American idle

TV’s biggest hit loses momentum — and allure

PREVIEW. Do we really need — or want — another American Idol? Tonight’s finale crowns either baby-faced teen dream David Archuleta or innocuous rocker David Cook the season seven king, but the length and prosperity of the winner’s reign is dubious. Sure, this year’s crop of singers was undoubtedly more talented than any group of wannabes previously presented to viewers. Even the irritatingly clean-cut “Idol” façade was torn down in favor of a more eclectic and realistic cross section of fledgling pop stars. But while the reality behemoth shows no signs of slowing down — unsurprisingly it will return with the requisite awful audition rounds in January 2009 — “American Idol” has lost its luster. Here’s why.

1 Not even TV’s No. 1 show is immune to a ratings slump.
The “American Idol” audience has shrunk by about 8 percent this season, down from the nearly 31 million viewers who tuned in last year. Still, the show remains the ratings juggernaut to beat, and proponents of the competition will point out viewership has dropped across the board in TV land (the major broadcast networks have lost about 9 percent of the eyeballs they attracted this time last year). But here’s the kicker: The median age of an “American Idol” viewer has risen from the mid-30s to 42. This is bad news for such a youth-driven show, one that pimps a 17-year-old such as Archuleta (who would so obviously benefit from a few years maturing behind-the-scenes, when he’s of age and can ditch the stage dad). Inviting guest mentors nostalgic to Boomers, such as Neil Diamond isn’t going to drop that number. 

2 We can’t help but pay attention to the men behind the curtain.
After seven seasons, very few viewers are going to be fooled by smoke and mirrors. So why ignore the fact that Archuleta was a “Star Search” winner in the contestants’ bios? Or gloss over the interesting tidbit that second runner-up Syesha Mercado had previously starred in “The One: Making a Music Star,” a short-lived reality competition on ABC? The machinations behind “Idol” became all too apparent this year — tacky Coke and Ford product placement overkill included.

3 Sanjaya — a good thing.
Season six finalist Sanjaya Malakar had more personality in his fauxhawk than any Top 12 contestant this year (playing rock star behind your guitar was a nice try, Cook). While the vocally challenged Malakar was harshly criticized (particularly by judge Simon Cowell) for charming his way into seventh place last season, he brought a mild shock factor to what has become an utterly predictable popularity contest. Not even unintentionally zany judge Paula Abdul — who infamously critiqued two performances by third runner-up Jason Castro after he had only sung one song — supplied enough controversy to make this year’s contest memorable.

‘American Idol’ season finale airs tonight at 8 on Fox.