The juggernaut that is American Idol continues to roll on, as CBS (NYSE: CBS-A) CEO Leslie Moonves already concedes that the network will finish behind Fox (NYSE: NWS-A) for the fourth season in a row in the key 18-49 demographic, led by the powerful reality show.
Moonves jokingly(?) called on somebody to "kill that show," which he called a "monster."
"It's a phenomenon. If somebody would kill that show, I'd really appreciate it. But it's a national phenomenon, and it continues to do extremely well. It's tough to compete with it," said Moonves.
With the dearth of scripted shows, Fox is even outperforming their competitors more this year, not only winning the 18-49 group, but also winning the total viewers race as well, averaging 11.5 million.
Although Moonves attributes some of this to the lack of scripted programming, it wouldn't have made any difference overall, it would only make the gap a little smaller, it wouldn't change the outcome.
It has also helped that their new reality offering, "The Moment of Truth," has gained some traction, and could be a decent performer for some time to come.
Even if "Idol" were to drop a percentage or two over the next couple years, it would still be one of the top shows on television. It looks like the other networks will have to settle on being No. 2 and down until that happens.
A PUBLIC LETTER TO MR. LESLIE MOONVES FROM IGG,
ABOUT AMERICAN IDOL TV SHOW.
Hey Leslie buddy:
Cry no more Mr. Moonves. I have a brilliant Reality TV show idea that would nullify American Idol show overnight as well as send many other Reality TV shows to the dustbins. All you have to do is contact me.
No, I am not going to contact you. Sorry, buddy!
It is difficult for me to find you.
It will be easier for you to contact me and be ready to be reasonable in negotiating with me.
The Reality show idea will be worth billions of dollars and will be an overnight hit and sensation, so I intend to give you a lot of hassles and make it difficult to do that deal with me. I am going be very difficult and make unreasonable demands from you just to see how ambitious you are!
(In reality, I am a low key, low profile, friendly likable and great guy!)
To start with, just for you to make me open my mouth and talk to you will cost you.
Let us say $100,000. Will you be ready for that?
Then you must guarantee that once you hear my idea that your network will not plagiarize it and throw me out through your door and then make billions from my idea!
I hear that most TV stations do this sometimes, therefore, I am not taking any chances!
To guarantee that to me, I will need you to pay a little deposit, say $200,000, in addition to an agreement that if you ever rip me off, you will pay an additional $100,000,000 to me.
Now before you begin to think what I am sure you must be thinking, let me assure you that I don't really care.
You have the money. I have the idea that will make billions of dollars.
Just shut up, (no disrespect intended!) pay me and lets get going, or else forget it and I will go to those who can recognize gold when they see it and they will get the goldmine of idea that I have, okay?
The first step is to try to find me.
Hint: I am actually near you, because I am in New York City!
You have a month to find me and be very nice to me and ready to do what I tell you or else, I shall go USA Network or TNT or NBC or even Fox (if I had to) and do the deal. They would be glad to see me!
Thanks buddy. IGG
Posted by: World Peace And Prosperity Mandate | March 28, 2008 10:38 AM | Permalink to Comment