★★★★★ 0/5

Idol: Too long, too low.

Australian Idol sank under the 900,000 mark last night, after dragging out its show for far too long.

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aiaAustralian Idol sank again last night.

At just 890,000 it was the second-lowest return all season (it took 883,000 in early September)

TEN’s insistence on dragging out the show across two hours this year, together with viewer fatigue, is proving a fatal mix. In previous years the show would get shorter as the contestants were eliminated. While they have previously allowed their finalists to sing two songs, last night viewers had to sit through three each from just three singers.

With no elimination at the end of the show there wasn’t enough to draw them through to the end of the show. The victim of that decision was Rove, having to settle for a disappointing 678,000. Next week Idol will stretch for another two hours with just two finalists, while Rove‘s finale will have to wait for a 9:30 start before airing live to air (next Sunday’s Rove is not recorded). Crazy.

TEN was very nearly beaten by the ABC with Electric Dreams also sinking further, to 513,000 viewers.

Meanwhile Seven was the one smiling all the way to OzTAM with 1.6m for The Force, 1.51m for Border Security. 1.36m for Bones and 1.2m for Sunday Night.

Nine’s best was Nine News at 1.09m with 60 Minutes scraping in at 1.02m.

Source: Week 46

65 Responses

  1. idol has been in the gutter since it began, none of them have talent, a few weeks ago when they had rock night, i was saying to my mates they absolutely killed metallica, linkin park and a few others it was all horrible, i’d expect materchef to be the same in a few years, they should really have one production company, and do rotations every 2-3 years, so they can think of better ideas and it doesnt get old.

  3. @sam, I am offended that you think anyone who doesn’t like Rove (and therefore intelligent) is over 50. I never said anything about my age. I am not going to reveal my age, but I can tell you it’s a lot lower than you think.

  4. @ sam – I am 29, fit into all 3 target demos and totally agree with everything Tasmanian Devil has to say.

    Rove is now uninspiring, uninteresting and a lame duck.

    So there! 🙂

  5. @tasmaniandevil
    So all of us between 16 to 49 have little intelligence?
    How wonderful it must be to sit on a 50+ pedestal and snigger at the 2 younger generations who are actually making a difference and might just pay for your retirement and wipe your bum when it’s required.
    Rove spends less than 2 minutes with guests? Last time I watched… infact the entire 10 years I have watched… he does a good 5 to 6 minute interview with everyone as a minimum and gets some amazing stories from them.
    You are more than welcome to be embarrassed about those who find his so called tripe “excellent”.
    Those of us that do however are also more than welcome to think that your tripe is not only unwarranted but also could do with a little fact checking.
    Have a word to someone between 16 & 49… they know how to do it.

  6. @Dave, the fact that Rove still ranks No. 1 in two key demos says nothing about the quality of the programme, but that, as Rove’s immature and lowbrow “comedy” is an insult to one’s intelligence, much of two key demos have little of that. His interviewing skills are just as appalling, asking guests pointless and puerile questions instead of intelligent ones, and spending less than two minutes with them, opting to use the bulk of the show to feature his mediocre regulars. In fact I find it rather embarrassing that there are people who actually find his tripe “excellent”.

  7. @ franz chong – why on earth would the ABC want to broadcast this piece of crud?

    To everyone saying ‘oh poor hard done by Rove’ if he was a number 1 drawcard they wouldn’t stuff his start time around – obvioulsy he is not.

    Both shows need to die.

  8. @Ryano – “In the near future, Ten may as well look at copying the Police/Authority style obdoc shows that we see mostly on Seven…”

    Ten has The Recruits, good show.

  9. @Simon – Fall Out Boy actually have a Greatest Hits compilation with some new tracks coming out next week…

    I agree with everybody else that they need to scrap the judges (or at least, Marcia & Jaydee), place it on a new night, and completely change up the format. They need to open up the age range more, make it something like 16 to 50 year olds and also add the option of bands entering the competition. The talent on the show will definitely rise a lot more if they allow bands and groups to enter. I’m sure there are loads of great bands out there who are looking for the perfect chance to get signed onto a record label…not everybody wants to do it alone. Also, what about an idea of swapping between Big Brother and Australian Idol every year? So, say in 2010 we have Idol, then in 2011 we have BB, and then Idol again in 2012? Just an idea, since Big Brother was actually rating better than Idol is this year, but I think Idol has much more potential.

    That is all from me, lol.

  10. how to save idol:
    1. give marcia, jd, and dicko the flick. bring back holden, kyle and a female judge that can provide criticism (preferably that female vocal coach on idol, the one that been there since season 1 i think. she seems good)
    2. cut the journey crap and the montage of the contestant’s so called ‘achievements’
    3. the elimination process is the worst with an example of keeping James in the competition. completely ridicoulous.

  11. @KFed, I very much doubt any of them would be doing anything for free, you’re only guessing. Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy is a prime example, the band is on a hiatus, he has no movie or album or underwear range to promote. These people do not f@rt without being paid for it. It’s not like theyr’e just dropping in to do the show, they’re with the contestants for quite some time during the week.

  12. Australians seem to be more nationalist today than ever. I think the main problem with Idol is that many see the show is seen as too Americanized, or anglo-international. Just hear the accents on the Judging Panel.
    I also think that the concept of the Pop Star is strating to die, our society is much more fragmented in terms of the various genres of music people enjoy.
    This and the fact the show really is starting to becoming dated, predictable and has sort of lost it’s inspiring, big event like feel.
    Putting the show on a 2 year rotation might be a good idea to keep it fresh, but in the long run it seems pretty much doomed.
    In the near future, Ten may as well look at copying the Police/Authority style obdoc shows that we see mostly on Seven. Shows like The Force entail all do suprisingly well in the 16-39, 25-54 demos.

  15. It never ceases to amaze me (sorry amuse me) how many people bag out Rove yet manage to quantify their arguments with direct quotes or moments from his show. Hello? Would that mean you’re watching!
    I also find it pretty sad that Ten have let him and his show flounder for a real time slot on a Sunday night. Guess what Ten? Some of us actually don’t watch Idol or care. Some of us actually like his show and want it on a regular night at a regular time. Is it that hard to make Idol run to time and make Andy G shut up?
    Ten seem to love throwing him out there as their biggest star (god knows he has won enough Logies and got enough press for them by talking about his life both good and bad) yet they still think that we loyal fans will just watch their channel endlessly until he comes on.
    What’s hot? – Rove being on tele for 10 years
    What’s not? – Channel Ten treating him & his loyal fans like sh*t

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