http://variety.com/2014/tv/columns/has-american-idol-officially-entered-its-post-phenom-phase-1201061933/

It appears that "Idol" is no longer a megahit, but can it survive as a staple of primetime like the once-mighty "Survivor" has done?
Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#OuCmaEMb7PjAWyK8.99

American Idol in my opinion has been going down hill for many a year now.

The season 2 finale was a screw up. Many people think Clay Aiken should have won and Ruben Studdard should be runner-up instead.

But IMO, Ruben Studdard should be eliminated from the top 2 and ended up in third place instead. Clay Aiken and Kimberley Locke are better singers than Ruben and they both should have been in the top instead together. Clay would have won and Kimberley would end up as runner-up.

Were the votes miscounted or were the judges went bad?

Still the rating for this season are around 12 million which is pretty good! I hate the current Idol format which is very controlled and produced. It more like a scripted based reality TV then like the original Idol in 2002-2007?

Judges are okay but the director/producer are the trouble for me! They cut a lot of the entertainment value of the show IMO!

I wonder if part of the problem is that w/ the apparent boom of artists using social media to market themselves, the idea of contest TV shows focusing on "winning a recording contract" would be rendered redundant.

Don't get me wrong about this...

It could be the fact that the strict press release that got involved watching this show seriously is the cause.

It all started when the strict press release became too strongly supportive on voting more on Ruben Studdard for no reason at all in a despicable way.

Yes, it is in it's post-phenom phase. It has issued a slew of copy cat shows and is not really relevant now.

The truth is this show has always been crap, I've only ever watched it to see Simon Cowell say his insults to the amateur contestants. I mean without that we would have never discovered the talent of William Hung.

LOL William Hung!!!

I haven't watched American Idol for a couple seasons now. Just lost interest. I was a really big fan before too! I like the original judges , Simon, Paula and Randy . The show lost a lot of it's luster after them!

New season starts January 7th 2015 - Fox! Ugh!

http://www.thewrap.com/how-low-will-american-idol-go-ratings-dive-at-fox-has-yet-to-kill-show/

The once-popular music competition hit a series low this week.