"Idol" slide continues after judge mix-up

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A night after Tuesday's much-discussed on-air blunder by "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul, the results show of the talent show lost 1.2 million viewers from the previous week.


With "Idol" (22.1 million viewers vs. 23.3 million) already having dropped in nearly every episode in recent weeks, however, that means the reality show has once again hit a five-year low. A year ago, the show averaged 29 million viewers.


On Tuesday's episode, a last-minute procedural change resulted in the judges critiquing contestants' first round of performances instead of waiting until the end of the second round. Abdul gave a negative review of contestant Jason Castro's two songs.


The only problem: Castro had sung only one song.


His second performance -- of Neil Diamond's "September Morn" -- was from the "Idol" rehearsal and was scheduled for later during the show. Judges are supposed to base their critiques on how contestants perform during the live telecast, not the rehearsal.


The on-air gaffe has unleashed a tsunami of comments from fans online accusing Abdul of being, at best, unfairly prejudging of Castro and, at worst, part of a competition series where judges' comments are determined in advance. Abdul said the next day that she was "confused."


At the other end of the reality ratings spectrum, the CW debuted "Farmer Wants a Wife" (2.4 million) up against "Idol," and the result was a lower premiere rating than the CW's previous reality effort, "Crowned." "Farmer" did slightly improve on its time-period average, however.


Fox won the night with 14.1 million viewers, followed by CBS (10.5 million), NBC (8.4 million), ABC (6.2 million) and the CW (3.2 million).


Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Paramount downsizes Vantage

Takes over marketing and distribution operations

As studio specialty labels continue to contract, Paramount Pictures is downsizing 2-year-old Paramount Vantage, merging it more tightly with its parent studio.


While Vantage will continue as a production label under president Nick Meyer, the functions of Vantage's marketing, distribution and physical production departments are merging with the corresponding departments at Paramount. Three senior positions are being eliminated, including that of Vantage distribution executive vp Rob Shulze.


Vantage's Megan Colligan has been named co-president of domestic marketing along with Paramount executive Josh Greenstein, and both will report to Gerry Rich, president of worldwide motion picture marketing.


Jim Tharp, Paramount president of domestic marketing, will oversee the consolidated distribution department. Vantage's Georgia Kacandes, as exec vp physical production, will head the combined physical production department.

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Girls Aloud To Front Their Own TV Chat Show?

Despite Lily Allen’s dire attempt at fronting her own TV show, fellow popstars Girls Aloud are reportedly set to follow in her footsteps after receiving an offer from the BBC worth more than $1 million (£500,000).

The Biology hitmakers are in talks to host an eight-part TV special for the U.K. broadcaster, expected to be called An Audience With Girls Aloud.

A source told Heat: "The girls are yet to sign, but they have all agreed to it.

"They would each be paid £20,000 ($40,000) per show. The band is going strong and they all want to commit to it 100 per cent."

The show will see the five girls interviewing other celebrities.
Let's hope the stress of having their own show doesn't take it's toll like it has on Lily.