‘American Idol’: Songwriter Criticizes Show, Says No One Watches It Anymore
Diane Warren, a renowned songwriter who wrote many of the original songs for American Idol, recently shot down the show when she questioned if anyone still watched the show.
People reports that Warren, who attended a Humane Society of the United States Los Angeles this weekend, spoke out after being asked her views on the show’s recent cancellation.
“Seriously? I don’t. I don’t think people watch it. I feel bad. It wasn’t about the talent after awhile. It was great when it started.”
In addition to writing numerous songs for American Idol, Warren also worked with the late Michael Johns and appeared as a guest judge on season 7. With such strong connections to the show, she feels that the show has taken a turn for the worse, becoming more about reinvigorating careers than about the true meaning of the show.
“People are fatigued. When the judges go on there, they are trying to revitalize their careers if they’re not doing well. But it shouldn’t be about that. Then someone wins and we go, ‘Who is this artist?’ And then they’re gone. Record companies don’t know what to do with them.”
Warren also pointed out that in the last 10 seasons, there has been “no stars.” Yet, fans of Phillip Phillips, winner of Season 11, may disagree. The singer enjoyed massive success from his first single, “Home,” which landed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Pop Songs.
Meanwhile, American Idol viewership has steadily declined during the past several seasons. New York Daily News reports that the show lost around 36 million viewers since 2006, the season that boasted the highest ratings for the show.
Critics feel that the show’s downfall was the switch-up of judges. When Ellen Degeneres replaced Paula Abdul in Season 9, ratings took a plummet, but Simon Cowell’s exit in Season 10 seriously hurt the show’s ratings, and even the popular and lovable Steven Tyler couldn’t recoup viewership.
The lowest point in viewership, however, happened during Season 12, when Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey joined the judges’ panel, only to constantly bicker. Unlike Cowell and Abdul’s playful and entertaining spats, the feud between Carey and Minaj left an uncomfortable and dry feeling for many viewers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF8lo3NYNrM
Although loyal fans remained with American Idol until the end, others stopped watching after losing connections with the contestants. While fans of the show generally remember the names of the show’s earlier contestants, such as Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, and Carrie Underwood, they are hard pressed to remember the top contestants in the most recent seasons.
Perhaps Diane Warren was correct in her assessment that American Idol became more about celebrities reviving their careers than the actual music. In the meantime, however, the show did provide America with years of entertainment and with 15 seasons, it lasted longer than the average show, even if it should have been canceled years ago.
[Photos Courtesy of Kevork Djansezian and Jonathan Leibson/ Getty Images]
