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American Idol
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==Reception== ===U.S. television ratings=== Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of ''American Idol''. It holds the distinction of having the longest winning streak in the [[Nielsen ratings|Nielsen annual television ratings]]; it became the highest-rated of all television programs in the United States overall for an unprecedented seven consecutive years,<ref>{{cite news |date=January 17, 2013 |title=The Return Of 'American Idol': Money Never Dies |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/benkaplan/2013/01/17/the-return-of-american-idol-money-never-dies/ |access-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref> or eight consecutive (and total) years when either its performance or result show was ranked number one overall.<ref name="ratings" /> :''Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of May [[sweeps]].'' {| class="wikitable" |- ! style="width:7%;" rowspan="2"| Network ! rowspan=2| Season ! colspan=2| Premiered ! colspan=2| Ended ! style="width:7%;" rowspan="2"| TV season ! rowspan=2| Timeslot ([[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|ET]]) ! style="width:5%; background:#9cf;" rowspan="2"| Season<br>viewers ! style="width:5%; background:#9cf;" rowspan="2"| Season<br>ranking |- !| Date ! span style="width:6%; font-size:smaller; font-weight:bold; line-height:100%;"| Viewers<br>(in millions) !| Date ! span style="width:6%; font-size:smaller; font-weight:bold; line-height:100%;"| Viewers<br>(in millions) |- | rowspan=30 style="text-align:center"| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 1|1]]<ref name="ratings rat race">{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=January 20, 2011 |title=Ratings rat race |url=https://deadline.com/2011/01/ratings-rat-race-idol-down-but-still-dominates-live-to-dance-chase-crushed-98418/ |access-date=February 24, 2011 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref><ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010">{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |title=TV Ratings Wednesday: Simon's Final American Idol Down 18%; Lowest-Rated Idol Finale |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/05/27/tv-ratings-wednesday-american-idol-down-18/52523 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531052347/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/05/27/tv-ratings-wednesday-american-idol-down-18/52523 |archive-date=May 31, 2010 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.com}}</ref> | rowspan=2| June 11, 2002 | rowspan=2| 9.85 | Final Performances: September 3, 2002 | 18.69 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2001β02 United States network television schedule|2001β02]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 9:00 pm<br>''(performance)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 12.22 | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| N/A |- | Season Finale: September 4, 2002 | 23.02 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 9:30 pm<br>''(results)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 11.62 | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| N/A |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 2|2]]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010" /><ref>{{cite web |date=January 12, 2010 |title=Top 20 Most-Watched TV Programs in 2002β03 |url=http://blog.newsok.com/television/2010/01/12/top-20-most-watched-tv-programs-in-2002-03/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629135522/http://blog.newsok.com/television/2010/01/12/top-20-most-watched-tv-programs-in-2002-03/ |archive-date=June 29, 2012 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Blog.newsok.com}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 21, 2003 | rowspan=2| 26.50 | Final Performances: May 20, 2003 | 25.67 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center" | [[2002β03 United States network television schedule|2002β03]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00 pm<br>''(performance)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 21.03<ref name="s2average">{{cite web |title=Google Groups |url=https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.arts.tv/7oLAZAvK6wY |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 4 |- | Season Finale: May 21, 2003 | 38.06 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:30 pm<br>''(results)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 19.63<ref name=s2average/> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 7 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 3|3]]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Viewership numbers of primetime programs during the 2004 television season |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=060204_11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208132303/http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=060204_11 |archive-date=February 8, 2007}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 19, 2004 | rowspan=2| 28.96 | Final Performances: May 25, 2004 | 25.13 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2003β04 United States network television schedule|2003β04]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00 pm<br>''(performance)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 25.73<ref name="s3average">{{cite web |title=ABC Medianet |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=060204_11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208132303/http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=060204_11 |archive-date=February 8, 2007 |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1 |- | Season Finale: May 26, 2004 | 28.84 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:30 pm<br>''(results)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 24.31<ref name=s3average/> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 3 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 4|4]]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010" /><ref>{{cite web |date=June 1, 2005 |title=Viewership numbers of primetime programs during the 2005 television season |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=060105_05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310210208/http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=060105_05 |archive-date=March 10, 2007}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 18, 2005 | rowspan=2| 33.58 | Final Performances: May 24, 2005 | 28.05 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2004β05 United States network television schedule|2004β05]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00 pm<br>''(performance)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 27.32<ref name="s4average">{{cite web |title=Disney β ABC Press |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060105_05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421023509/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060105_05 |archive-date=April 21, 2012 |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1 |- | Season Finale: May 25, 2005 | 30.27 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00 pm<br>''(results)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 26.07<ref name=s4average/> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 3 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 5|5]]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010" /><ref>{{cite web |date=May 31, 2006 |title=Viewership numbers of primetime programs during the 2006 television season |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=053106_05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310210300/http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=053106_05 |archive-date=March 10, 2007}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 17, 2006 | rowspan=2| 35.53 | Final Performances: May 23, 2006 | 31.78 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2005β06 United States network television schedule|2005β06]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00 pm<br>''(performance)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 31.17<ref name="s5average">{{cite web |title=Disney β ABC Press |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053106_05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011060406/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053106_05 |archive-date=October 11, 2014 |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1 |- | Season Finale: May 24, 2006 | 36.38 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00 pm<br>''(results)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 30.16<ref name=s5average/> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 6|6]]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010" /><ref>{{cite web |date=May 25, 2007 |title=Ratings Wrapup: CBS and Fox Win, Again |url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-2006-07finalratings,0,6207523.story?coll=zap-tv-headlines |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522060119/http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-2006-07finalratings,0,6207523.story?coll=zap-tv-headlines |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=August 25, 2010 |publisher=Zap2it}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 16, 2007 | rowspan=2| 37.44 | Final Performances: May 22, 2007 | 25.33 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2006β07 United States network television schedule|2006β07]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00 pm<br>''(performance)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 30.11<ref name="s6average">{{cite web |title=Disney β ABC Press |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053007_08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323004317/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053007_08 |archive-date=March 23, 2012 |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2 |- | Season Finale: May 23, 2007 | 30.76 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00 pm<br>''(results)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 30.58<ref name=s6average/> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 7|7]]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |title=Nielsen Ratings: Weekly Top 20, David vs. David Finale Scores Big for FOX |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/05/28/nielsen-ratings-weekly-top-20-david-vs-david-finale-scores-big-for-fox/3939 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211151253/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/05/28/nielsen-ratings-weekly-top-20-david-vs-david-finale-scores-big-for-fox/3939 |archive-date=December 11, 2008 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=May 28, 2008 |title=Nine of the top 20 shows in 2007β2008 were reality; Idol's performance show takes #1 |url=http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/industry_news/2008_May_28_season_end_ratings |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401070254/http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/industry_news/2008_May_28_season_end_ratings |archive-date=April 1, 2010 |access-date=August 25, 2010 |publisher=Realityblurred.com}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 15, 2008 | rowspan=2| 33.48 | Final Performances: May 20, 2008 | 27.06 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2007β08 United States network television schedule|2007β08]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00 pm<br>''(performance)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 28.80<ref name="s7average">{{cite web |title=Disney β ABC Press |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052808_06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413172935/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052808_06 |archive-date=April 13, 2010 |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1 |- | Season Finale: May 21, 2008 | 31.66 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00 pm<br>''(results)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 27.81<ref name=s7average/> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 8|8]]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=May 27, 2009 |title=Another American Idol Finale Shocker: Not the Lowest Rated! |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/05/27/american-idol-two-and-a-half-men-and-dancing-lead-final-week-of-season/19462 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530143528/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/05/27/american-idol-two-and-a-half-men-and-dancing-lead-final-week-of-season/19462 |archive-date=May 30, 2009 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Gorman |first=Bill |date=May 28, 2009 |title=American Idol, Dancing With The Stars Top Average Viewership For 2008-9 Season |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/05/27/american-idol-dancing-with-the-stars-top-average-viewership-for-2008-9-season/19519 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601021439/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/05/27/american-idol-dancing-with-the-stars-top-average-viewership-for-2008-9-season/19519 |archive-date=June 1, 2009 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.com}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 13, 2009 | rowspan=2| 30.45 | Final Performances: May 19, 2009 | 23.82 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2008β09 United States network television schedule|2008β09]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00 pm<br>''(performance)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 26.25<ref name="s8average">{{cite web |title=Disney β ABC Press |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060209_05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619101214/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060209_05 |archive-date=June 19, 2009 |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2 |- | Season Finale: May 20, 2009 | 28.84 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00 pm<br>''(results)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 26.77<ref name=s8average/> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 9|9]]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref>{{cite web |title=TV Ratings Top 25: American Idol, Big Bang Theory, Two And A Half Men Top 18β49 Ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/02/tv-ratings-top-25-american-idol-big-bang-theory-two-and-a-half-men-top-18-49-ratings/52800 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605034457/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/02/tv-ratings-top-25-american-idol-big-bang-theory-two-and-a-half-men-top-18-49-ratings/52800 |archive-date=June 5, 2010 |access-date=August 25, 2010 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 16, 2010 |title=Final 2009β10 Broadcast Primetime Show Average Viewership |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-average-viewership/54336 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619131409/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-average-viewership/54336 |archive-date=June 19, 2010 |access-date=August 25, 2010 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.com}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 12, 2010 | rowspan=2| 29.95 | Final Performances: May 25, 2010 | 20.07 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2009β10 United States network television schedule|2009β10]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00 pm<br>''(performance)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 22.97<ref name="s9average">{{cite web |title=Final 2009β10 Broadcast Primetime Show Average Viewership |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-average-viewership/54336/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121165731/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-average-viewership/54336 |archive-date=November 21, 2010 |access-date=April 20, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1 |- | Season Finale: May 26, 2010 | 24.22 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00 pm<br>''(results)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 21.95<ref name=s9average/> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 10|10]]<ref name="TVbythenumber 01-25-2011">{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=January 25, 2011 |title=tvbythenumbers Jan 25, 2011 |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/01/25/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-jets-steelers-american-idol-hawaii-five-0-ncis-modern-family-top-week-18-viewing/80030 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128181723/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/01/25/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-jets-steelers-american-idol-hawaii-five-0-ncis-modern-family-top-week-18-viewing/80030 |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Zap2it}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=June 1, 2011 |title=TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: 'American Idol', 'Dancing With The Stars', 'Glee', 'Modern Family' Top Season's Final Week |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/01/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-american-idol-dancing-with-the-stars-glee-modern-family-top-seasons-final-week/94311/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604160130/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/01/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-american-idol-dancing-with-the-stars-glee-modern-family-top-seasons-final-week/94311/ |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=June 2, 2011 |website=TV by the Numbers}}</ref><ref name="deadline 2011">{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 27, 2011 |title=Full 2010β11 Season Series Rankers |url=https://deadline.com/2011/05/full-2010-11-season-series-rankers-135917/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604181311/http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/full-2010-11-season-series-rankers/ |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=May 27, 2011 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 19, 2011 | rowspan=2|26.23 | Final Performances: May 24, 2011 (Tues) | 20.57 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2010β11 United States network television schedule|2010β11]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00 pm<br>''(performance)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 25.97<ref name="s10average">{{cite web |title=2010β11 Season Broadcast Primetime Show Viewership Averages |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/01/2010-11-season-broadcast-primetime-show-viewership-averages/94407/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604160109/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/01/2010-11-season-broadcast-primetime-show-viewership-averages/94407/ |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=April 20, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1 |- | Season Finale: May 25, 2011 (Wed) | 29.29 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Thursday 8:00 pm<br>''(results)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 23.87<ref name=s10average/> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 11|11]]<ref name="week1" /><ref name="may2012">{{cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=May 30, 2012 |title=TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: 'American Idol' Tops Week 36 Viewing; 'Modern Family' is Number One Scripted Program |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/30/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-american-idol-tops-week-36-viewing-modern-family-is-number-one-scripted-program/136002/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605052932/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/30/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-american-idol-tops-week-36-viewing-modern-family-is-number-one-scripted-program/136002/ |archive-date=June 5, 2012 |access-date=May 31, 2012 |publisher=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref><ref name="deadline2012">{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 24, 2012 |title=Full 2011β2012 TV Season Series Rankings |url=https://deadline.com/2012/05/full-2011-2012-tv-season-series-rankings-277941/ |access-date=May 25, 2012}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 18, 2012 | rowspan=2| 21.93 | Final Performances: May 22, 2012 (Tues) | 14.85 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2011β12 United States network television schedule|2011β12]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00 pm<br>''(performance)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 19.81<ref name="s11average">{{cite web |title=Complete List Of 2011-12 Season TV Show Viewership: 'Sunday Night Football' Tops, Followed By 'American Idol,' 'NCIS' & 'Dancing With The Stars' - Ratings - TVbytheNumbers.zap2it.com |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/24/complete-list-of-2011-12-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-american-idol-ncis-dancing-with-the-stars/135785/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527223446/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/24/complete-list-of-2011-12-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-american-idol-ncis-dancing-with-the-stars/135785/ |archive-date=May 27, 2012 |access-date=April 20, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2 |- | Season Finale: May 23, 2012 (Wed) | 21.49 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Thursday 8:00 pm<br>''(results)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 18.33<ref name=s11average/> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 4 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 12|12]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=January 27, 2013 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Criminal Minds' Adjusted Up; 'Suburgatory' & 'The Neighbors' Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/01/17/wednesday-final-ratings-criminal-minds-adjusted-up-suburgatory-the-neighbors-adjusted-down/165633/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120005414/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/01/17/wednesday-final-ratings-criminal-minds-adjusted-up-suburgatory-the-neighbors-adjusted-down/165633/ |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |access-date=January 17, 2013 |publisher=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=May 21, 2013 |title=TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: 'The Big Bang Theory' Tops Week 34 Viewing Among Adults 18β49, 'NCIS' on Top With Total Viewers |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/21/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-the-big-bang-theory-tops-week-34-viewing-among-adults-18-49-ncis-on-top-with-total-viewers/183347/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607112735/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/21/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-the-big-bang-theory-tops-week-34-viewing-among-adults-18-49-ncis-on-top-with-total-viewers/183347/ |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2013 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=May 29, 2013 |title=Complete 2012β2013 TV Season Series Rankings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/29/complete-list-of-2012-13-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-ncis-the-big-bang-theory-ncis-los-angeles/184781/comment-page-3/#comments |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609094726/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/29/complete-list-of-2012-13-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-ncis-the-big-bang-theory-ncis-los-angeles/184781/comment-page-3/#comments |archive-date=June 9, 2013 |website=Zap2it}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 16, 2013 | rowspan=2| 17.93 | Final Performances: May 15, 2013 | 12.11 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2012β13 United States network television schedule|2012β13]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00 pm<br>''(performance)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 15.04<ref name="s12average">{{cite web |title=Complete List Of 2012-13 Season TV Show Viewership: 'Sunday Night Football' Tops, Followed By 'NCIS,' 'The Big Bang Theory' & 'NCIS: Los Angeles' - Ratings - TVbytheNumbers.zap2it.com |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/29/complete-list-of-2012-13-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-ncis-the-big-bang-theory-ncis-los-angeles/184781/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607112820/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/29/complete-list-of-2012-13-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-ncis-the-big-bang-theory-ncis-los-angeles/184781/ |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=April 20, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 7 |- | Season Finale: May 16, 2013 | 14.31 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Thursday 8:00 pm<br>''(results)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 14.65<ref name=s12average/> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 9 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 13|13]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=January 16, 2014 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol' Adjusted Up; 'Law and Order: SVU', 'The Tomorrow People' & 'Super Fun Night' Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/16/wednesday-final-ratings-american-idol-adjusted-up-law-and-order-svu-the-tomorrow-people-super-fun-night-adjusted-down/229786/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116224654/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/16/wednesday-final-ratings-american-idol-adjusted-up-law-and-order-svu-the-tomorrow-people-super-fun-night-adjusted-down/229786/ |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |access-date=January 16, 2014 |publisher=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=May 22, 2014 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Survivor', 'The Middle' & 'Modern Family' Adjusted Up; 'Survivor' Reunion Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/05/22/wednesday-final-ratings-survivor-the-middle-survivor-reunion-adjusted-down/266571/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523013058/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/05/22/wednesday-final-ratings-survivor-the-middle-survivor-reunion-adjusted-down/266571/ |archive-date=May 23, 2014 |website=TV by the Numbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=May 22, 2014 |title=Full 2013β2014 TV Season Series Rankings |url=https://deadline.com/2014/05/tv-season-series-rankings-2013-full-list-2-733762/ |access-date=May 23, 2014 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 15, 2014 | rowspan=2| 15.19 | Final Performances: May 20, 2014 (Tues) | 6.76 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2013β14 United States network television schedule|2013β14]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00 pm<br>''(performance)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 11.94<ref name="s13average">{{cite web |title=Primetime Ratings Total Audience 2013β2014 |url=http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Primetime-ratings-total-audience-2013-2014-table-updated__140523003932.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222418/http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Primetime-ratings-total-audience-2013-2014-table-updated__140523003932.jpg |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 17 |- | Season Finale: May 21, 2014 (Wed) | 10.53 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Thursday 8:00 pm<br>''(results)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 11.43<ref name=s13average/> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 22 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 14|14]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: No Adjustments Beyond Previously Released Increases for 'Empire' & 'American Idol' |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/01/09/wednesday-final-ratings-no-adjustments-beyond-previously-released-increases-for-empire-american-idol/347642/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109233854/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/01/09/wednesday-final-ratings-no-adjustments-beyond-previously-released-increases-for-empire-american-idol/347642/ |archive-date=January 9, 2015 |access-date=April 20, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tuesday Final Ratings: 'The Flash', 'NCIS', & 'American Idol' Adjusted Up; 'iZombie' Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/05/13/tuesday-final-ratings-the-flash-ncis-izombie-adjusted-down/403429/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516000415/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/05/13/tuesday-final-ratings-the-flash-ncis-izombie-adjusted-down/403429/ |archive-date=May 16, 2015 |access-date=May 14, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Law & Order: SVU', 'Survivor, 'The Middle' & 'American Idol' Adjusted Up; 'Supernatural', 'black-ish' & 'Nashville' Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/05/14/wednesday-final-ratings-law-supernatural-black-ish-nashville-adjusted-down/403989/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516011420/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/05/14/wednesday-final-ratings-law-supernatural-black-ish-nashville-adjusted-down/403989/ |archive-date=May 16, 2015 |access-date=May 15, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 7, 2015 | rowspan=2| 11.20 | Final Performances: May 12, 2015 (Tues) | 5.55 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2014β15 United States network television schedule|2014β15]] | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00 pm<br /> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 10.31<ref name="s14average">{{cite web |last=Lisa de Moraes |title=2014β15 Full TV Season Ratings: Rankings For All Shows β Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/2014-15-full-tv-season-ratings-shows-rankings-1201431167/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522054915/http://deadline.com/2015/05/2014-15-full-tv-season-ratings-shows-rankings-1201431167/ |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |website=Deadline}}</ref> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 41 |- | Season Finale: May 13, 2015 (Wed) | 8.03 | style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Thursday 8:00 pm<br>''(until March 12)'' | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 11.55<ref name=s14average/> | style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 28 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 15|15]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=January 7, 2016 |title=Wednesday final ratings: 'American Idol' and 'Modern Family' adjust up |work=TV By The Numbers |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/01/07/wednesday-final-ratings-jan-6-2016/ |url-status=dead |access-date=January 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107231810/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/01/07/wednesday-final-ratings-jan-6-2016/ |archive-date=January 7, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=April 7, 2016 |title=Wednesday final ratings: 'Empire' and 'Modern Family' adjust up, 'Nashville' adjusts down |work=TV By The Numbers |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/04/07/wednesday-final-ratings-april-6-2016/ |url-status=dead |access-date=April 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408082046/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/04/07/wednesday-final-ratings-april-6-2016/ |archive-date=April 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=April 8, 2016 |title=Thursday final ratings: 'Big Bang Theory' adjusts up, 'Odd Couple' and 'The 100' adjust down |work=TV By The Numbers |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/04/08/thursday-final-ratings-april-7-2016-american-idol-finale/ |url-status=dead |access-date=April 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411021250/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/04/08/thursday-final-ratings-april-7-2016-american-idol-finale/ |archive-date=April 11, 2016}}</ref> | rowspan=2| January 6, 2016 | rowspan=2| 10.96 | Final Performances: April 6, 2016 | 9.70 |rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2015β16 United States network television schedule|2015β16]] |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00 pm<br>''(until February 24)'' |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 11.52<ref name="s15average">{{cite web |last=Lisa de Moraes |date=May 26, 2016 |title=Full 2015β16 TV Season Series Rankings: 'Blindspot', 'Life In Pieces' & 'Quantico' Lead Newcomers |url=https://deadline.com/2016/05/tv-season-2015-2016-series-rankings-shows-full-list-1201763189/ |website=Deadline}}</ref> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 19 |- | Season Finale: April 7, 2016 | 13.30 |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Thursday 8:00 pm |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 11.13<ref name=s15average/> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 23 |- | rowspan=16 style="text-align:center"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 16|16]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=March 13, 2018 |title='Bob's Burgers' and 'Ninja Warrior' adjust up, 'Deception' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-march-11-2018/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313201337/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-march-11-2018/ |archive-date=March 13, 2018 |access-date=March 13, 2018 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]] |publisher=[[Tribune Media]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=May 22, 2018 |title='Bob's Burgers,' 'Family Guy' and 'Dateline' adjust down: Sunday final ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-may-20-2018/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522212828/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-may-20-2018/ |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |access-date=May 22, 2018 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=May 22, 2018 |title='Supergirl' and 'iZombie' adjust down: Monday final ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-may-21-2018/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523100724/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-may-21-2018/ |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |access-date=May 22, 2018 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref> | rowspan=2| March 11, 2018 | rowspan=2| 10.48 | Final Performances: May 20, 2018 | 7.47 |rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2017β18 United States network television schedule|2017β18]] |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00 pm<br> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 9.57<ref name="s16average">{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=June 11, 2018 |title=Final Live +7 viewer averages for 2017β18: 'Roseanne,' 'Big Bang Theory' surpass 'SNF' |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/final-live-7-viewer-averages-for-2017-18-roseanne-big-bang-theory-surpass-snf/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142325/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/final-live-7-viewer-averages-for-2017-18-roseanne-big-bang-theory-surpass-snf/ |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=June 11, 2018 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 31 |- | Season Finale: May 21, 2018 | 8.63 |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00 pm<br>''(until April 23)'' |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 9.51<ref name="s16average" /> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 32 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 17|17]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Alex |date=March 5, 2019 |title='60 Minutes,' 'The Simpsons' adjust down: Sunday final ratings |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-march-3-2019/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305212154/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-march-3-2019/ |archive-date=March 5, 2019 |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=TV by the Numbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Alex |date=May 21, 2019 |title='American Idol' adjusts up, 'America's Funniest Home Videos' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-may-19-2019/-tv-ratings-sunday-may-5-2019-1207626 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301051116/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-may-19-2019/-tv-ratings-sunday-may-5-2019-1207626 |archive-date=March 1, 2021 |access-date=May 21, 2019 |website=TV By the Nu7mbers}}</ref> | rowspan=2| March 3, 2019 | rowspan=2| 8.65 | rowspan=2| Final Performances/Season Finale: May 19, 2019 | rowspan=2| 8.74 |rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2018β19 United States network television schedule|2018β19]] |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00 pm |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 9.10<ref name="s17 avg">{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=June 10, 2019 |title=2018β19 TV Season: Live-Plus-7 Ratings for Every Broadcast Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/live-7-ratings-broadcast-tv-series-2018-19-1217293 |access-date=July 8, 2019 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]}}</ref> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 32 |- |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00 pm<br>''(until April 22)'' |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 8.00<ref name="s17 avg" /> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 42 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 18|18]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |author-link=Mitch Metcalf |date=February 19, 2020 |title=Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.16.2020 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-16-2020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219160842/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-16-2020.html |archive-date=February 19, 2020 |access-date=February 19, 2020 |website=[[Showbuzz Daily]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=May 19, 2020 |title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.17.2020 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-17-2020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519145204/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-17-2020.html |archive-date=May 19, 2020 |access-date=May 19, 2020 |website=Showbuzz Daily}}</ref> | rowspan=2| February 16, 2020 | rowspan=2| 8.07 | rowspan=2| Final Performances/Season Finale: May 17, 2020 | rowspan=2| 7.28 |rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2019β20 United States network television schedule|2019β20]] |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00 pm |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 8.34<ref name="variety may2020">{{cite web |last=Schneider |first=Michael |date=May 21, 2020 |title=100 Most-Watched TV Shows of 2019β20: Winners and Losers |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/most-popular-tv-shows-highest-rated-2019-2020-season-masked-singer-last-dance-1234612885/ |website=Variety}}</ref> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 32 |- |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00 pm<br>''(until {{abbr|March 23|Intended to end on April 6}})'' |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 8.54<ref name="variety may2020" /> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 30 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 19|19]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=February 17, 2021 |title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.14.2021 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-14-2021.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217152759/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-14-2021.html |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |access-date=February 17, 2021 |website=Showbuzz Daily}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bauder |first=David |date=May 25, 2021 |title=Triumph of the unhip: 'NCIS' tops TV, streaming rankings |url=https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-lakers-technology-entertainment-sports-nba-96fd259f28418539af05715b7590bbf1 |access-date=May 25, 2021 |publisher=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> | rowspan=2| February 14, 2021 | rowspan=2| 6.95 | rowspan=2| Final Performances/Season Finale: May 23, 2021 | rowspan=2| 6.50 |rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2020β21 United States network television schedule|2020β21]] |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00 pm |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 7.42<ref name="2020-21Ratings">{{cite magazine |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=June 8, 2021 |title=2020β21 TV Ratings: Complete 7-Day Ratings for Broadcast Network Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2020-21-tv-ratings-every-network-show-ranked-1234964854/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609002528/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2020-21-tv-ratings-every-network-show-ranked-1234964854/ |archive-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 25 |- |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00 pm<br>''(until April 19)'' |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 6.24<ref name="2020-21Ratings" /> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 39 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 20|20]]<ref>{{cite web |last=[[Mitch Metcalf]] |date=March 1, 2022 |title=Sunday 2.27.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals |url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-2-27-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |access-date=March 3, 2022 |website=[[Showbuzz Daily]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=[[Mitch Metcalf]] |date=May 24, 2022 |title=Sunday 5.22.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals |url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-5-22-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |access-date=May 24, 2022 |website=[[Showbuzz Daily]]}}</ref> | rowspan=2| February 27, 2022 | rowspan=2| 6.30 | rowspan=2| Final Performances/Season Finale: May 22, 2022 | rowspan=2| 6.49 |rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2021β22 United States network television schedule|2021β22]] |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00 pm |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 7.29<ref name="2021-22Ratings">{{cite magazine |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=June 8, 2022 |title=2021β22 TV Ratings: Final Seven-Day Numbers for Every Network Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2021-22-tv-ratings-every-network-series-ranked-1235161738/ |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=June 9, 2022}}</ref> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 25 |- |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00 pm<br>''(until May 2)'' |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 6.99<ref name="2021-22Ratings" /> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 28 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 21|21]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-2-19-2023-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=Sunday 2.19.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals|work=[[Showbuzz Daily]]|author=Mitch Salem|date=February 22, 2023|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-5-21-2023-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=Sunday 5.21.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals|work=[[Showbuzz Daily]]|author=Mitch Salem|date=May 23, 2023|access-date=July 24, 2023}}</ref> | rowspan=2| February 19, 2023 | rowspan=2| 5.27 | rowspan=2| Final Performances/Season Finale: May 21, 2023 | rowspan=2| 6.62 |rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2022β23 United States network television schedule|2022β23]] |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00 pm |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 6.92<ref name="2022-23Ratings">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tv-ratings-2022-23-every-primetime-network-show-ranked-1235508593/|title=TV Ratings 2022-23: Final Seven-Day Averages for Every Network Series|last=Porter|first=Rick|magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=June 7, 2023|access-date=July 24, 2023}}</ref> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 20 |- |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00 pm |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 6.06<ref name="2022-23Ratings" /> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 32 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 22|22]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/sunday-ratings-tracker-builds-in-total-viewers-from-equalizer-lead-in-for-cbs-tnt-and-tbs-win-key-demos-with-nba-all-star-game/|title=Sunday Ratings: ''Tracker'' Builds in Total Viewers Out of ''Equalizer'' Lead-In for CBS, TNT and TBS Win Key Demos with NBA All-Star Game|work=Programming Insider|author=Douglas Pucci|date=February 19, 2024|access-date=February 21, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/sunday-ratings-american-idol-on-abc-earns-season-highs-in-total-viewers-and-demos-with-22nd-finale/|title=Sunday Ratings: ''American Idol'' on ABC Earns Season-Highs in Total Viewers and Demos with 22nd Finale|work=Programming Insider|author=Douglas Pucci|date=May 21, 2024|access-date=May 21, 2024}}</ref> | rowspan=2| February 18, 2024 | rowspan=2| 4.62 | rowspan=2| Final Performances/Season Finale: May 19, 2024 | rowspan=2| 5.64 |rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2023β24 United States network television schedule|2023β24]] |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00 pm |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 5.83<ref name="2023-24Ratings">{{Cite web|last=Schneider|first=Michael|title=100 Most-Watched TV Series of 2023-24: This Season's Winners and Losers|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/most-popular-tv-shows-highest-rated-2023-2024-season-tracker-survivor-1236015844/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 28, 2024|access-date=May 28, 2024}}</ref> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 35 |- |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00 pm<br>''(until April 29)'' |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 5.28<ref name="2023-24Ratings" /> |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 39 |- | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[American Idol season 23|23]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/sunday-ratings-american-idol-on-abc-with-23rd-season-sneak-preview-rises-to-3-year-high-among-adults-18-49-in-post-oscars-slot/|title=Sunday Ratings: ''American Idol'' on ABC, with 23rd Season Sneak Preview, Rises to 3-Year High Among Adults 18-49 in Post-Oscars Slot|work=Programming Insider|first=Douglas|last=Pucci|date=March 4, 2025|access-date=March 4, 2025}}</ref><ref name="23.19">{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/sunday-ratings-american-idol-on-abc-draws-2-year-high-with-23rd-season-finale/|title=Sunday Ratings: βAmerican Idolβ on ABC Draws 2-Year High with 23rd Season Finale|work=Programming Insider|first=Douglas|last=Pucci|date=May 22, 2025|access-date=May 22, 2025}}</ref> | rowspan=2| March 2, 2025 | rowspan=2| 5.91 | rowspan=2| Final Performances/Season Finale: May 18, 2025 | rowspan=2| 6.51 |rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[2024β25 United States network television schedule|2024β25]] |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00 pm |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| |- |style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00 pm |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| |style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| |} ''American Idol'' premiered in June 2002 and became the surprise summer hit show of 2002. The first show drew 9.9 million viewers, giving Fox the best viewing figure for the 8.30 pm spot in over a year.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 14, 2002 |title=US Pop Idol proves ratings hit |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2044410.stm |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> The audience steadily grew, and by finale night, the audience had averaged 23 million, with more than 40 million watching some part of that show.<ref name="NY Times β September 6, 2002">{{cite news |last1=Bill Carter |last2=Stuart Elliott |date=September 6, 2002 |title=Success of 'American Idol' To Spawn Many Copycats |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/06/business/the-media-business-advertising-success-of-american-idol-to-spawn-many-copycats.html}}</ref> That episode was placed third amongst all age groups, but more importantly it led in the [[key demographic|18β49 demographic]], the age group most valued by advertisers.<ref name="Watching TV: six decades of American television" /> The growth continued into the next season, starting with a season premiere of 26.5 million.<ref name="ratings rat race" /> The season attracted an average of 21.7 million viewers, and was placed second overall amongst the 18β49 age group.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 22, 2003 |title=Ruben Studdard becomes second 'American Idol' winner by razor-thin margin |url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/ruben-studdard-becomes-second-american-idol-winner-by-razor-thin-margin-1210.php |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Reality TV World}}</ref> The finale night when Ruben Studdard won over Clay Aiken was also the highest-rated ever ''American Idol'' episode at 38.1 million for the final hour.<ref name="realitytvworld_5/24/2007"/> By the third season, the show had become the top show in the 18β49 demographic<ref name="realitytvworld_5/24/2007">{{cite web |title=American Idol's sixth season finale averages over 30 million viewers |url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/american-idol-sixth-season-finale-averages-over-30-million-viewers-5225.php |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Reality TV World}}</ref> a position it has held for all subsequent years up to and including the tenth season, and its competition stages ranked first in the nationwide overall ratings. By the fourth season, ''American Idol'' had become the most-watched series amongst all viewers on American TV for the first time, with an average viewership of 26.8 million.<ref name="MSNBC January 10, 2007">{{cite web |title='American Idol' returns with big plans, deals |date=January 10, 2007 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16563051 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924125410/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/16563051 |archive-date=September 24, 2012 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=[[NBC News]]}}</ref> The show reached its peak in the fifth season with numbers averaging 30.6 million per episode, and this season remains the highest-rated of the series.<ref name="MSNBC January 10, 2007" /> The sixth season premiered with the series' highest-rated debut episode and a few of its succeeding episodes rank among the most-watched episodes of ''American Idol.'' During this time, many television executives begun to regard the show as a programming force unlike any seen before,<ref name="carter" /> as its consistent dominance of up to two hours two or three nights a week exceeded the 30- or 60-minute reach of previous hits such as NBC's ''[[The Cosby Show]]''. The show was dubbed "the [[Graveyard slot#Opposite dominant television series|Death Star]]",<ref name="death star" /> and competing networks often rearranged their schedules in order to minimize losses.<ref name="carter" /> However, the sixth season also showed a steady decline in viewership over the course of the season. The season finale saw a drop in ratings of 16% from the previous year. The sixth season was the first season wherein the average results show rated higher than the competition stages (unlike in the previous seasons), and became the second-highest-rated of the series after the preceding season.<ref name="realitytvworld_5/24/2007"/> The loss of viewers continued into the seventh season. The premiere was down 11% among total viewers,<ref name="ratings rat race" /> and the results show in which Kristy Lee Cook was eliminated delivered its lowest-rated Wednesday show among the 18β34 demo since the first season in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |last=Collins |first=Scott |date=April 21, 2008 |title=Ominous signs for American Idol |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-21-et-channel21-story.html |access-date=August 25, 2010 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> However, the ratings rebounded for the seventh-season finale with the excitement over the battle of the Davids, and improved over the sixth season as the series' third most watched finale. The strong finish of season seven also helped Fox become the most watched TV network in the country for the first time since its inception, a first ever in [[American television]] history for a non-[[Big Three television networks|Big Three]] major broadcast network.<ref name="Fox wins TV season">{{cite web |last=Bouder |first=David |date=May 23, 2008 |title=Fox wins TV season on strong 'Idol' finish |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2008-05-22-2653349510_x.htm |access-date=October 26, 2011 |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> Overall ratings for the season were down 10% from the sixth season,<ref>{{cite web |last=Wyatt |first=Edward |date=May 24, 2008 |title="Idol" tries to keep viewers guessing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/24/arts/television/24idol.html |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> which is in line with the fall in viewership across all networks due in part to the [[2007β2008 Writers Guild of America strike]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Krukowski |first=Andrew |title=May Sweeps Sees Record Low Ratings |url=http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/05/may_sweeps_sees_record_low_rat.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025215356/http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/05/may_sweeps_sees_record_low_rat.php |archive-date=October 25, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=TVWeek}}</ref> The declining trend however continued into the eighth season, as total viewers numbers fell by 5β10% for early episodes compared to the seventh season,<ref>{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=January 15, 2009 |title=Updated: ''Idol'' strong, retains almost 100% of night one audience |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/15/idol-watch-night-two-early-nielsen-ratings/10886 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117005912/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/15/idol-watch-night-two-early-nielsen-ratings/10886 |archive-date=January 17, 2009 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref> and by 9% for the finale.<ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010" /> In the ninth season, ''Idol''{{'s}} six-year extended streak of perfection in the ratings was broken, when NBC's coverage of the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] on February 17 beat ''Idol'' in the same time slot with 30.1 million viewers over ''Idol'''s 18.4 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=de Moraes |first=Lisa |date=February 19, 2010 |title=NBC's Winter Olympic coverage breaks 'American Idol's ratings streak |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/18/AR2010021805281.html |access-date=March 16, 2010}}</ref> Nevertheless, ''American Idol'' overall finished its ninth season as the most watched TV series for the sixth year running, breaking the previous record of five consecutive seasons achieved by CBS' ''[[All in the Family]]'' and NBC's ''[[The Cosby Show]]''.<ref name="'Idol' is TV's No. 1 show">{{cite web |last=Herbert |first=Steven |date=June 2, 2010 |title=Even in decline, 'Idol' is TV's No. 1 show |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/million-251574-viewers-averaging.html |access-date=August 25, 2010 |website=[[The Orange County Register]]}}</ref> In the tenth season, the total viewer numbers for the first week of shows fell 12β13%, and by up to 23% in the 18β49 demo compared to the ninth season.<ref name="TVbythenumber 01-25-2011" /> Later episodes, however, retained viewers better, and the season ended on a high with a significant increase in viewership for the finale β up 12% for the adults 18β49 demographic and a 21% increase in total viewers from the ninth-season finale.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gorman |first=Bill |date=May 26, 2011 |title=Updated TV Ratings Wednesday: 'American Idol' Finale Up, Buries Competition; ABC's Finales Down vs. Last Year |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/05/26/tv-ratings-wednesday-american-idol-finale-up-buries-competition-abcs-finales-down-vs-last-year/93940/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528114120/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/05/26/tv-ratings-wednesday-american-idol-finale-up-buries-competition-abcs-finales-down-vs-last-year/93940/ |archive-date=May 28, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |publisher=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref> While the overall viewer number has increased this season, its viewer demographics have continued to age year on year β the median age this season was 47.2 compared to a median age of 32.1 in its first season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Bill |last2=Vega |first2=Tanzina |author-link=Tanzina Vega |date=May 14, 2011 |title=In Shift, Ads Try to Entice Over-55 Set |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/business/media/14viewers.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The demographics also became "whiter" over time and less diverse.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 8, 2018 |title=The Masked Scheduler on 'American Idol,' part 3: How research and scheduling shaped the show |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/the-masked-scheduler-on-american-idol-part-3-how-research-and-scheduling-shaped-the-show/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311061031/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/the-masked-scheduler-on-american-idol-part-3-how-research-and-scheduling-shaped-the-show/ |archive-date=March 11, 2018 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref> Nevertheless, in the 2010β11 television season, Fox maintained its lead on over other networks with its seventh consecutive season of victory overall in the 18β49 demographic ratings in the United States. The eleventh season, however, suffered a steep drop in ratings, a drop attributed by some to the arrival of new shows such as ''[[The Voice (American TV series)|The Voice]]'' and ''[[The X Factor (American TV series)|The X Factor]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stelter |first=Brian |date=May 22, 2012 |title='Idol' Grapples With Its Own Competition |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/arts/television/american-idol-ponders-a-ratings-dip-on-fox.html?_r=1 |access-date=May 24, 2012 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The ratings for the first two episodes of the eleventh season fell 16β21% in overall viewer numbers and 24β27% in the 18/49 demo,<ref name="week1">{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=January 24, 2012 |title=TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: Giants-49ers, 'American Idol,' 'Big Bang Theory' Top Week 18 |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/01/24/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-giants-49ers-american-idol-big-bang-theory-top-week-18/117360/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126162514/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/01/24/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-giants-49ers-american-idol-big-bang-theory-top-week-18/117360/ |archive-date=January 26, 2012 |access-date=January 25, 2012 |publisher=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref> while the season finale fell 27% in total viewer number and 30% in the 18β49 demo.<ref name="may2012" /> The average viewership for the season fell below 20 million viewers the first time since 2003, a drop of 23% in total viewers and 30% in the 18/49 demo. For the first time in eight years, ''American Idol'' lost the leading position in both the total viewers number and the 18/49 demo, coming in second to ''[[NBC Sunday Night Football]]'', although the strengths of ''Idol'' in its second year in the Wednesday-Thursday primetime slots helped Fox achieve the longest period of 18β49 demographic victory in the Nielsen ratings, standing at 8 straight years from 2004 to 2012.<ref name="deadline2012" /> The loss of viewers continued into the twelfth season, which saw the show hitting a number of series low in the 18β49 demo.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=March 24, 2013 |title='American Idol' drops again: How low will the ratings go? |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/03/22/american-idol-how-low-will-the-ratings-go/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> The finale had 7.2 million fewer viewers than the previous season, and saw a drop of 44% in the 18β49 demo.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kissell |first=Rick |date=May 17, 2013 |title='American Idol' Finale Down 44% From Last Year |url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/news/american-idol-finale-tumbles-on-a-very-crowded-thursday-1200482948/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> The season viewers averaged at 13.3 million, a drop of 24% from the previous season.<ref>{{cite news |last=McKay |first=Hollie |date=May 21, 2013 |title='American Idol' at a crossroads: Next season to bring fresh judges, many changes |work=[[Fox News]] |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/american-idol-at-a-crossroads-next-season-to-bring-fresh-judges-many-changes/}}</ref> The thirteenth season suffered a huge decline in the 18β49 demographic, a drop of 28% from the twelfth season, and ''American Idol'' lost its Top 10 position in the Nielsen ratings by the end of the 2013β14 television season for the first time since its entry to the rankings in 2003 as a result, and never regained its Top 10 position by the series' end in 2016.<ref name="judges_season_14">{{cite magazine |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=June 24, 2014 |title=All the 'American Idol' judges will return for season 14 |url=https://ew.com/article/2014/06/23/american-idol-judges-season-14/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> The continuing decline influenced further changes for the fourteenth season, including the loss of [[Coca-Cola]] as the show's major sponsor, and a decision to only broadcast one, two-hour show per week during the top 12 rounds (with results from the previous week integrated into the performance show, rather than having a separate results show).<ref name="variety-idolsing">{{cite web |date=December 17, 2014 |title=Fox Faces Challenge to Make 'American Idol' Sing |url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/features/fox-faces-challenge-to-rejuvenate-american-idol-1201379994/ |access-date=January 7, 2015 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref name="deadline-idolcancelled">{{cite web |date=May 11, 2015 |title='American Idol' Renewed For Final Season |url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/american-idol-renewed-final-season-15-1201424278/ |access-date=May 11, 2015 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref name="bosglobe-idol2015">{{cite web |title=In season 14, 'American Idol' hoping to bounce back |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/television/2015/01/05/american-idol-the-search-for-next-pop-star-and-its-growing-pains/QmQXmq0nNqZw7RJfp9K6BI/story.html |access-date=January 7, 2015 |website=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref> On May 11, 2015, prior to the fourteenth-season finale, Fox announced that the fifteenth season of ''American Idol'' would be its last.<ref name="Idol Cancellation (May 2015)" /> Despite these changes, the show's ratings would decline more sharply. The fourteenth-season finale was the lowest-rated finale ever, with an average of only 8.03 million viewers watching the finale. The show's ratings, however, rebounded in its final season and ended its run in 2016 as Fox's first-ever program to conclude its run without dropping from the Nielsen Top 30 most-watched television shows in each of its seasons. For the revived series on ABC, the ratings were lower but remained stable compared to previous seasons on Fox. The finale of the seventeenth season was slightly more watched than the sixteenth.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ho |first=Rodney |date=May 23, 2019 |title='American Idol' notes: 'Idol' season finale ratings, Jennifer Hudson 'Jeffersons' theme, Adam Lambert |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/radiotvtalk/american-idol-notes-idol-season-finale-ratings-jennifer-hudson-jeffersons-theme-adam-lambert/zZ0UZ8B64nUqKHKndYCJhN/ |website=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]}}</ref> ===Critical reception=== Early reviews were mixed in their assessment. Ken Tucker of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' considered that "As TV, ''American Idol'' is crazily entertaining; as music, it's dust-mote inconsequential".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |date=July 4, 2002 |title=American Idol: Read EW's original review |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/07/04/american-idol-2/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> Others, however, thought that "the most striking aspect of the series was the genuine talent it revealed".<ref name="Watching TV: six decades of American television" /> It was also described as a "sadistic musical bake-off",<ref>{{cite web |last=Carina Chocano |date=September 4, 2002 |title=How to make an "American Idol" |url=http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/diary/2002/09/04/american_idol |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908193257/http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/diary/2002/09/04/american_idol |archive-date=September 8, 2012 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |website=Salon.com}}</ref> and "a romp in humiliation".<ref>{{cite web |last=Dan Jewel |date=June 14, 2002 |title='American Idol,' so needlessly cruel |url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/jun02/jun10/5_fri/news3friday.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091103205541/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/jun02/jun10/5_fri/news3friday.html |archive-date=November 3, 2009 |access-date=October 21, 2011 |website=Medialife}}</ref> Other aspects of the show have attracted criticisms. The product placement in the show in particular was noted,<ref>{{cite news |last=Gallo |first=Phil |date=August 19, 2002 |title=American Idol: The Search for a Superstar |work=Variety |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117918490.html?categoryid=32&cs=1 |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> and some critics were harsh about what they perceived as its blatant commercial calculations β Karla Peterson of ''[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]'' charged that ''American Idol'' is "a conniving multimedia monster" that has "absorbed the sin of our debauched culture and spit them out in a lump of reconstituted evil".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=RlRVNikT06YC&q=convergence+culture Convergence culture: where old and new media collide] Buying into American Idol by Henry Jenkins</ref> The decision to send the first season winner to sing the national anthem at the Lincoln Memorial on the first anniversary of the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2002 was also poorly received by many. [[Lisa de Moraes]] of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' noted sarcastically that "[[The terrorists have won]]" and, with a sideswipe at the show's commercialism and voting process, that the decision as to who "gets to turn this important site into just another cog in the 'Great ''American Idol'' Marketing Mandala' is in the hands of the millions of girls who have made ''American Idol'' a hit. Them and a handful of phone-redialer geeks who have been clocking up to 10,000 calls each week for their contestant of choice (but who, according to Fox, are in absolutely no way skewing the outcome)."<ref name="lisa de moraes">{{cite news |date=September 4, 2002 |title=September 11: 'American Idol' Seizes the Day |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A34942-2002Sep3 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821115103/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A34942-2002Sep3/ |archive-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref> Some of the later writers about the show were more positive, Michael Slezak, again of ''Entertainment Weekly'', thought that "for all its bloated, synthetic, product-shilling, money-making trappings, ''Idol'' provides a once-a-year chance for the average American to combat the evils of today's music business."<ref>{{cite news |last=Slezak |first=Michael |date=May 14, 2010 |title=Worshiping at the 'Idol' Church |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/fashion/16Idol.html}}</ref> Singer [[Sheryl Crow]], who was later to act as a mentor on the show, however took the view that the show "undermines art in every way and promotes commercialism".<ref>{{cite web |date=March 14, 2007 |title=Sheryl Crow Doesn't get American Idol |url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/american-idol/sheryl-crow-doesnt-get-america-4988.aspx |access-date=August 6, 2011 |publisher=Buddytv.com}}</ref> Pop music critic [[Ann Powers]] nevertheless suggested that Idol has "reshaped the American songbook", "led us toward a new way of viewing ourselves in relationship to mainstream popular culture", and connects "the classic Hollywood dream to the multicentered popular culture of the future."<ref>{{cite web |last=Ann Powers |date=May 23, 2012 |title=The End Of 'Idol': There Are No More Songs Left To Be Sung |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2012/05/23/153316590/the-end-of-idol-there-are-no-more-songs-left-to-be-sung |access-date=May 25, 2012 |publisher=NPR}}</ref> Others focused on the personalities in the show; Ramin Setoodeh of ''[[Newsweek]]'' accused judge Simon Cowell's cruel critiques in the show of helping to establish in the wider world a culture of meanness, that "Simon Cowell has dragged the rest of us in the mud with him."<ref>{{cite web |last=Ramin Setoodeh |date=May 24, 2010 |title=It's a Cruel, Cruel World |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2010/05/24/it-s-a-cruel-cruel-world.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120012437/http://www.newsweek.com/2010/05/24/it-s-a-cruel-cruel-world.html |archive-date=January 20, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |website=Newsweek}}</ref> Some such as singer [[John Mayer]] disparaged the contestants, suggesting that those who appeared on ''Idol'' are not real artists with self-respect.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |date=April 1, 2003 |title=John Mayer disses ''American Idol'' |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/04/01/john-mayer-disses-american-idol/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> Some in the entertainment industry were critical of the star-making aspect of the show. [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]], a mentor on the show, bemoaning the loss of the "true art form of music", thought that shows like ''American Idol'' made it seem "so easy that everyone can do it, and that it can happen overnight", and that "television is a lie".<ref>{{cite news |last=Angus Batey |date=April 29, 2010 |title=Usher: 'The fans want my soul' |work=The Guardian |location=UK |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/apr/29/usher-raymond-v-raymond |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> Musician [[Michael Feinstein]], while acknowledging that the show had uncovered promising performers, said that ''American Idol'' "isn't really about music. It's about all the bad aspects of the music business β the arrogance of commerce, this sense of 'I know what will make this person a star; artists themselves don't know.' "<ref>{{cite news |last=Elysa Gardner |date=August 15, 2005 |title=What price 'Idol' fame? |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-08-15-idol-fame_x.htm |access-date=September 21, 2011}}</ref> That ''American Idol'' is seen to be a fast track to success for its contestants has been a cause of resentment for some in the industry. [[LeAnn Rimes]], commenting on Carrie Underwood winning Best Female Artist in Country Music Awards over [[Faith Hill]] in 2006, said that "Carrie has not paid her dues long enough to fully deserve that award".<ref>{{cite web |date=November 14, 2006 |title=LeAnn Rimes Says Carrie Underwood 'Has Not Paid Her Dues' To Deserve Country Music Award |url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/11/14/leann_rimes_says_carrie_underwood_has_no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125194923/http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/11/14/leann_rimes_says_carrie_underwood_has_no |archive-date=November 25, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Starpulse.com}}</ref> It is a common theme that has been echoed by many others. [[Elton John]], who had appeared as a mentor in the show but turned down an offer to be a judge on ''American Idol'', commenting on talent shows in general, said that "there have been some good acts but the only way to sustain a career is to pay your dues in small clubs".<ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Martin |date=October 19, 2010 |title=Sir Elton John claims today's music all sounds the same |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8071167/Sir-Elton-John-claims-todays-music-all-sounds-the-same.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311050104/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8071167/Sir-Elton-John-claims-todays-music-all-sounds-the-same.html |archive-date=March 11, 2011}}</ref> ''American Idol'' revolutionized American pop culture and the pop idol process and has provided an opportunity for many to bypass the small club scene and allow a much larger audience to participate in and select the next potential chart topping performer.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Centellas |first=Miguel |date=January 2010 |title=Pop Culture in the Classroom: American Idol, Karl Marx, and Alexis de Tocqueville |url=https://www.academia.edu/9552295 |journal=PS: Political Science & Politics |language=en |volume=43 |issue=3 |pages=561β565 |doi=10.1017/S1049096510000818 |s2cid=147269124|doi-access=free | issn=1049-0965}}</ref> The success of the show's alumni, however, has led to a more positive assessment of the show, and the show was described as having "proven it has a valid way to pick talent and a proven way to sell records".<ref>{{cite news |date=January 11, 2007 |title='American Idol's' music cred growing |publisher=MSNBC |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16580946 |url-status=live |access-date=February 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822050723/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/16580946/ns/today-entertainment/t/american-idols-music-cred-growing/ |archive-date=August 22, 2011}}</ref> While the industry is divided on the show success, its impact is felt particularly strongly in the country music format.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Phyllis Stark |date=May 14, 2015 |title='American Idol' and Its Deep Impact On The Country Format |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6568265/american-idol-and-its-deep-impact-on-the-country-format |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> According to a [[Country Music Television|CMT]] exec, reflecting on the success of Idol alumni in the country genre, "if you want to try and get famous fast by going to a cattle call audition on TV, Idol reasonably remains the first choice for anyone", and that country music and Idol "go together well".<ref>{{cite news |last=Sophie A. Schillaci, Michele Amabile Angermiller |date=May 24, 2012 |title=CMT Execs on Why 'American Idol' Rules Country and How the Industry is 'Divided' on Reality Show Success |work=Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/american-idol-cmt-voice-carrie-underwood-329282 |access-date=May 25, 2012}}</ref> ''American Idol'' was nominated for the Emmy's [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program|Outstanding Reality Competition Program]] for nine years but never won.<ref>{{cite news |last=Appelo |first=Tim |date=May 26, 2011 |title=Why 'American Idol' Gets Snubbed by the Emmys (Analysis) |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/why-american-idol-gets-snubbed-192702 |access-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref> Director Bruce Gower won a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for [[61st Primetime Emmy Awards#Directing|Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series]] in 2009, and the show won a [[Creative Arts Emmy Award|Creative Arts Emmys]] each in 2007 and 2008, three in 2009, and two in 2011, as well as a [[Emmy Award#Other Emmys|Governor's Award]] in 2007 for its Idol Gives Back edition. It won the [[People's Choice Award]], which honors the popular culture of the previous year as voted by the public, for favorite competition/reality show in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=People's Choice Awards 2011 Nominees |url=http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/index.jsp?year=2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715063438/http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/index.jsp?year=2011 |archive-date=July 15, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |publisher=PeoplesChoice.com}}</ref> It won the first [[Critics' Choice Television Award]] in 2011 for Best Reality Competition.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 20, 2011 |title=Critics Choice TV Awards: 'American Idol,' Jim Parsons, Tina Fey Win |work=Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/critics-choice-tv-awards-american-203384 |access-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref> In 2013, [[TV Guide]] ranked the series No. 48 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time.<ref>{{cite web |title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/ |website=TV Guide}}</ref> ===Geographical, ethnic, and gender bias=== Throughout the series, twelve of the seventeen ''Idol'' winners, including its first five, had come from the Southern United States.<ref name="MSNBC10">{{cite news |last=Kevin Downey |date=January 11, 2010 |title=Year after year, 'Idol' has a Southern accent |publisher=Today.com |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/year-after-year-idol-has-southern-accent-wbna34611375 |access-date=April 15, 2010}}</ref> A large number of other finalists during the series' run have also hailed from the American South, including Clay Aiken, Kellie Pickler, and Chris Daughtry,<ref name="MSNBC10" /> who are all from North Carolina. In 2012, an analysis of the 131 contestants who have appeared in the finals of all seasons of the show up to that point found that 48% have some connection to the Southern United States.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rodney Ho |date=April 23, 2012 |title=Ryan Seacrest signs on to continue as 'Idol' host; most of the top 6 have Southern ties |url=http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2012/04/23/ryan-seacrest-signs-on-to-continue-as-idol-host-most-of-the-top-6-have-southern-ties/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426235703/http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2012/04/23/ryan-seacrest-signs-on-to-continue-as-idol-host-most-of-the-top-6-have-southern-ties/ |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |access-date=April 24, 2012 |website=blogs.ajc.com |publisher=Cox Newspapers}}</ref> The show itself was popular in the Southern United States, with households in the Southeastern United States 10% more likely to watch ''American Idol'' during the eighth season in 2009, and those in the East Central region, such as [[Kentucky]], were 16 percent more likely to tune into the series.<ref name="MSNBC10" /> Data from [[Nielsen SoundScan]], a music-sales tracking service, showed that of the 47 million CDs sold by ''Idol'' contestants through January 2010, 85 percent were by contestants with ties to the American South.<ref name="MSNBC10" /> Theories given for the success of Southerners on ''Idol'' have been: more versatility with musical genres, as the Southern U.S. is home to several music genre scenes; not having as many opportunities to break into the pop music business; text-voting due to the South having the highest percentage of cell-phone only households; and the strong heritage of music and singing, which is notable in the [[Bible Belt]], where it is in church that many people get their start in public singing.<ref name="MSNBC10" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Neely Tucker |date=April 18, 2006 |title=Who Put The Y'all In 'Idol'? |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/17/AR2006041701758.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Harry J Enten |date=May 25, 2012 |title=American Idol: why do southerners always seem to win? |work=Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/may/25/american-idol-winner-south}}</ref> Others also suggest that the Southern character of these contestants appeal to the South, as well as local pride.<ref name="MSNBC04">{{cite news |date=May 26, 2004 |title=Rise of the South on 'American Idol' |publisher=Today.com |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.today.com/id/5053569 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105233353/http://www.today.com/id/5053569 |archive-date=November 5, 2013}}</ref> According to fifth season winner Taylor Hicks, who is from the state of [[Alabama]], "People in the South have a lot of pride ... So, they're adamant about supporting the contestants who do well from their state or region."<ref name="MSNBC10" /> For five consecutive seasons, starting in the seventh season, the title was given to a white male who plays the guitar β a trend that ''Idol'' pundits call the "White guy with guitar" or "WGWG" factor.<ref name="Expert opinion" /> Just hours before the eleventh-season finale, where Phillip Phillips was named the winner, [[Richard Rushfield]], author of the book ''American Idol: The Untold Story'', said, "You have this alliance between young girls and grandmas and they see it, not necessarily as a contest to create a pop star competing on the contemporary radio, but as .... who's the nicest guy in a popularity contest", he says, "And that has led to this dynasty of four, and possibly now five, consecutive, affable, very nice, good-looking white boys."<ref name="Expert opinion">{{cite news |date=May 23, 2012 |title="American Idol" Expert Says Jessica Sanchez Can't Win |work=ABC |agency=ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/05/american-idol-expert-says-jessica-sanchez-cant-win/ |access-date=May 23, 2012}}</ref> ===Start order bias=== Some fans call the final performance of the night the "pimp spot" because it usually receives a big boost in votes, due to the [[serial-position effect|recency effect]]. By performing first, a performer may benefit from the [[serial-position effect|primacy effect]], but any other early performance may be stifled. The second performance spot is sometimes called the "un-pimp spot" because it is the least beneficial.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kubicek|first=John|url=https://www.buddytv.com/the-un-pimp-spot-why-performance-order-matters-on-american-idol/|title=The Un-Pimp Spot: Why Performance Order Matters on 'American Idol'|work=[[BuddyTV]]|date=March 5, 2010|access-date=August 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327004559/https://www.buddytv.com/the-un-pimp-spot-why-performance-order-matters-on-american-idol/|archive-date=March 27, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
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