeles Times:
While Wednesday’s ratings clearly indicate “American idol” is showing its age, the show is still a massive hit, with tremendous staying power for its age.
On the business side, “American Idol” is still a cash cow for the network. Fox executives have promised to fine-tune “American Idol” in the off-season. The show also has to figure out whether Jennifer Lopez will return as a judge.
The following list from Deadline Hollywood lists each season and the numbers
WEDNESDAY-09/04/2002 8:00 PM-10:00 PM 23.021 million –Kelly Clarkson
WEDNESDAY-05/21/2003 9:00 PM-10:00 PM 38.060 million – Ruben Studdard
WEDNESDAY-05/26/2004 8:00 PM-10:02 PM 28.839 million – Fantasia Barrino
WEDNESDAY-05/25/2005 8:00 PM-10:01 PM 30.269 million – Carrie Underwood
WEDNESDAY-05/24/2006 8:00 PM-10:04 PM 36.383 million – Taylor Hicks
WEDNESDAY-05/23/2007 8:00 PM-10:09 PM 30.755 million –Jordin Sparks
WEDNESDAY-05/21/2008 8:00 PM-10:06 PM 31.688 million – David Cook
WEDNESDAY-05/20/2009 8:00 PM-10:07 PM 28.838 million – Kris Allen
WEDNESDAY-05/26/2010 8:00 PM-10:07 PM 24.215 million – Lee DeWyze
WEDNESDAY-05/25/2011 8:00 PM-10:07 PM 29.288 million – Scotty McCreery
WEDNESDAY-05/23/2012 8:00 PM-10:07 PM 21.5 million – Phillip Phillips
Although I do not watch American Idol anymore, I do appreciate the show because it introduced Clay Aiken to the world. To me, he will always be a winner.
The following is one of Clay’s performances from the finale of Season Two. Nobody has even come close to performing so well on the show.
Did you watch American Idol this year?
Yep,I did watch the AI finale. I liked Phillip and I wish him the best and especially good health but American Idol will never be able to duplicate the excitement of Season 2 and Clay is a big part of that. The BOTW video show exactly why. Clay is amazing!!
NO ONE has a voice like Clay. He is one of a kind!!
I stopped watching American idol the day after Clay lost! Just like Clay I can't watch it without reliving the anxiety of the results show. I can't put myself through that. To see him loose celebrity apprentice reminded me why I don't, won't and can't watch AI. The only episodes I watched were guest appearances by Clay. Can you post or tell me where I can get video of his guest performance of solitaire. That's my favorite memory – not the short competition one but the full version he did as a guest? The short one is all over the place. Am I the only one that thinks AI is more about the judges and production than character development and talent over image? Some argue that a surge of other talent shows is the problem. I don't watch them either!
Youtube Clay Aiken solitaire AI.
Thank you – I see the short version all over when I did that. In one playlist it mentions Solitaire in 2004 on AI but when you click to play it it says its been removed. I'll try some of the other "playlists" of Youtube AI 2004 Clay Aiken.
Yes I did watch AI this year off and on! I have never been glued to this show again like I was season 2….it has NEVER been the same! I do wish good luck to Philip though! Cookie
No. But one random night I was flipping through the channels and a boy was singing “To Love Somebody.” The judges raved about his performance. But seriously, I had to cover my ears because it was so scary compared to Clay singing it, which I had happened to listen to just minutes before. Night and day!
i watched all this year of idol i do wish the new americian idol phillip phillips the best the was this guy his name is joshua ledet and he sang to love somebody the same song clay did but i tell ya no singer i have herd in americian idol sings the way clay aiken sings
I do not watch AI, but I do enjoy watching the clips of Clay singing on it. Your title says it all for me!
Nope, Nada! Never have watched AI again. Not interested! Oh, I take that back, I did watch whenever they had Clay on. But, that was the only time. Agree with your title: Clay Aiken Will Always Be A Winner.