The big news in TV right now is that Dancing With the Stars has finally topped American Idol in the ratings war. Of course the fall seasons of the dancing show don't count, since Idol only airs in the winter/spring.
But American Idol has consistently also been number one in the ratings. For the first time, they fall to number two, leaving Dancing with the Stars as the reigning reality show.
Examining this, there can only be a few contributing reasons. For one, we have to look at the change in personnel. Fox's American Idol made the very unpopular move last season of adding a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi.
At the time it was looked at that they were either jumping the shark, or were preparing to get rid of Paula Abdul. They surprised us all wanting to re-sign Abdul, but she fooled them right back, leaving the series when they refused to give her the same money the male talent on the show was making.
Idol replaced Abdul in the auditions with a series of guest judges, and by the time the show made it to Hollywood, they had replaced Abdul with talk show host/comedienne Ellen DeGeneres. That decision was met with mixed reviews, with some saying they'd never watch the show again. Now having her been a part of the show for a few months, fans report they're not missing Abdul and are enjoying DeGeneres very much. However, the rumors are also out there that Simon Cowell won't be back after this season. While he seems to threaten that every season, this time it's being taken much more seriously.
Dancing With the Stars had a personnel change this season as well. Cohost Samantha Harris left in the offseason, and just weeks before the show started, ABC announced they were replacing her with a past winner of the show, Brooke Burke. Reviews on her are mixed, but everyone seems to be willing to give her a chance, after feeling like they gave Harris more than enough.
This one little change, though, isn't enough to make the difference in ratings success. What has more than likely made a difference is the tabloid sensations casting has gone after this time to fill up the dance cards. Not only do we have reality TV mom Kate Gosselin, but we also have Baywatch's Pamela Anderson, and ESPN's Erin Andrews who was filmed undressing in her hotel rooms, then had the video posted to the Internet. Along with them, we have the most recent Bachelor, Jake Pavelka, who I think we like to watch just because we're waiting for his romance with Vienna to fail. And let's not forget American legend Buzz Aldrin, dancing for three weeks on the show at 80 years old.
Because the celebrity factor is the most likely cause of Dancing With the Stars finally toppling American Idol in the ratings, I suspect this week the singing show might get their edge back. This is because of the news that their guest mentor will be none other than last season's runner-up, Adam Lambert. For all the people who aren't watching the show this season saying it's just not the same and that they miss the talent from a year ago, here's their chance.
I'm not so sure if I'm ready to don the black veil for American Idol's funeral, but it's clear their rush of personnel changes have done nothing to help. If they're lucky, Simon Cowell will have a change of heart and agree to stay on another year, but they're going to have to cough up all the money they refused to pay Abdul in order to keep him.