Photo: Getty Images
Guess William Shatner's having the last laugh. This week, anyway.
The big, bad American Idol used to crush everything in its wake, to the point the other networks would seldom schedule anything of great importance opposite the show. But Idol is 10 years old now and all the teeth in new judge Steven Tyler's mouth aren't enough to make this baby's bite as scary as it used to be.
Though Idol handily won the night Thursday for its second audition show, a rather uneventful New Orleans crop, its ratings were once again down from last year's second episode, by a figure of 23 percent. Not surprisingly, 20 percent fewer people tuned in Thursday compared to Wednesday's two-hour introduction of the new judges.
Idol posted a Nielsen rating of 22.9 million viewers.
Over on CBS, the network's popular sitcom Big Bang Theory (13.6 million) and Shatner's funny $#*! My Dad Says (10.3 million) were both only a tiny two-tenths off from last week’s Idol-free numbers, EW reports. NBC's Community and Perfect Couples had less than half of Dad's audience but did OK given what could have been.
Maybe Idol could use some of the snarky sass coming from Ed, Shatner's cranky Dad character on the bleeping show.
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anyone watching tonight?
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 07:56 PM
oy, I'm here. I dont know why, but I am..are they gonna play an Aerosmith song every episode? Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan but was that part of Tyler's contract?
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:02 PM
J-Lo's got a gun....
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 08:02 PM
does Opie know who any of the 3 judges are?
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 08:04 PM
Hahaha J-Lo's got a gun! hahah. Wow, Opie is good! Does J-Lo know what country music sounds like, I wonder?
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:05 PM
Opie should just go to Nashville now and spare himself the pain of being on this show
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:06 PM
two firsts: Opie goes on a plane AND touches a black guy!
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 08:06 PM
how are the babies, mama?
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 08:08 PM
HA!!!!
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:08 PM
is it me or does Jennifer Hudson look fantastic?
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 08:09 PM
they are sleeping right now despite Opie and Steven Tyler screeching! I played them the baby muzak version of beatles and stones yesterday. something prurient almost about hearing let's spend the night together set to lullaby tune but ah well.
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:10 PM
Jennifer Hudson looks amazing. But she can't lose any more weight. she is perfect where she is now
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:12 PM
Ryan looks more and more like Kermit the Frog and this dude def. has a face for radio
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:13 PM
19?
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:14 PM
he has camel toe
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 08:15 PM
they liked true colors?
oy
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 08:20 PM
J-Lo was right on True Colors
should have let her come back down the road another season
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 08:22 PM
she has potential, skunky brewster
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:23 PM
does dr dre get paid each time this HP commercial is (over)played?
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:27 PM
I hope this chick is good
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:32 PM
say see ya to cleaning toilets...
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:33 PM
cleaning lady can sing, but this style never gets past week 1
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 08:33 PM
this bar mitzvah singer makes me want to convert
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 08:41 PM
So the party is HERE! I was so lonely up there.
Posted by: MrsEvans | January 26, 2011 at 08:42 PM
Jlo rethinking her marc anthony decision right now
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:42 PM
zzzzz
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 08:49 PM
i raise you a few zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:50 PM
It really is a shame what a joke this show has become.
Posted by: MrsEvans | January 26, 2011 at 08:52 PM
4 score and 7 years ago this show didn't suck as much as this
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 08:52 PM
this is def. rock bottom
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:56 PM
HoCo is going to like Harvard Girl
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 08:59 PM
ivy league lewinsky shouldn't quit her day job
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 08:59 PM
So far, Lane, I haven't really liked anyone. The 15-year-old girl had character in her voice, but is too young for this. Needs training. The Josh Turner country clone has all the right notes but, so what? How's he going to stand out as his own artist if all he can do is copy Turner?
Harvard was the White House intern? Not impressed. Tired of that old song.
Posted by: HoCo | January 26, 2011 at 09:06 PM
is Randy's initialed shirt an homage to Laverne and Shirley in Milwaukee?
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 09:07 PM
Steven is such a perv
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 09:08 PM
sounds like we're all pretty over this show huh?
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 09:08 PM
When does X factor start?
Posted by: MrsEvans | January 26, 2011 at 09:09 PM
yes
X-Factor is going to kill this show for good
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 09:09 PM
will simon be on xfactor?
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 09:11 PM
he will be, he is the exec producer
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 09:16 PM
Lets hope so Lesley.
Posted by: MrsEvans | January 26, 2011 at 09:16 PM
its Toby from "The Office"
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 09:18 PM
Sorry I'm late guys, I was blogging on the old Compuserve site.
Posted by: MrEvans | January 26, 2011 at 09:19 PM
alt.hoco.idol.netserve
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 09:19 PM
Very funny Evan. I was blogging in the appropriate spot. These two clowns are in the wrong place. :)
Posted by: MrsEvans | January 26, 2011 at 09:20 PM
fun fact: This Minnie Ripperton song "Loving You" was written for her daughter.... Maya Rudolph.
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 09:21 PM
Yikes. No one should ever sing this song... not just on Idol... ever.
Posted by: MrEvans | January 26, 2011 at 09:22 PM
hahah, compuserve. which makes me yearn for some colecovision
Posted by: Lesley | January 26, 2011 at 09:22 PM
ooh black girl meltdown
NICE
Posted by: Lane | January 26, 2011 at 09:22 PM
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/149744/high-f-bomb
Posted by: MrEvans | January 26, 2011 at 09:24 PM