Here are the Wednesday ratings for the American Idol TV series. Host Ryan Seacrest and judges Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, and Jennifer Lopez return to find the next singing sensation in this popular reality competition. The 11th season of American Idol typically airs Wednesday and Thursday nights on the FOX network.

These are the TV show’s ratings for the 2011-12 season, the best way to tell if American Idol will be cancelled or renewed for season 12. Of course, there seems little chance that the blockbuster series will end any time soon but most hit shows lose steam at some point. Check out our FOX ratings report card to see how this show’s numbers compare with the others on the network.

These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so be sure to bookmark and return to this page:

Wednesdays final ratings: 5.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 17.66 million total viewers.

Tuesday, 05/22/12 (season finale)
4.4 in the demo (-10% episode-to-episode change) with 14.85 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.34 in the demo with 17.66 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 05/16/12
4.9 in the demo (+9% episode-to-episode change) with 17.68 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.39 in the demo with 17.80 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 05/09/12
4.5 in the demo (-4% episode-to-episode change) with 16.46 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.42 in the demo with 17.81 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 05/02/12
4.7 in the demo (-2% episode-to-episode change) with 16.66 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.47 in the demo with 17.89 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 04/25/12
4.8 in the demo (0% episode-to-episode change) with 16.87 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.52 in the demo with 17.97 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 04/18/12
4.8 in the demo (-4% episode-to-episode change) with 16.89 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.57 in the demo with 18.04 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 04/11/12
5.0 in the demo (+2% episode-to-episode change) with 16.81 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.62 in the demo with 18.13 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 04/04/12
4.9 in the demo (-8% episode-to-episode change) with 17.09 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.67 in the demo with 18.23 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 03/28/12
5.3 in the demo (+4% episode-to-episode change) with 17.87 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.73 in the demo with 18.32 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 03/21/12
5.1 in the demo (-6% episode-to-episode change) with 17.21 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.77 in the demo with 18.36 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 03/14/12
5.4 in the demo (-6% episode-to-episode change) with 18.38 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.84 in the demo with 18.48 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 03/07/12
5.7 in the demo (+14% episode-to-episode change) with 18.69 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.89 in the demo with 18.49 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 02/29/12
5.0 in the demo (-2% episode-to-episode change) with 17.23 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.91 in the demo with 18.47 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Tuesday, 02/28/12
5.1 in the demo (0% episode-to-episode change) with 16.11 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 6.04 in the demo with 18.64 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 2/22/12
5.1 in the demo (-16% episode-to-episode change) with 16.10 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 6.20 in the demo with 19.07 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 2/15/12
6.1 in the demo (0% episode-to-episode change) with 18.89 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 6.42 in the demo with 19.66 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 02/08/12:
6.1 in the demo (+2% episode-to-episode change) with 19.32 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 6.50 in the demo with 19.85 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 02/01/12:
6.0 in the demo (-8% episode-to-episode change) with 18.48 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 6.63 in the demo with 20.03 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 01/25/12
6.5 in the demo (-12% episode-to-episode change) with 19.67 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 6.95 in the demo with 20.80 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Wednesday, 01/18/12
7.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 21.93 million total viewers; first in the timeslots.
Season average: 7.40 in the demo with 21.93 million.
Demo average rank: #1 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

While Idol is still a blockbuster, the TV series was way down year-to-year in the ratings. It fell 24% in the demo (vs a 9.8 rating) and 16% in total viewership (vs 26.23 million). This was the biggest season opener drop in the show’s history.

Reference point: The Wednesday editions of the 2010-11 season averaged a 7.9 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 23.82 million viewers.

Note: These ratings are collected by the Nielsen company and are the final national numbers. These are different from the fast affiliate numbers which are just estimates of the actual ratings and are reported on by most other outlets. The final nationals are typically released within 24 hours of the programming or, in the case of weekends and holidays, a couple days later.

What do you think? Do you like the American Idol TV series? Ratings not-withstanding, do you wish that it would be cancelled or renewed for a 12th season?

Image courtesy FOX.