Simon Cowell's Final "Idol" Episode Is An All-Time Low

[JamesG]

"American Idol" Finale Hits New Ratings Low
by Sharon Knolle
posted May 27th 2010


Maybe Simon Cowell is getting out of "American Idol" at the right time.



Last night's season ender, which also served as a farewell to the Judge We Loved to Hate, was the show's lowest-rated finale ever, drawing a disappointing 10.0 rating among adults 18-49.

Although it easily won the evening, with 28.8 million viewers, "Idol" has been steadily declining since 2007. The season 9 finale, during which Lee DeWyze was crowned the winner, was down 18 percent from last year's Adam Lambert-Kris Allen showdown, according to The Hollywood Reporter.


In total viewers, the season 9 sendoff was the least-watched "Idol" finale since season 3, when Diana DeGarmo battled winner Fantasia Barrino.





Whether it was the lackluster contestants this year or the lack of judge Paula Abdul (who returned to bid a fond goodbye to Cowell), "Idol's" numbers just couldn't match past seasons.

"Idol" isn't the only veteran series that's in decline: TV ratings are down overall for the last year. Still, the show helped put Fox on top as the season's top-rated network for the sixth year in a row, a historic run on top.



Whether the show will stay on top without Cowell, who leaves the show to launch "The X Factor", remains to be seen.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/27/am...inale-ratings/

[Impressions]

I'm really not surprised. They drag out the finales so long, it's difficult to sit and watch them. I thought it was insulting to fans of the show when they gave the results 2 minutes after it was supposed to end

[catlover79]

To many, Simon IS American Idol. I say just scrap the show now - I think the novelty has definitely worn off.