American Idol 'will LOSE money this year for the first time in show's history

Daily Mail ^ | 02/24/2014

[SeekAndFind]

American Idol had made billions of dollars in profits over the years.

Now comes word that the hugely successful show will be operating in the red this year for the first time in it's history, TMZ is reporting.

It all has to do with 'the bottom line' which includes the fat salaries paid to keep it's bigger stars Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Seacrest happy.

Jennifer inked an incredible $17.5 million deal to return to her post a third season, as MailOnline previously revealed, a substantial raise from the $15 million she was making when she left the show in 2012.

She is considered the bigger star on the judges panel which also includes singers Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr.

Ryan Seacrest takes in around $15 million for his hosting duties, according to TMZ.

The website also points out that the show spent between $5 and $7 million on a new set for the current season, and that they are still paying two executive producers even though they were both let go after season 12.

Also dragging the show down financially is the $5 million spent on viewer phone calls.

Considering that ratings are down 26 percent from last season, the show is also losing advertising dollars, TMZ also states.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Yawn!

[dandiegirl]

The J-Lo show. I quit watching when Simon left and only watched it twice when he was there, but tried to pick it up when J-lo was a judge the first time. It was horrible-all about her the whole time. I have no idea what her real voice even sounds like. I do like The Voice a lot though. There are truly talented people judging and it’s not all about them.

[matt04]

I occasionally watched when Simon was still on. After he left it went downhill. Them new judges are too nice and want to make even the worst performers beleive they can sing.

[Wuli]

Its judges resorted to hyberpole in the extreme

some judges took their time in front of the camera to demontrate just how much that time was about them

its preliminary judging process selected less than stellar
candidates

it went way over the top in over-producing the production numners for the live show, sometimes, overshadowing the singers performance

and, suffered from the fate of all such shows - viewer burn out and turn off from all the hype and hoopla

---

the show called “The Voice” and the a’capella singing contest show have both offered veiwers more/better talent than idol for two seasons at least

[JimSEA]

Good! The faster these show disappear for TV the better. As a kid, we didn’t have a television but the family would visit friends who would watch Ted Mack’s Amature Hour and would bring the beer. What a waste when there were good westerns on. I grew to hate the mention of Ted Mack’s name. I can’t describe how poor and lacking in actual talent 90% of the acts were.

[SoFloFreeper]

[miele man]

I certainly agree with you re: the acapella singing show. There were and are some really great voices on that show and the judges offer real comment and criticism (mostly helpful) that comes across as honest, plus they really do judge on talent.

[wally_bert]

If I watched a full hour’s worth during the first couple of seasons, that would be a stretch.

However, a few years ago, I got a small freelance job (PA) that ran a camera and did some setup and teardown over a weekend for auditions to be screened later.

None of the big names were there, in fact no celebrities at all. Everyone was a production person of some kind. I was treated well and liked the experience overall. There was a lady producer/director in the group who was one of the higher ones that told me I was welcome anytime again if the opportunity arose.

A few weeks went by and I hadn’t seen my check yet. I did a little checking and got a contact point. A day or two went by with a couple of email replies. One evening I got a phone call from some VP out there saying my check was on the way. It showed up a few days later. The guy was super nice and apologetic as all get out.

Good to know my decade in TV was appreciated by someone. Most of the yo-yo’s I worked with ETV land in my last years didn’t but expected me to do the job of 2 or 3 others.

[andyk]

Pants on the Ground might just be the best thing to come from the show.

[freedumb2003]

Something you might find interesting...

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Worst. Season. Ever.

[GeronL]

It is ridiculous to pay the freak judges that much money, and the show is stupid

[iowamark]

It all has to do with 'the bottom line' which includes the fat salaries paid to keep it's bigger stars Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Seacrest happy.

Talk about wasted money!

[GeronL]

The celebrity judges do not go to the first round of auditions. Those shows where there are huge crowds “outside” are lies. Their flunkies ask the best and worst flunkies to come back and audition at a later time.

Yes, they purposely ask the really bad, stupid and weird to come back for the second round.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

This show exemplifies liberalism. Give kids, who have the equivalent singing voice of an old man singing in the shower, a platform and an audience, believing their own inflated self-worth, only to let them make a mockery out of themselves while the elites laugh.

Whatever happened to hard work, making demos? I admire those soul singers in the 40s and 50s, who went on the chitlin' circuit trying to make a name for themselves. Even rappers used to sell mixtapes out of their trunks.

Kids today have no initiative and no assessment of their real talent level, and can't handle constructive criticism.

[wally_bert]

I knew that going in and sometimes it took everything not to die laughing while some of the worst of the worst were auditioning.