Fox Boss "Not Satisfied" with Idol's Low Notes
American Idol by Frank Micelotta/Fox
Much has been made of
American Idol's lack of unpredictability this season, with critics carping that the show has settled into a "comfort" zone that rivets viewers not quite as much as it used to. The tangible result is depressed ratings, though still mighty numbers that any other network would kill for. Still, Fox Chairman Peter Liguori admitted in a conference call with reporters, "I am satisfied creatively, but not necessarily satisfied with the performance [in the Nielsens]."
Liguori chalks up the ratings dip to a "post-strike malaise" that has impacted most every prime time program, so of course America's No. 1 show will take the biggest hit. That said, Liguori insists that the
Idol producers and Fox are dedicated to injecting Season 8 with new energy, better storytelling and juicier twists and turns.
Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly then interjected to note that
Idol, seven seasons into its run, still delivers a 57 percent larger audience than any other show on television. "Whether the cast has caught the world on fire, I don't know," he said. "But some of it is just the natural maturity of the show."
Hey now, just because we didn't have a Sanjaya this year doesn't mean we didn't catch on fire with love for our Idols. (Just ask Archie's fans.) -
Erin Fox
