News / Entertainment
‘American Idol’ Losing Ratings Because of Simon Cowell According to Ryan Seacrest
With nearly six million fewer viewers for the ‘American Idol’ finale this year questions began to dog the reality show concerning its shelf life. Was it just a bad batch of singers that brought the ratings drop? Was it America’s lack of interest in a competition that vaults people like Sanjaya Malakar and Antonella Barba into the spotlight? Perhaps it was just the natural order of life that caused the downturn in viewers.
According to ‘American Idol’ stage dweller Ryan Seacrest none of those answers are valid. For Seacrest the finger points at the Brit with an acerbic tongue Simon Cowell.
Seacrest was asked by Canada’s Globe and Mail what has led to the drop in ratings for ‘American Idol’ and his response was “Well, the knee-jerk reaction would be Simon.”
The reasoning behind the knee-jerk response “Clearly there’s an over saturation of his character.” While that response may be valid coming from somebody else, coming from Seacrest it’s almost comical. If there was one person who could rival the ubiquitous presence of Cowell it would be Seacrest.
Nobody has done more with their ‘American Idol’ opportunity than the 32-year-old Seacrest who has parlayed his hosting gig into a radio show, film and television appearances and more. While Seacrest may be referring to Cowell’s “character” on the show as cause for the ratings dip it is Seacrest who often tries to instigate Cowell, often making comments that will cause the blunt judge to emit a stinging one-liner in Ryan’s direction.
While ‘American Idol’ did slip from last year’s final numbers it still produced the third largest audience in its six seasons for its final episode and its season premier was its largest ever.
Jordin Sparks beat Blake Lewis in the ‘American Idol’ finals last month.
