'American Idol' 2012: Record-low ratings for Phillip Phillips victory

It was a great night for Phillip Phillips, but for "American Idol," maybe not so much.

Phillips, a husky-voiced troubadour, conquered Season 11 as expected on Wednesday night's two-hour finale, slipping past his last competitor, 16-year-old chanteuse Jessica Sanchez. But the Fox show itself slunk to the lowest "Idol" finale ratings ever, with 20.7 million tuning in, according to preliminary figures from Nielsen.

That's an alarming 29% drop compared with last season and in line with "Idol's" overall decline this year, as audiences have seemed to tire of a glut of singing shows that includes NBC's "The Voice" and Fox's own "The X Factor." Fox predicts viewership will rise to 21.5 million once final figures arrive Thursday afternoon, but that would still make it the least-watched "Idol" finale ever, including Season 1 back in September 2002 (23 million).

"Idol's" most-watched finale was in May 2003, with 38.1 million viewers.

In the key category of adults ages 18 to 49, this season's finale ebbed to a 6.1 rating/18 share, down more than one-third compared with last season's closer, indicating that "Idol" is losing appeal among young adults even more quickly than it is among the general population.

Male vocalists have now won "American Idol" for five consecutive seasons. The last female singer to win was Jordin Sparks in Season 6. After being named the winner, Phillips began singing his victory song but was overcome with emotion and stopped singing to hug his family.

What did you think of the "Idol" finale and Phillips' victory?

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— Scott Collins (twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: "American Idol" winner Phillip Phillips performs his victory song at show's end Wednesday. Credit: Michael Becker / Fox.

Piers Morgan jokes about CNN's 20-year ratings lows

CNN host Piers Morgan may be under renewed criticism for alleged phone hacking, but at least he hasn't lost his sense of humor. On Wednesday, he cracked wise about his record-low ratings on "Piers Morgan Tonight."

Interviewing Conan O'Brien at a cable TV industry event in Boston, the British-born host surveyed the roughly three-quarters-full convention hall and joked, "I haven't had an audience this big for quite a while."

Though the crowd may have appreciated the witticism, it must have made Morgan's bosses wince. New Nielsen figures released Wednesday showed that CNN's prime-time lineup last week was its least-watched overall in more than 20 years, since at least September 1991.

Last week, "Piers Morgan Tonight" averaged 429,000 total viewers. How bad is that? Well, Morgan's show premiered in January 2011 with 2.1 million. And his predecessor, Larry King, was averaging 657,000 in late 2010 -- a level that was considered unacceptable at the time.

On the other hand, "Piers Morgan Tonight" was a star compared with "Anderson Cooper 360," the 8 p.m. version of which drew just 352,000 viewers. In the adults ages 25 to 54 demographic, Cooper's performance was catastrophic, with just 95,000 viewers in that category. To an advertiser, such a level means extremely low rates for commercial time; there are big-city newscasts that deliver more viewers in the target audience.

A CNN spokeswoman did not reply to an email and a Morgan rep did not comment.

What do you think of Morgan and CNN these days? What would you do to fix their problems?

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-- Scott Collins (twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: Piers Morgan has seen CNN's ratings droop to their lowest in more than 20 years. Credit: Jerod Harris / Getty Images.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez can't save 'Idol' ratings

Phillip Phillips sang "Stand by Me" -- but, still, relatively few viewers stood by "American Idol" on Tuesday. 

Tuesday's show -- the last before either Phillips or Jessica Sanchez is crowned the winner Wednesday -- delivered "Idol's" lowest-rated and least-watched performance finale ever, according to Nielsen.

"Idol" earned a 4.2 rating/13 share in the key demographic of adults aged 18 to 49, its worst outing since the show premiered back in summer 2002.

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The one-hour performance finale delivered 14.4 million total viewers, another record low for "Idol" and far worse than the two-hour season finale for "Dancing With the Stars" that started at 9 p.m. (17.4 million, also a new low for that show).

On the bright side for Fox, "Idol" easily won the 8 p.m. hour and provided a solid lead-in for the season finale for "Glee" at 9 p.m. (7.6 million).

Many fans and commentators have predicted Phillips will win the show, although Sanchez is considered the more accomplished technically of the two. On Tuesday, Phillips won plaudits for his new song "Home."

What did you think of "Idol's" last performance show? Why do you think the ratings were weak?

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--Scott Collins (twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: Phillip Phillips is facing off against Jessica Sanchez for the "American Idol" crown. Credit: Michael Becker/Associated Press.

Donald Driver's smiling, but 'Dancing With the Stars' finale stumbles

"Dancing With the Stars" winner Donald Driver now has a great-looking Mirrorball Trophy to go along with his Super Bowl ring. But the news for ABC after Tuesday's season finale wasn't as nice.

The two-hour extravaganza that crowned Driver and his dance partner, Peta Murgatroyd, averaged 17.5 million total viewers, according to Nielsen. That's the least-watched "DWTS" finale ever and down 18% compared with the numbers a year ago. The most-watched finale was in November 2006, with 27.5 million tuning in.

Even so, ABC still won the night among total viewers. But Fox, which scheduled its "American Idol" performance finale at 8 p.m., was dominant among young adults, despite "Idol" ratings that were themselves at record lows.

What did you think of the "DWTS" finale? Why do you think its ratings hit lows?

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Photo: Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd hold up their trophies on Tuesday's finale of "Dancing With the Stars." Photo: Adam Taylor / Associated Press

NBC, with Bob Greenblatt at helm, to snap 8-year ratings losing streak

It looks as if NBC's long ratings nightmare may be over.

NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt is poised to end his first full TV season on the job with the network No. 3 in the key demographic of adults aged 18 to 49, according to Nielsen. The last night of the 2011-12 season is Wednesday.

That would be the first time that NBC has avoided a last-place finish for a TV season since 2004. In other words, many eons ago in the world of TV. 

NBC looks set to earn a 2.5 rating in 18-49 for prime time, compared to a 2.4 for ABC. Fox, meanwhile, will finish first, with CBS No. 2. Among all viewers, CBS will win for the ninth time in 10 years.

However, there is a small asterisk to NBC's creep past ABC. The Super Bowl, which set ratings records in February, is really what made the difference. Without it, NBC would be on track for a 2.3 rating -- and thus would have been in the dog house yet again. Most of Greenblatt's scripted series this season, it should be noted, quickly tanked.

But as in politics and in sports, glory goes to the person who happens to be sitting in the executive chair when it arrives. And that means Greenblatt can chalk this one up in his "save" column.

What do you think of NBC and its performance this year? Any favorite shows?

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-- Scott Collins (twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: Bob Greenblatt looks likely to break NBC's eight-year losing streak in the prime time TV ratings. Credit: Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times.

 

 

Howard Stern: 'AGT' judge revives CBS feud over 'The Talk' edits

He may call himself "The King of All Media," but now Howard Stern is restarting his old-fashioned media feud with CBS after the network dared to edit him.

The shock jock and his wife, Beth, went on CBS' daytime show "The Talk" last Thursday to help promote his new "America's Got Talent" gig on NBC. At one point, Stern brought up a sore subject for CBS, facetiously asking on-camera what had happened to Holly Robinson Peete and Leah Remini. As Stern knew, both cohosts were axed last year and replaced by Aisha Tyler and Sheryl Underwood. Remini later accused cohost Sharon Osbourne — who is now Stern's fellow "AGT" judge — of plotting to get her fired, which Osbourne denied.

"Out with the garbage, in with the new," Stern remarked during the taping, according to his website.

However, viewers at home never saw that part, which according to Stern's site, "The Talk" producers edited out. The deletion evidently infuriated Stern, who made it the subject of a segment of the audio news show produced for his fans.

"Maybe 20 years ago, you could get away with it, but in this day and age, with the Internet, and chatty production assistants and everything, it may make its way to the news," Gary Dell'Abate, a.k.a. "Baba Booey," Stern's executive producer, told H100 News.

In fact, Stern and CBS have bad blood that flows back for years. The company sued Stern in 2006, claiming that he had breached his contract by using his airtime on CBS radio stations to promote his move to satellite radio. On David Letterman's CBS show at the time, Stern said he was embarking on an "I Hate Les Moonves" tour, referring to the network's top executive. The lawsuit was settled later that year after Sirius, Stern's satellite employer, agreed to pay CBS $2 million for the rights to Stern's old radio shows.

But Stern, newly visible on broadcast TV, may not have been able to resist stirring up some more mischief for his old nemesis. And his choice of venue could not have been more apt: The cohost of "The Talk" is Julie Chen — who also happens to be Mrs. Les Moonves.

Three CBS representatives contacted for comment did not return an email.

What do you think of Stern's latest dust-up?

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— Scott Collins (twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: Sharon Osbourne (left), Sara Gilbert, Sheryl Underwood, Howard Stern, Aisha Tyler and Julie Chen on an episode of "The Talk" last week. Credit: Craig Blankenhorn / CBS.

 

 

 

Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck on 'SNL': Some NBC stations censor song

It was only rock 'n' roll, but some NBC affiliates apparently didn't like it when host Mick Jagger did a profanity-laced political song on "Saturday Night Live."

Near the end of Saturday's season finale, the 68-year-old Rolling Stones frontman performed "Tea Party," a bluesy number featuring guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck. Jagger told the audience he wrote the song, which is about the current presidential campaign and its candidates who "have to strategize a bit." 

The next line included a curse word that evidently led some stations to cut away early to commercials, according to numerous Twitter users. However, other stations -- including KNBC-TV in Los Angeles -- ran the whole number uncensored. (Warning: The video above contains the profanity.) Because "SNL" airs during the Federal Communications Commission's "safe harbor" hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. -- when broadcasters can telecast material deemed indecent -- NBC was probably not obligated to censor the song at the national level, but local station managers could use their discretion.

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Right after "Tea Party," Jagger and the entire "SNL" cast -- along with Steve Martin, former cast member Rachel Dratch and others - serenaded Kristen Wiig with the Stones' tune "She's a Rainbow." Wiig, the star of "Bridesmaids," has been rumored to be exiting "SNL" to pursue a movie career, and Saturday's show was essentially her farewell. She could be seen brushing away tears during her dances with cast members and earned a hug from executive producer Lorne Michaels.

Most of the early reviews on Twitter were enthusiastic for Jagger's hosting job, especially his performances with Beck, Arcade Fire and Foo Fighters.

"Jagger and Foo Fighters on #SNL is an #InstantClassic," tweeted @311Underdog.

Quipped @rebeccablissett: "That Mick Jagger kid, he's really gonna be something someday."

What did you think of the show? Did "Tea Party" air uncut on your local station?

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Fired 'Community' creator Dan Harmon attacks NBC chief

Dan Harmon has a message for his ex-boss at NBC: You never wrote, you never called.

Harmon, who was sacked late Friday as the showrunner of NBC's sitcom "Community," wrote on his blog that he didn't learn he'd been fired until he received a message on his cellphone. Earlier in the week, NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt had told reporters, "I expect Dan's voice to be a part of this show [next season]," but Harmon dismissed that as mere spin.

"I think he meant to say he’s sure cookies are yummy, because he’s never called me once in the entire duration of his employment at NBC," Harmon wrote. "He didn’t call me to say he was starting to work there, he didn’t call me to say I was no longer working there, and he definitely didn’t call to ask if I was going to be involved."

Harmon ridiculed the notion that he would stay on in an advisory role -- which would give him little power in any case, as he bitterly noted. "You may have read that I am technically 'signed on,' by default, to be an executive consulting something or other -- which is a relatively standard protective clause for a creator in my position. Guys like me can’t actually just be shot and left in a ditch by Skynet, we’re still allowed to have a title on the things we create and 'help out,' like, I guess sharpening pencils and stuff."

Two NBC representatives did not return emails seeking comment.

Officially, Harmon was let go by Sony Pictures Television, which produces "Community." But both the studio and the network have butted heads with the opinionated Harmon, who this year was embroiled in an epic spat with Chevy Chase, a member of the show's ensemble cast. The feud included the leak of a profanity-laced voicemail from Chase to Harmon. The actor reportedly was infuriated after Harmon rebuked him publicly for walking off the set. 

Harmon will be replaced on the comedy by David Guarascio and Moses Port. In the fall, NBC will move "Community" to Fridays, where it will be paired with "Whitney."

What do you think of Harmon's firing and his reaction to it?

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Photo: Gillian Jacobs and Chevy Chase in the NBC sitcom "Community." Credit: Lewis Jacobs / NBC

Mitchell Guist dies: Will brother Glenn stay on 'Swamp People'?

As History prepares to pay tribute to fallen costar Mitchell Guist on tonight's "Swamp People," it's unclear whether his grieving brother will stay with the show next season.

Glenn Guist was virtually inseparable from his brother, who died suddenly this week at age 47 after a fall on his boat in Louisiana's Intracoastal Waterway. Executive producer Brian Catalina told Show Tracker on Thursday that no decisions have been made yet regarding Glenn's future on the hit reality series about Cajun alligator hunters.The current season will run into the summer; fresh episodes will be shot in August and September, which is prime gator-hunting season.

"This is a really hard time for Glenn," said Catalina, who is traveling to Gonzales, La., for Mitchell Guist's Saturday funeral, which will be public. "Our concern is for Glenn's well-being."

Producers were astounded by the outpouring of emotion from fans after Mitchell's death, Catalina said. "These guys connected us to so much rich history in the basin," he said. "The way it was 75 years ago, 100 years ago."

The cable network has created a brief montage of Glenn's scenes on the show that will run with Thursday's new episode.

Meanwhile, the coroner determined from a preliminary autopsy that Mitchell died from "natural causes," although a more specific cause of death may not be known for weeks, according to Catalina.

The funeral home handling Guist's services included a message from Mitchell's family to their departed brother: "One day you'll kill that big buck."

Do you think Glenn Guist should stay on "Swamp People"? Sound off in the comments.

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--Scott Collins (twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: Mitchell, left, and Glenn Guist of History's reality hit "Swamp People." Credit: Zach Dilgard/Associated Press

 

 

 

Trayvon Martin: ABC report may bolster George Zimmerman's case

 

ABC News has waded into the explosive Trayvon Martin case by obtaining a medical report that could support defendant George Zimmerman's version of events.

Zimmerman, a Florida neighborhood watch volunteer charged with second-degree murder in the death of Martin, claims he shot the unarmed black youth because the two had a confrontation and he feared for his life. Until now proof of such a confrontation has been minimal. But on Tuesday's "World News," anchor Diane Sawyer told viewers that ABC had a medical report that could corroborate Zimmerman's version of events.

The documents say Zimmerman was treated for scalp lacerations and other injuries the morning after the shooting. In addition, Zimmerman said he was nauseated and the doctor recommended that he see a psychologist.

That could boost Zimmerman's contention that he shot Martin in self-defense, pushing aside critics who have claimed both the shooting and the subsequent police handling of it (Zimmerman was not charged for six weeks) were motivated by racism.

However, the report hardly resolves the myriad questions surrounding the case. ABC News also provided a police videotape of Zimmerman entering the station about an hour after the shooting. He does not appear to be injured, nor are his clothes stained with blood. Also, Zimmerman -- who was questioned by police but not charged immediately after the incident -- declined to be admitted to the hospital the night of the shooting.

What do you think of ABC's report? Does it change your thinking on the case? Sound off in the comments.

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Mitchell Guist dies: New details in 'Swamp People' case

On the History cable hit "Swamp People," Cajun hunter Mitchell Guist was often inseparable from his brother Glenn. But when Mitchell died Monday, the two were apart.

The 47-year-old Guist was in a boat being towed by a barge on the Intracoastal Waterway in Louisiana, roughly 70 miles west of New Orleans, when he collapsed, Mike Waguespack, the sheriff of Assumption Parish, said in an interview Tuesday. A coworker in a neighboring boat saw what had happened and guided Guist's vessel back to the dock about 100 yards away, where he called 911.

"He fell backwards as if he had had a heart attack, stroke or some sort of seizure," Waguespack said of Mitchell Guist's sudden collapse. Guist developed a fan base with his backwoods savvy on History's "Swamp People," about alligator hunters in the Cajun wetlands.

The coworker did not wish to be identified, but it was not Glenn, who was not at the scene, the sheriff added.

An autopsy by the St. Martin Parish coroner's office had not been completed as of late Tuesday. "This case is still pending and there is no comment," said Dr. Daniel Wiltz, the parish coroner.

Meanwhile, History will air a brief tribute this Thursday, with a more extended memorial later. "We are trying to decide the best way to honor Mitchell's memory," a spokeswoman said.

This season of "Swamp People" runs through July 12.

What do you think of Mitchell Guist and "Swamp People"? Sound off in the comments.

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-- Scott Collins (twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: "Swamp People" star Mitchell Guist died suddenly Monday. Credit: History

 

'America's Got Talent': Ratings down for Howard Stern premiere

Maybe America wasn't quite ready for Howard Stern as a judge.

Ratings for Monday's season premiere of "America's Got Talent" plunged compared with last year, according to Nielsen. The first episode with shock-jock Stern — who took over as a judge for Piers Morgan — slipped by one-third, to 10.3-million total viewers in the early data. Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne returned to join Stern at the judges' table.

That doesn't look great, especially after NBC tirelessly promoted Stern's arrival with ads, promos and extensive media interviews.

But in fairness, NBC decided — perhaps unwisely — to open "America's Got Talent" early this year, rather than after the season was officially over. That meant that "AGT" had to slug it out against tough competition, rather than the usual mix of repeats and weak reality shows that it usually has no trouble gliding past. It's likely that "AGT" will build substantially once the summer slowdown occurs.

Still, it's probably not the news that long-suffering NBC — which just unveiled its new fall lineup on Monday — was hoping for.

What did you think of Stern on "AGT"?

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— Scott Collins (twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: Howard Stern (back to camera) confers with fellow judges Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne (partly obscured) on "America's Got Talent." Credit: Virginia Sherwood / NBC.