"American Idol" Finale Ratings Dip Despite Star Power
NEW YORK (CBS) The big closer for season nine of "American Idol" wasn't short on star-power or emotion but its ratings numbers failed to eclipse those of prior seasons.
PICTURES: "American Idol" Finale
PICTURES: "American Idol" Season 9
The two-hour closing of the FOX talent competition easily outpaced its competitors with 24.2 million viewers and a 8.2 preliminary adults 18-49 rating, but that's down 18 percent from last year, when Adam Lambert and Kris Allen faced off, continuing a numbers slide that began in 2007.
The ninth season did experience a rating boost at its debut with Ellen DeGeneres stepping aboard to judge, but as it progressed, ratings fell, with critics saying this year's finalists were not as exciting. Overall, 91 percent of the adult demographic of "American Idol" was retained this year compared to last year.
Janet Jackson, Joe Cocker and Other Big Names Grace "American Idol" Finale Stage
Wednesday night's episode, also a farewell to departing judge Simon Cowell, rivaled "Idol Gives Back" with a heavily-loaded star roster featuring appearances by Janet Jackson, Bret Michaels, Christina Aguilera, Alanis Morissette, The Bee Gees and several former series winners.
"American Idol," which was initially rejected by FOX, first debuted on June 11, 2002. It has proved to be a ratings powerhouse, helping the network to win its sixth straight season in the adult ratings demographic - the most consecutive wins of any network in broadcast history.
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