American Idol vs. Big Brother - Who’s Going to Win the Viewers?

The writers’ strike is causing some interesting programming changes on TV. We’re getting more and more reality TV and new game shows, in an effort to get some type of new programming on the tube. This is causing us to have an interesting matchup. American Idol, in a time slot and time never messed with because it works so damn well, and Big Brother, slightly different days and a new time of the year. The interesting thing is they’ll be competing against each other for our viewership.

It would seem that the other networks never had the guts to go against the big dog, American Idol, before. Every time they’re on, they’re at the top of the ratings. Nothing else airing at that time even comes close. Recently, before debuting this season, Simon was asked what he thought the effects of the writers’ strike would be on this season of American Idol, and he felt it wouldn’t have much bearing on it at all, since in the the last three or for years the other networks hadn’t put anything up against American Idol that even made a dent in their viewers.

However, that was before CBS decided to send in the big guns ablazing. For this time period of programming without writers, they decided to return early to one of their reality shows that takes up three hours on three separate nights of the week, Big Brother. Normally, it’s strictly a summer show, but they decided to try a winter/spring edition, and today are admitting that the reason the show is starting out in pairs is because they started it that way in fear the writers’ strike would end before they got the season off, and that way they could pull the plug and end it fairly quickly, getting rid of pairs as they went along.

However, the writers strike isn’t over yet, but there are inklings that it might be. Regardless, Julie Chen, host of Big Brother, is confirming that the show will run its course through the last week of April. That will take it through the meat of the American Idol season which usually ends some time in May. And why is this a problem? Because of Survivor being on Thursdays, that moves Big Brother to Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday, meaning two out of three days a week, they’ll be going head to head with American Idol.

So who’s going to win this showdown? It’s hard to tell right now. Much has been said about American Idol not doing as well as usual in the ratings, but it’s also been pointed out that the few percentage points they’re down is really nothing in comparison. They’ve had a rather lackluster audition season, but it’s expected to really take off this week now that they’re finally in Hollywood, and starting the final 24 performances next week. They’re just one Sanjaya short of having a blockbuster year.

Will Big Brother be able to make a cut into that viewing? It won’t matter to me, certainly, as I’ll just be TiVoing both, and the only decision for me will be which will I watch live, but not everyone will spend the time to do TiVo. What will your choice be?

For more information on American Idol and Big Brother 9, see SirLinksalot: American Idol and SirLinksalot: Big Brother 9.

Popularity: 27% [?]