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Show BIZARRO I Erosion in young audience shows cracks in Idol' future CLOSE TO HOME . Bg" V pa j David Bauder THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The median age of an "American Idol" viewer, once is now up to 42, in the mid-30s, fevered response to latest loopy Paula episode, where she judged a phantom performance, just goes to show how "American Idol" continues to dominate television in its sev- The in i Kwit ner- - rr hi HIIIMW CHESS GANGSTERS if pRRI0UNGCfBR)HN8 I UCOC I I.MTVl PH EMERGENCY we . Billgeville's new pedestrian monkey bars not only reduced accidents but also whipped people into great shape. J NOT SO FflST, UlHX.OOMERiaHTIN, rw.EK - fS' w.v OTRRIRN. Nielsen said. And horror of horrors viewership is actually UP this season among people aged 50 and over. Those are the folks many television tastemakers pretend don't exist. enth seasoa At the beginning of "AmeriYet while "Idol" is still a hit, can IdoL" contestants like it's no longer necessarily hip. winner Kelly Clarkson seemed You can hear it in the lack more sincere and devoted to of enthusiasm in their singing, said Chrissy Will, Katharine Bohrs's voice. 16, a resident of California's "Last year I was really into suburban Orange County. Now it, and the year before that," they seem more focused on said the high school freshman publicity and fame, she said. from Brookline, Mass. "This "It's completely repetitive," Will said. "It's the same thing year in the beginning I was, but then track started up and as the year before." I have a lot of homework. It's Her friend, Tina Oram, 17, two hours long and I don't said "Idol" now seems boring have the time." and She's more She used to watch regularly interested in watching dance with a friend. Now her friend contests (ABC's "Dancing With records it and watches only oc- the Stars" is up this season.) "You can't not put your casionally, Bohrs said. Statistics back up the anheart into dancing," she said. ecdote. Audience declines for Shows focused on the music "American Idol" are steepest of Neil Diamond and Andrew among youthful viewers, the Lloyd Webber may also not people who set the pop culture have been the most youth- agenda and are most likely to friendly choices. But no level of buy music made by the show's targeted mentoring can trump winners. These are not the up the talent. "The talent this year I don't people you want to turn off . Make no mistake, "American think is as great as it has Idol" is still the biggest thing on been," said Steve Rifkin, rap television. It is the reason why impresario and founder of Fox will end the TV season Loud Records. "You're not later this month as the nation's going to hit a home run every d network for the year. I still think it's the most first time in history. powerful show on TV." The show is averaging 28.7 Clarkson, Carrie Undermillion viewers this year, wood, Clay Aiken and Chris according to Nielsen Media Daughtry set standards for Research. That's down 7 per"American Idol" contestants cent from the nearly 31 million that are hard to top; last year's viewers who watched last winner Jordin Sparks has had year. It's also typical maybe two radio hits, but so-s-o record better than typical: in this writ- sales. This year has lacked a ers strikemarred season, "CSI: breakout personality, even in Crime Scene Investigation" has a negative sense. Fans won't shed 19 percent of its viewers, soon forget Sanjaya Malakar. Fox has several theories "Grey's Anatomy" is down 20 percent and "Survivor" is off 9 about the ratings slip this year, foremost that it would have percent from last spring. "We're not in denial that been unusual for it NOT to the ratings are down," said slip. The writers strike, even Preston Beckman, Fox's chief though it didn't affect "American Idol" specifically, siphoned scheduling executive. "There are things that we can control interest from TV in general, and there are things that we Mike Darnell, chief of Fox's alternative programming, said. can't control. I defy anyone to show you a hit show that Young people are most likely has been on for seven seasons to try new technologies, taking that is at the level this one is on away from time spent in front of the TV, he said. relative to where it started." "We've never been apathetic Among women aged 18 to about the show, nor have the 34, the "American Idol" audience has slipped 18 percent this producers," Darnell said. "Every year there have been year. Isolate teenagers and the drop is 12 percent. changes." -- vIW THIS 7 UM...THANKS . V y UH tT V"" rV ANlIAWWtNIi' ) vr- - wuumn. ' most-watche- ) j j ; I THINK IT'S AND SUES AlliWiS ASKIN6 EVERVONE'OWDOES HE DIS6RACERA. HA 5CHR0ED6R. THEdVWLUCV iNClDENTALU'.llWi'DO 0U ALUMS HAE TO PIA THATSTVPlOfWO?' THAT'S TERRIBLE! TO PLAY r THINK I DIDNT HAVE ANY ACCURATE NUMBERS SO I JUST MADE UP THIS ONE. ' j STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ACCURATE NUMBERS ARENT ANY MORE USEFUL THAN THE ONES YOU MAKE UP. HOW MANY STUDIES SHOWED THAT? A . ' |