How did the outcry over Pia Toscano's ouster affect 'American Idol' ratings?

Well, so much for the Pia Toscano backlash.

After the singer was eliminated from "American Idol" last week, many fans protested loudly and vowed absolutely, positively never to watch the show again. Their decision was final! If you doubted it, you could have checked out the, ahem, 925 comments Show Tracker got on a blog post about her elimination, most of them defending her, some even attacking "that schmuck Casey" for surviving another week.

So what was the effect on the Pia-less "Idol's" ratings Wednesday? Uh, well ... none. "Idol" averaged 23 million viewers, according to the Nielsen Co., which was on par with the previous week's performance show and up a big 12% compared with last year's show at this time.

Actually, the Pia example offers a useful illustration of an important truth. When a reality TV show does something that outrages, or seems to outrage, many people, that's not bad for ratings. No, that's good for ratings! Controversy equals good. Status quo equals less good.

So, while it might be cold comfort to young Pia, viewers don't seem ready to give up "Idol" on her wronged behalf. They might have been angry, but they aren't about to tear themselves away.

What do you say, Trackers?

RELATED:

Pia Toscano, post-"American Idol:" Dating Mark Ballas and a record deal?

Pia Toscano, still smiling after elimination

-- Scott Collins

Twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT

Photo: Pia Toscano. Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

 

Comments

[Maria]

we can't stop watching american idol because almost all the contestands are great!!! we are angry with AI and the people who stop voting for pia because they thing that she was safe!! we cannot be mad with the guys left!!i'm watching because of them Not because is american idol!!! Pia was the best of the season!!!no doubt!!! i'm from Venezuela!

[Wendy]

I read week after week that the viewers were steady at 25million. Now they are saying the viewers are steady at 23 million. How can we possibly know if there was an impact if the numbers keep changing? As for me, I stopped watching as did all of my friends.

[w.s]

How can they be upset? She didn't get the votes, Plain & Simple. Eight people ahead of her got more votes. get over it.

( I;m Australian)

[Robert Harper]

Pia is terrible, I'm happy she's gone; a good voice but ugly and a boring performer.

Go Haley!!!!!!!!!!

[frank Grennan]

I was so disgusted with Pia"s elimination.....Totally disgusted. By far she was the most talented contestant this year.........I'm Wasting my time with this idol thing....end result not gonna watch any more....there are many more television programs to watch rather than watch this fixed donkey show....bye bye.....Frank....gotta move on ....

[amanda meyers]

There's no way the judges on idol should have wasted their only save on an drammaqueen like casey!! Pia was soo talented and casey raped her chance to share her beautiful,wonderful talent!! She deseves to still be there!! I'm soo dissapointed in the judges and in the American voters, you should be ashamed of youselves!

[Lindsey]

I loved pia...I was a huge fan. I definitely think she deserved to go way farther than she did but now I'm curious. Idol is so goodnthis year and after Pia's elimination it is so unpredictable, you can't help but watch. I'm rooting for a girl to win, it's been way too long!!

[abby]

Pia did it to herself. Yes she was very good and technically probably one of the top, but she sang the most boring lame ballets/ songs and that didn't get her the votes. It's her fault that she didn't cater to the majority voters. They pick from a set list of songs but again it was up to her to make them popular .... and she didn't... I'm glad she's gone.

[Ed]

I quit watching some weeks ago. I never believe the vote gets the contestant through.If that was so then Adam Lambert would have won because that guy had all of America raving when he sang.

[Eddie]

I was one of those fans who didn't tune in.

[Ed]

I didn't watch it. But I'm sure if the ratings didn't fall significantly it was due the desparate move of the judges who invited Rihanna and Kelly Clarkson to perform - 2 huge stars on one night? Excuse me, but the week before had Iggy Pop and Constantine whats-his-name. Not exactly artists on top of the charts. Look for idol to keep pulling out all the stops to retain or build on viewer stats.

[dave]

Time will tell. When a show jumps the shark the impact is not immediately felt I don't believe. In this case, the controversy will cause many to tune in to see what the fuss is about. Perhaps it is surprising that there was not a surge for this week. The new viewers offset the protesters. I will not be surprised if Pia is the tipping point and a sharp decline occurs through he remainder of the season. If producers see that, expect them to invite her back for two shows, one to debut her new single and then in the finale. As a fan of hers, that is the only way they will get me back to watch.

[K]

Still some whining here over Pia's dismissal. Jeez people, get over it already. Pia will more than likely have some kind of career. In fact, this silly business might very well HELP her career. Nothing like a little controversy to get you more ink.

Personally, I didn't find her all that appealing. She has a beautiful voice and beauty queen looks, but she has no idea how to connect with an audience. I think she is a little too sophisticated for the Idol audience, and in fact she probably is more attractive to the adult contemporary demographic -- that is, the Susan Boyle crowd. In other words, she's probably better off away from the show.

[Larry]

I watched Lauren sing along with Kelly Clarkson's and Rihanna's performances. I watched the final elimination results but I fast forwarded through the rest of the show. Watching live is a waste of time. Thank god for the PVR.

[Ron]

On Wednesday of the the week Pia was elimated she wore that weird Dalmation-clown-suit outfit when she sang.

On Thursday she wore that totally hot, black, tight-fitting outfit. If she had worn that Wednesday she wouldn't have been voted off.

[Donal Campbell]

Who cares if the ratings are up or down on last year, the reason people tuned in for a record number this week is simply the fact they wanted to see what the judges had to say about Pia's early elimination. I am not a fan of any of the contestants but it was plain to see Pia was clearly better than 99.99% of the competition. Compare her to any of the remaining singers and i'd bet they are glad to see her go, simply to give them a chance to now be the next half assed american idol. Your voters got it wrong, the judges got it wrong (by giving away the save) and your next so called idol will never have the same talent as Pia. I am only a small voice of about nine thousand people livin on an Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Oh by the way, unlike the so called 23 million viewers who did tune in, we did not.

[Wes]

True enough, "No such thing as bad press." I believe the saying goes. I did not watch it. Heck I only found this article because I was doing a Google search for "Pia Toscano", keeping up to date on how she is doing. Loved her on Ellen.

I did not vote this last week either. No reason to. My friend had to tell me that Paul was booted tonight (So much for VFTW).

I have to agree with Regis about the silly voting method Idol uses and am glad to see rumor about changing it next year.

I did read that she was in the audience this week. Might have to look for clips on Youtube.

My point is that I did not watch it. I'm still done.

[Jim]

As sad as it is that she was voted off, I firmly believe that she will get a recording deal very soon if she does not have one in the works all ready. I really hope that she does. Pia never give up you are that talented.

[Myra]

Pia's a good singer but so are a lot of other singers out there singing at weddings and bars. Very mainstream and NO SOUL. Good music is more about soul, connection, effectiveness and less about good looks and voice. Pia is way overrated. America was wise to vote her out.

[Dey]

People some people stopped watching Idol and even more stopped caring. Just because the ratings are OK doesn't mean that people are still interested. Case in point, my DVR is still recording which counts on the rating. Didn't watch Wed and didn't even bother to check who got booted on Thursday.

Pia fans will be vindicated as soon as show is over. How does it look when the 9th placer sells more album than the winner? I still think that the show conspired to boot her out just to gain more interest and I wish that it gets uncovered to shame the show and Nigel in particular.

I miss Simon and already looking forward to the real talents on X-factor. These 3 nitwits called judges are mere puppets and not even good at it.