Overnights
Less Sparks: 'Idol' finale off 19 percent
By Toni Fitzgerald
May 24, 2007, 10:36

A season that began with “American Idol” more dominant than ever ended with the show's lowest season finale turnout in several years.

Fox's “Idol” averaged 29.5 million total viewers last night, according to Nielsen overnights, certainly a very healthy number but 19 percent below last year’s near-record 36.4 million.

That was also well below the record 37.4 million who watched "Idol's" season six debut back in January.

Numbers for the finales have fallen and risen over the years. Some 22.5 million watched the season one finale. Season two drew 38 million, season three 28.8 million and season four 30.3 million.

Last night’s two-hour season ender, which began at 8 p.m., averaged an 11.1 in adults 18-49, roughly a point below its season average. Its averages will likely rise when final ratings are released later today, as “Idol” lasted nine minutes past 10 p.m., when the winner was announced. Overnight ratings only measure timeslot data, so the last nine minutes of "Idol" were not included.

But while “Idol” was down from last year, and from earlier in the season, it remains by far TV’s most-watched show. No other season finale has even topped 25 million.

And it was more than enough to ensure Fox a May sweeps victory, as well as its third straight yearly win in 18-49s.

Seventeen-year-old Jordin Sparks took the title, receiving a record number of votes to beat Blake Lewis.

Meanwhile, also last night, the two-hour “Lost” season finale on ABC perked up compared with recent weeks, averaging a solid 5.8 in 18-49s. That was up 14 percent over the previous week, and it came with an hour of the show, which began at 9, airing opposite “Idol.” It was the show's best rating in months.

It was, however, down 24 percent from last year’s 7.6 for the “Lost” season ender. It also dipped among total viewers, from 17.8 million to 13.7 million last night.

Fox easily finished first for the night among 18-49s with an 11.1 average rating and a 30 share. ABC was second at 4.5/12, CBS third at 2.2/6, NBC fourth at 1.8/5, Univision fifth at 1.7/5 and CW sixth at 0.6/2.
 
At 8 p.m. Fox led with a 9.6 among 18-49s for its first hour of “American Idol,” with ABC second with a 2.0 for a “Lost” recap show rerun. Univision was third with a 1.8 for “La Fea Mas Bella,” while CBS and NBC tied for fourth at 1.7, CBS for a repeat of “NCIS” and NBC for a re-airing of the special “SNL in the ‘90s: Pop Culture Nation.” CW finished sixth with a 0.6 for a repeat of “One Tree Hill.”
 
Fox led again at 9 p.m. with a 12.5 for the second half of its “Idol” finale, while ABC remained second with a 5.1 for the first half of a two-hour “Lost.” CBS was third with a 2.3 for a repeat of “Criminal Minds,” NBC fourth with a 2.0 for the second half of its “SNL” special, Univision fifth with a 1.9 for “Destilando Amor” and CW sixth with a 0.6 for another hour of “One Tree Hill.”
 
With Fox out at 10 p.m., ABC took the lead with a 6.4 for the second half of “Lost.” CBS was second with a 2.7 for a repeat of “CSI: NY,” NBC third with a 1.8 for “Dateline” and Univision fourth with a 1.4 for “Don Francisco Presenta.”
 
Among households, Fox was first for the night with a 17.2 average rating and a 28 share. ABC was second at 6.5/11, CBS third at 6.3/10, NBC fourth at 3.0/5, Univision fifth at 2.1/3 and CW sixth at 1.0/2.