The show that revived Paula Abdul's career and hooked audiences for six seasons has lost its grip on American viewers. Though the show still tops the ratings list, the success of "American Idol" is fading.
Success, like all things, is relative. And compared to its previous seasons' numbers, the show has taken a dive. The show has slowly lost its viewers each week, and it is now 10 million short of its usual devotees - the lowest since the sophomore season of "Idol."
So why has Fox's cash cow stopped producing? There are many factors working against the show, not the least of which is overexposure.
Since the show's beginning, its popularity has proven to be as much a curse as it was a blessing. Tabloids and commercials flood viewers with updates, contestant gossip and reruns. Viewers are starting to turn their backs on their once beloved weekly routine.
Another reason for the decline is the flash-in-the-pan quality that comes with being an overnight sensation. American Idol ushered in a new era of television with its competition gimmicks and viewer voting. But the novelty wears off, and the fad starts to fade. It is undeniable the show had a successful premise, but after hearing Simon Cowell unleash the same insults for more than six seasons, the gig is up.
All these factors aside, the biggest problem "Idol" faces is that the competition doesn't really mean anything anymore. When the show debuted, people tuned in to vote their favorite contestant into stardom. And it worked. Kelly Clarkson is still a household name, but the title loses its pizzazz when it is shared with 26 others.
Who can remember the winner from three seasons ago? Half of all "Idol" winners have already been dropped by their labels, leaving both viewers and "Idol" hopefuls disheartened.
This creates a vicious cycle of indifference, which affects the quality of applicants. And with less-than-stellar singers, the hope of finding a new star is gone.
Though Fox will surely squeeze every last drop of money out of its most successful show ever, it seems like there's no saving this one.
