'American Idol' finale matches last year

The "American Idol" seventh season finale Wednesday night managed to essentially match last year's performance, with the coronation of David Cook watched by an estimated 31.7 million viewers.

The finale was up slightly among total viewers compared with last season, but down a notch among the adults 18-49 demographic.

Last year, 30.8 million viewers tuned in to see Jordin Sparks win Fox's singing competition. Wednesday's "Idol" total, by comparison, will represent the show's third-largest audience ever.

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In the demo, "Idol" registered an 11.4 preliminary rating, according to Fox's time zone-adjusted fast nationals. That's down 1% from last year -- the lowest-rated "Idol" finale since the show's debut season in 2002. The rating is also down sharply –- 20% -- from the show's 2006 finale.

Because of the nature of measuring live viewing audiences, the total viewers or demo rating could change Thursday afternoon, but time zone-adjusted nationals tend to hold fairly steady.

Even if the demo rating holds as the lowest in years, the finale is good news for Fox. The show has averaged a 10% decline this season, so the finale numbers represent some improvement after weeks of record lows.

As for the show itself, Salon raved "America finally gets it right." USA Today notes that some fans are irked by the singers using teleprompters as if "Idol" is barroom karaoke. The Los Angeles Times has notes from the show's postfinale press conference. The Austin American-Statesman says David Archuleta looked relieved to have lost.

Nothing aired on the other broadcast networks came close to "Idol," with competitors opting for repeats in some time periods. CBS' "Criminal Minds" (13 million, 3.3/8) was the second highest-rated show of the night.

Comments

[CookieLover]

I'm SO HAPPY David Cook won. Simon was wrong wrong wrong again!

[Peter Warren II]

American Idol, OJ jailed, , R. Kelly trial, Paris Hilton, Brittany, Whoopi and the View, all distractions. While mainstream media creates illusions, the gov't steps on our throats by opening our mail, suspending habeas corpus, stealing private lands, banning books like "America Deceived" from Amazon, conducting warrantless wiretaps and starting wars for a foriegn gov't.
Impeach them all and end this madness.
Final link (until Google Books bends to pressure and drops the title):
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-38523-0

[Tom]

Simon was not wrong at all. Rather, Simon was brilliant. He managed to engineer a win for the person he wanted...very clever guy Simon is. This is precisely the result Simon wanted and what AI in general hoped for.

[Whatever]

How is adding nearly one million viewers managing "to essentially match last year's performance."?

[Patrick Rodgers]

Simon had it right, it was a blow out performance for David Archuleta. Between the two finalists, there is absolutely no doubt who is the the most talented musician. Idol has turned into a popularity contest, rather than a one based on talent and that is unfortunate. Only time will tell who will be the most successful of the two Davids, but my money is on Archuleta..

[Tom]

If FOX wanted the voting to be fair, they would set it up so that only vote per phone number would be accepted. Many people voted 300-1000 times, which obviously impacted the results. If everyone had only one vote, then we would know who the true rightful American Idol is...but the way it is, we will really never know and I seriously doubt FOX would ever think of making it one vote only. In the current setup, Simon, Paula and Randy can build up one person (DA), tear down the other person (DC), and they know that would cause DA fans to feel confident, while the DC fans would be angry and scared, inciting them to vote even more. Simon is a very clever guy and few people know how well he played them.

[SL]

why doesn't AI consider for next season not having any judges involved after once the finalist have been chosen. That takes away any judgement swaying the publics choice at all.

[Dan]

Tom, I think it's okay that viewers get to vote as often as they like. That is an indication of how strongly they feel about the artist they are voting for, which may later translate into how much product they will buy from that artist.

I wondered how the 4 hour voting window affected the outcome. DA seems to appeal to a younger audience. Maybe they had to get to bed early.

[matt]

no. anyone who thinks archuleta is a better musician or singer is wrong dead wrong. he is a cookie cutter regurgitated mess just like all the other pop wanna be losers in LA.

Cook showed talent, a knowledge of compisition and a little theory. and didnt sing the same song TWICE.

you are whats wrong with america if you think Arculoser was better then cook

[matt]

wow peter warren you are a loser. Why do crazy fringe liberal losers look for any platform that they can find to spew their loser propoganda...

GUESS WHAT...HARVEY ACTED ALONE...THERE IS NO AREA 51, MAGIC BULLET OR HIDDEN SPACE CRAFT....GAS PRICES ARE A RESULT OF OPEC NOT BUSH, THE 9/11 WAS REAL AND JUST LIKE ALL THE THESE TRUTHS LIBERALS/DEMOCRATS ARE LEACHES AND SHOUDNT EVEN BE ALOUD TO VOTE...BEING THAT THEY ARE MENTALY DEFICIENT

[Tom]

Dan,

I feel that allowing people unlimited voting causes the entire voting process to be corrupted. It is simply entertainment, so who really cares. Yet, we will really never know who actually has the most fans because minds can be messed with, resulting in a high level of voting for any given person. Personally, I think the only fair way to do this is to allow only one vote per person, then you get a more accurate reflection of who is the best.

[KATHY]

YES,THE BEST SINGER,WHO COULD SING 'ANYTHING 'WAS DAVID COOK.ARCHULETA WILL BE THE NEXT BARRY MANILOW,SINGING BARRY MANILOW TYPE OF SONGS,NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. Cook,has it 'cookin'!

[Dudeness]

Simon doesn't care either way because he still drives home in his $1.5 Million dollar Bugatti Veyron.

[Kerri]

Reading comments like peter warren's make me so happy that I am not a liberal. They are the most miserable people I have ever met.

[Kareem]

I just read a completely different AP article. Someone didn't get their facts checked.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080522/ap_on_en_tv/tv_american_idol

[Holly]

Um, the stories have the same numbers Kareem. This one is using boht the A1849 and total viewers, that one just uses viewers. But most in the industry say A1849 is more important.

[Stephen]

Peter Warren, 1st, shutup, you're an idiot. Secondly I'm glad David Cook won as well.

[Billy]

David Cook never forgot his lyrics in a performance. Nuff Said.

[Emory Levy]

Why do some of you have to be so nasty??? Both young men performed wonderfully. You have to remember that David A is only 17 and David Cook is 25(?). Naturally he should have more stage presence, etc. I understand that he had already cut a record. David A was up against stiff competition which would certainly make anyone nervous. Give the little guy a break. He was good enought to hang in there to the very end. I'm happy for David C and wish him much success and I know David A will also succeed...because he perform my kind of music!

God created a variety of flowers for his earthly garden and many different birds to sing therein so appreciate these two for their differences and enjoy all that we were given.

Grandma Levy (not related)

[Brian]

Every time I looked at Archuleta I thought this must be Rick Astley's little brother. Great voice, but he never tried a song that rocked. Much like Michael Bolton...if you like gooey easy listening...and I mean eeeaaasssy listening, then archie's the man for you. Cook was so much more versatile. Very impressive.

[Ken]

I'm not sure how fair it was because the 4 hour voting time probably allowed older folks to vote because the younger fans had to go to bed because of school Thursday. I'd be interested in how the voting went by the hour intonating age voting patterns. At any rate I believe both contestants will have a great future with their respective fan base.

[mon4rch]

From what planet do you hale Peter Warren II ?
Right on, Matt. Power to the people.

[Jenn]

I didn't watch at all this year.

Except for the last two nights. Made me wish I had.

I loved Cook. Archie is a child, he'll do fine in a few years singing in a boy band. Same shizz diff day.

Cook was fantastic.

[GPGOP]

>>Why do crazy fringe liberal losers look for any platform that they can find to spew their loser propoganda...

Why do you think they call them "libtards"?

[MIchael Snell]

Considering all season long they bantered on about it being the most talented group of all the final results tell a different story. It really doesnt matter which David won; they will do even worse than last years winner which was...hmm...looked like Jay Leno...damn I forget,,,,so did everyone else!

[David Cook Lover]

Cookie Lover - please leave this horrid country called America since YOU have it so bad. Go live in the Middle East where they shoot you for walking down the street instead of letting people like you voice your opinion. Get over it or get out! America got it right with David Cook! Rock on, DC!

[The Wise One]

Vote early, vote often. Hey, isn't that the Democrat's mantra?

Anyway, the right person won, so y'all need to live with that.

[fan of both]

MATT i really wouldn't be talkin..you're being the worser person by putting David A. down..that's wrong to do that just cause David Archuleta is a better singer than what you could ever be and that doesn't mean you can just say those mean things about him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!from how the way i read it i agree with all ya'll about who won for how I see it they should make it where only one vote from each person!just like what some of ya'll said!but Matt should never say those stupid things.. where it makes it seem he don't know what he's talking about!!seems like he hasn't watched American Idol all this year..& David A. has done wonderful job all this year!!..&&NO MATTER WHAT ANY OF YA'LL SAY YOU'LL STILL BE SEEING DAVID ARCHULETA ON TV..i want ya'll to watch Tv and you'll see&hear him in about a year or two!so just deal with the truth!!..plus David C. is very good too..i'm very glad he won!just like your gonna be seeing David C. on Tv of course..ALSO i believe Simon is very right about how he judges!he is very smart about how he judges!TTYL.peace