Meanwhile, up north, Canadian Idol is hammered by the economy...
Filed under: Extracurriculars, Recession
Apparently, everyone's panicking over the economy. In this case, I'm thinking of the producers of Canadian Idol -- Canada's answer to American Idol, which by the way, was a spin-off of England's Pop Idol.Canadian Idol is going off the air for 2009. Why? According to CTV (Canada TV)'s Susanne Boyce, president of Creative, Content and Channels, it's due to the economy. As she told The Canadian Press, "We're facing serious financial challenges... Ad revenues have taken a serious dive. We're looking at everything."
As a completely distant bystander, it sounds to me a little crazy. From what I've been reading, the show has been doing very well in Canada's television ratings. Last September, during the Season 6 finale, 1.37 million Canadians tuned in. Sure, ad revenues may be down, but why take down one of your top shows? It seems like a losing proposition from the get-go.
On the other hand, 3.1 million Canadians watched American Idol's finale last May. The American version's clearly more popular with Canadians, and as a Canadian columnist wrote in The Toronto Star, the producers of the show might be using the economy as an excuse for putting the series on hiatus. "Economic downturn, my butt," harrumphed Joel Rubinoff. "Anyone who turned in Canadian Idol this past season knows CTV's official reason... had less to do with diminished global currencies than the fact that the fractured reality franchise had bottomed out creatively in every possible way."
Which is something to consider. The economy may be pretty worrisome and even frightening at times, but chances are, there are plenty of businesses and individuals using it as an excuse or shield for not doing something that they they weren't going to do anyway.
Geoff Williams is a freelance journalist and the author of C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race: The True Story of the 1928 Coast-to-Coast Run Across America (Rodale).
Idol Gives and Takes Away
** FILE ** In this April 14, 2008 file photo, "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul arrives at the 2008 CMT Awards, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
AP
** FILE ** In this April 14, 2008 file photo, "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul arrives at the 2008 CMT Awards, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
AP
** FILE ** In this April 6, 2008 file photo, Robin Williams, left, and Ryan Seacrest embrace on stage at the "Idol Gives Back" fundraising special of "American Idol" in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, file)
AP
** FILE ** In this April 14, 2008 file photo, "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul arrives at the 2008 CMT Awards, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
AP
** FILE ** In this April 14, 2008 file photo, "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul arrives at the 2008 CMT Awards, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
AP
** FILE ** In this April 14, 2008 file photo, "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul arrives at the 2008 CMT Awards, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
AP
** FILE ** In this April 14, 2008 file photo, "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul arrives at the 2008 CMT Awards, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
AP
** FILE ** In this April 14, 2008 file photo, "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul arrives at the 2008 CMT Awards, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
AP
This undated photo provided by HSM shows the Mosaic Earrings from the Forever Your Girl line by Paula Abdul. They might not go home with a recording contract, but Paula Abdul doesn't let any "American Idol" contestant leave empty-handed. Each season she designs and distributes jewelry for the aspiring singers as a keepsake of their experience. Beginning this month, Abdul's fans will be able to buy similar mementos from HSN. (AP Photo/HSN) **NO SALES**
AP
This undated photo provided by HSM shows the Opposites Attract Clutch from the Forever Your Girl line by Paula Abdul. They might not go home with a recording contract, but Paula Abdul doesn't let any "American Idol" contestant leave empty-handed. Each season she designs and distributes jewelry for the aspiring singers as a keepsake of their experience. Beginning this month, Abdul's fans will be able to buy similar mementos from HSN. (AP Photo/HSN) **NO SALES**
AP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-23-2008 @ 4:08AM
Gerard said...
It's just a show people, relax.
Reply
12-23-2008 @ 2:34PM
Iris said...
Wish American Ido would go away. These people are just downright annoying!
Reply
12-23-2008 @ 4:59PM
Skittles said...
there can only be so many american idols......
Reply
12-24-2008 @ 1:24PM
workright said...
What, shows being canceled because ad revenues are down? I wonder when the networks and there news reporters will figure it out. The economy is already bad. Throw a little more fuel on the fire...ie...bashing the Big Three, banks, etc. I'm sure they're all wanting to spend money advertising with them.
Reply
12-23-2008 @ 6:16PM
Robert said...
Canada doesn't need its own show -- it's part of "America," isn't it?
Reply
12-23-2008 @ 7:42PM
otrpu said...
I couln't care less if they took it off the air
Reply
12-23-2008 @ 8:50PM
Jack Hoff said...
The shows that are worse::::: OPRAH, Snl with the bitch Tina Fey, David (liberal ass ) letterman!!!!! Actually most TV has turned political and pretty much sucks balls!!!!!!!
Reply
12-24-2008 @ 1:31PM
workright123 said...
Preach on brotha Jack!
Reply