For a change American Idol have retained their judges from the previous season including our favorite MOST BIASED judge of all time and their coveted diva, Jennifer "I want you to win Phillip," Lopez - (Universal Music Greece by Bratopoulosm photo)

A typical American Idol drama was the elimination of Pia Toscano in 2011. It was the shows greatest injustice since Jennifer Hudson was booted off the program. Toscano's elimination was a result of the judges using their save TOO EARLY - (FOX - photo )

Video Beat - THE VOICE BOMBARDS AMERICAN IDOL's RATINGS

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

It's another season of American Idol making drastic changes to catch up to The Voice's lead in the viewer ratings. Idol has lost the plot and in its panic to catch The Voice, appears to be in the drastic mode and looks like a dog chasing its tail - Recommended TV Listings

Friday, March 06, 2015

THE VOICE IS THE VIEWERS CHOICE

The bloom is off American Idol's (AI) rose as once again The Voice (TV) is giving Idol a major beat down. The difference between the two shows is The Voice's steak verses idols sizzle and contrived drama. A typical American Idol drama was the elimination of Pia Toscano in 2011. It was the shows greatest injustice since Jennifer Hudson was booted off the program. Toscano's elimination was a result of the judges using their save TOO EARLY.

Idol has made so many mistakes over the past several seasons it is suffering from bad karma. There have been so many changes that Idol appears to be like a dog chasing its tail. Idol went against the rule of if it ain't broke... don't fix it. They have been in self destruct mode ever since they cut judge Paula Abdul.

This season they have chosen to have several shows televised from Detroit's Fillmore theater. To evaluate their ability to perform in front of a live audience, the final 48 contestants participated in a private concert at the House of Blues in West Hollywood before being cut to 24. Additionally, upon the start of the top 12 rounds,

live results shows will be discontinued in favor of a single two-hour broadcast on Wednesday nights, in which results from the previous week will be revealed at the start of the program, similarly to Dancing with the Stars.

The show appears to be in the drastic mode and is like a dog chasing its tail. Viewership of the thirteenth season had fallen by 27%. Former judge Randy Jackson, who served as a mentor on the previous season, left the show and was succeeded by Big Machine Records founder Scott Borchetta.

In May 2014, Ryan Seacrest signed a two-year extension to remain host of Idol through at least 2016 making him the only surviving member of the original cast. The male judges Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. and Seacrest were sporting a grunge look with their scruffy beards. Urban and Connick have since shaved while Seacrest remains scruffy.

Once again this season The Voice is receiving better ratings than its rival. Idol began its season weeks earlier than The Voice but already The Voice has captured a more loyal audience. In Idol's "Nashville Auditions" premier episode January 7, they garnered an 11.20 million viewer rating and was ranked 14th as the weeks most watched show.

Conversely in its initial season episode February 23rd for its "The Blind Auditions Premiere" The Voice" commanded a rating of 13.97 million viewer rating and was ranked the 11th most watched show for that week. The result indicates a better retention rate by The Voice from last season.

In the most recent ratings of this season Idol, following its 16th episode, Idol only drew a 9.43 million viewer rating indicating a downward trend. The Voice is moving on up as they have gained with a 15.54 million viewer rating. The result is Idol lost almost 2 million viewers and The Voice gained almost two million.

The drop in the ratings and viewer interest has resulted in Idol's biggest sponsor Coca Cola dropping their advertising and their other top advertiser Ford has pulled back and has taken a reduced position in their advertising support of the program.

Given Idol's contrived presentation we have lost interest in the show. It appears they are grabbing at straws and coming up with the short ones. For a change they retained their judges from last season including our favorite MOST BIASED judge of all time and their coveted diva, Jennifer "I want you to win Phillip," Lopez as well as Urban and Connick, Jr.

The Voice's diva Christina Aguilera returns. This season she appears to have lightened up her personality and is more personable leaving behind her too cool to be in school persona. This works better for the show as it is livelier than when she previously appeared as a judge.

Both shows have stocked up with youth with many of their contestants being under 18 including several 15-year-olds. The Voice has better quality vocalists while Idol seems to be going for style over substance as a number of their contestants are very stylish in their appearance but lack quality voices. The Voice wins on this point since the judges don't see the contestants and select during a BLIND AUDITION resulting on the quality of voice being the driving factor for their selections.

The Voice appears to be more set on going young. Since teenager Daniel Bradbery won Season 4 the past two contests have been won by males in their 30's and Tessanne Chin the winner of Season 5 was 28 or the cut off age for contestants to enter American Idol. Season 7 winner Craig Wayne Boyd is in his mid 30's and Season 6 winner Josh Kaufman is the oldest winner in The Voice's history.

The lack of an age limitation gives The Voice the edge in obtaining quality talent and gives the show a more interesting and superior format. The bottom line is… the viewer's choice... is UP 2 U.

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