May 24, 5:25 PM EST

The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The best days may still be ahead for Jordin Sparks, but the same may not be said for "American Idol." The 30.7 million people who watched Sparks win on Wednesday was a sharp drop from the 36.4 million people who saw Taylor Hicks in last year's finale, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Industry observers said chances are that the 2006 season will stand as the peak for audience interest. A lackluster pool of contestants, the general malaise among viewers this spring and the simple laws of TV gravity are all factors.

"People are getting tired of it," said Marc Berman, an analyst for Media Week Online. "I know I am."

Mind you, most TV shows would kill for this kind of "bad news." The Fox phenomenon was still TV's most popular program this season. Barring a major surprise, it likely will be again next year.

this sort of thing is silly to me. It is still the number one show.

does anyone know what the ratings were for season 4? I think Season 5 was just really popular (and why shouldn't it be the most popular? it had the most diverse group of contestants and you really got to know and fall in love with each of them)

a friend of mine was just telling me about this. i know i wasn't drawn to watching the finale since i knew the show was really pushing hard for jordin to win it (something which i still don't get). no surprises there, and i certainly also knew there wouldn't be any phenomenal performances too. again, no surprises there.

Iknow why this year wasnt big. They didnt show the personalities of the group. Nigel even said they messed up with that. Thats why it took so long for me to get involved.

This years talent pool was great. Alot of big fans of last year just didnt give it a chance, i finally did in week 6 and im so happy i did. Cause i have a Idol who supports the battle of cancer, Blake is great. All the idols are great. I just wish what Larry King showed, Ai would of showed.

This year was just so blah. I mean, I only REALLY loved Melinda and Phil, and I liked Chris R. and Gina, but other than that I just don't care too much.

Last season was so much better, and it ain't just cause of E :rocker:

SORRY FOLKS, THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER SEASON 5. JUST MY OPINION, BUT REALLY. THE 5 GUYS FROM LAST YEAR CAN NEVER BE TOPPED AND THEN ELLIOTT, ONE IN A MILLION. :awe:

:etrain: 4LIFE

I'm happy that some people enjoyed Season 6 but for me it was the worst, and I have watched AI since the beginning.

I did not like Season 3 either but it was not as bad/boring to me as Season 6. On Season 3, my least two favorites of the entire season came in first and second. I've since grown fond of both but during the season, I felt as if a cosmic joke was being played on me. At least I cared. This season I just did not care what happened. Best wishes to them all.

Elliott's performance was the best part of Season 6 for me. *sigh*

I hope that they pick a wider variety of good contestants for Season 7.

It's quite interesting. In the middle of last year, if you were asked which season had the least starpower (not counting season 6 of course), the answer would be Season 3. And I guess from an album sales standpoint, it still is and that may never change.

But with JHud gaining such critical acclaim for her performance in Dreamgirls, and with Fantasia becoming the overnight toast of Broadway, season 3 idol contestants have now generated the most critical acclaim outside the mainstream music industry.

I think season 5 was very popular, as you can tell from all the albums released from the contestants (Paris, Bucky, Kelly, Mandisa, Taylor, Katharine, and of course our boy E), plus the encores album. I don't think season 6 even has an encores album, do they?

WOW! I thought I was the only one I knew (around me) that loved Phil! :cheerleader1:

no, I don't think season 6 has an encores album exactly.. but you can download all of the performances throughout the season.... But yeah, I think season 5 was just insanely popular!

PS: I love Phil, too! He was in my top 3 favorites this year! :cheerleader1: