Here are the Thursday ratings for American Idol; the TV show that seeks to find the next singing sensation. The popular reality competition is hosted by Ryan Seacrest and judged by Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, and Jennifer Lopez. 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 Thursday episodes of the 2011-12 season. The ratings are 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 all hit shows eventually lose steam. 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:
Final Thursday averages: 4.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 16.59 million total viewers.
Wednesday, 05/23/12 (season finale)
6.4 in the demo (+45% episode-to-episode change) with 21.49 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 4.77 in the demo with 16.59 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 05/17/12
4.4 in the demo (+10% episode-to-episode change) with 16.4 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 4.68 in the demo with 16.31 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 05/10/12
4.0 in the demo (0% episode-to-episode change) with 15.62 million; second at 8pm, first at 8:30pm.
Season average: 4.69 in the demo with 16.31 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 05/03/12
4.0 in the demo (0% episode-to-episode change) with 15.56 million; second at 8pm, first place at 8pm.
Season average: 4.74 in the demo with 16.35 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 04/26/12
4.0 in the demo (0% episode-to-episode change) with 14.87 million; second at 8pm, first place at 8:30pm.
Season average: 4.79 in the demo with 16.40 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 04/19/12
4.0 in the demo (-7% episode-to-episode change) with 14.99 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 4.84 in the demo with 16.51 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 04/12/12
4.3 in the demo (+10% episode-to-episode change) with 15.81 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 4.91 in the demo with 16.63 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 04/05/12
3.9 in the demo (-11% episode-to-episode change) with 14.34 million; second at 8pm, first at 8:30pm.
Season average: 4.96 in the demo with 16.70 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 03/29/12
4.4 in the demo (+5% episode-to-episode change) with 15.87 million; second at 8pm, first at 8:30pm.
Season average: 5.06 in the demo with 16.91 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 03/22/12
4.2 in the demo (-9% episode-to-episode change) with 15.58 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.12 in the demo with 17.02 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 03/15/12
4.6 in the demo (-6% episode-to-episode change) with 16.02 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.22 in the demo with 17.18 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 03/08/12
4.9 in the demo (-9% episode-to-episode change) with 17.27 million; second at 8pm, first place at 8:30pm.
Season average: 5.30 in the demo with 17.32 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 8 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 03/01/12
5.4 in the demo (+20% episode-to-episode change) with 18.27 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.36 in the demo with 17.33 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 02/23/12
4.5 in the demo (-12% episode-to-episode change) with 15.64 million; second place at 8pm, first at 8:30pm.
Season average: 5.35 in the demo with 17.18 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 02/16/12
5.1 in the demo (-12% episode-to-episode change) with 16.71 million; tied for first at 8pm, first 8:30-10pm.
Season average: 5.52 in the demo with 17.48 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 02/09/12
5.8 in the demo (+6% episode-to-episode change) with 18.13 million; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.63 in the demo with 17.68 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 02/02/12
5.5 in the demo (0% episode-to-episode change) with 17.41 million; tied for first at 8pm, first at 8:30pm.
Season average: 5.57 in the demo with 17.52 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 1/26/12
5.5 in the demo (-4% episode-to-episode change) with 17.14 million; tied for first at 8pm, first at 8:30pm.
Season average: 5.60 in the demo with 17.58 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Thursday, 1/19/12
5.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 18.02 million total viewers; first in the timeslot.
Season average: 5.70 in the demo with 18.02 million.
Demo average rank: #2 of 7 non-scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).
Idol is still a huge hit but the Thursday debut was way down year-to-year in the ratings. It dropped 28% in the demo (vs a 7.8 rating) and 23% in total viewership (vs 22.90 million). This was the biggest drop in the show’s history.
Reference point: The Thursday editions of the 2010-11 season averaged a 6.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 21.82 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? Are you still interested? Do you wish that it would be cancelled?
Image courtesy FOX.
American idol should be cancelled. It’s stale, old, and boring!
Three words I have for American Idol: “See ya, BYE!
Can’t waste my time on the “same old, same old.”
Right!!!!! cancel.
I think fox should let it go cause its is the worst show on tv and it let people take the easy way to get famous instead of working for it and paying your dues like most of the older singer had to cause singing show were not around
what about xfactor and the voice. They are popular cancel those too
I WISH THAT THEY CANCEL THE SHOW BECAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THEY DID NOT SELECT THE BEST TALENT I FEEL BECAUSE THEY WERE GAY, FIRST IT WAS ADAM LAMBERT HE WAS THE BEST AND NOW I DO NOT KNOW IF JOSHU LEDET IS GAY BUT I FEEL HE WAS THE BEST SINGER THAT AMERICAN IDOL HAVE HAD IN A LONG TIME,IF JOSHU DID NOT WIN I FEEL THAT JESSICA SHOULD HAVE WON IT .IF YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE JESSICA AS RUNNERS UP WHY DID YOU SAVE HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. WITH A NAME LIKE PHILLIP PHILLIPS… Read more »
dumbest & worst show on tv
I admit to having watched American Idol in the first few seasons but now it’s just ridiculous. It was fit for cancellation even before Simon left and for the life of me I can’t figure out how it’s still drawing such a large audience. People must stop watching it before even Randy musters up some dignity and takes off. Why won’t they make it go away!
Sick now!!!!!!
I used to be an avid viewer of American Idol but it has definately lost it’s spark with me. I’m SO burned out and tired of this show that I avoid it at all costs. The judges rarely, if ever, critique the contestants…it’s a total ‘borefest!!’ Simply put…it hasn’t been the same since Simon left. Please get rid of this show….the thrill is gone!!!
I totally agree !
We still like Idol – but a lot lot less without Simon. Steven Tyler is dreadful, useless and perverted. Jimmy should replace him. The Voice is a much better show these days.
Thank goodness for Tivo/EyeTV – 1 hour of blabber and commercials can be reduced to about 20 minutes of singing and judging.
I love the series, Steven and Jennifer really make the show amazing. This world needs great singers, and they find them.
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