At its height, American Idol was a ratings juggernaut, recording a peak of over 38 million viewers for the season 2 finale in 2003. However, the show has undergone a number of changes, including a revolving panel of judges and even switching networks from Fox to ABC. Now in its 19th season, the ratings are not what they used to be, but the show has undeniably cultivated a dedicated fan base.
As American Idol has progressed and refined its process, by shortening the seasons and maintaining consistent judges on ABC, the quality of the show has increased. One method for tracking this evolution is looking at the average viewer rating of each season on IMDb.
Season 13 (5.2)
Season 13 of American Idol saw a shakeup of the judges' panel. Keith Urban, the only returning judge from the previous season, was rejoined by Jennifer Lopez, who had previously served prior to season 12, and new judge Harry Connick Jr. This team proved to be a winning combination and remained intact for the rest of the show's run on Fox.
In addition to the new judges, this season also saw the show tweak its rules, restoring eligibility to past contestants and expanding the voting methods to increase viewer interaction. The season culminated in fans voting Caleb Johnson the winner.
Season 11 (5.3)
Judges Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, and Jennifer Lopez oversaw season 11, a record-setting yet controversial season. The season finale proved to be a smash hit with 132 million votes being cast as the show named Phillip Phillips the next American Idol.
While Phillip Phillips would go on to become one of the more successful champions in his post-American Idol career, there were some who began to question the show's method for determining a winning since Phillips was the fifth consecutive Caucasian male to win the competition.
Season 8 (5.4)
In what would prove to be the final season with the three original judges together, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul were joined by a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, for the first time in the show's history.
Even though Kris Allen was voted the winner, fans best remember season 8 as the world's introduction to Adam Lambert, who finished in second place. After his time on the show, Lambert would eventually go on to become the frontman for the legendary band Queen.
Season 10 (5.5)
Randy Jackson became the last remaining original judge as he returned for a 10th season, joined by Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. As the initial iteration of American Idol came to a close, the show made a concerted effort to bring in a new, younger audience.
The show allowed for voting through Facebook for the first time and lowered the eligibility age down to 15 years old. The result was a youth-infused season that saw Scotty McCreery edge out the competition to become the youngest male winner in the show's history.
Season 14 (5.6)
As the show entered its 14th season, it began to show signs of fatigue. Randy Jackson left his position as a mentor, marking the first time that there was no involvement from any of the original judges. However, Fox announced that this would be the penultimate season. Knowing the end was in sight gave the show the boost it needed to make it over the finish line.
By adding a "fan save" feature to this season, the show continued to find ways to increase viewer participation. The season came to an end as Nick Fradiani emerged victorious.
Season 15 (6.7)
The final season on Fox saw Keith Urban, Harry Connick Jr., and Jennifer Lopez reprise their roles as judges one last time. Unlike previous iterations, this season scaled back the voting options and placed more power in the judges' hands.
Leaning heavily on nostalgia for the show's history, nearly all of the guest performers had previous ties to American Idol as past contestants or judges, including Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Adam Lambert, Jordin Sparks, Chris Daughtry, and many others. The show concluded its time on Fox by naming Trent Harmon the winner.
Season 16 (7.0)
After being canceled by Fox, American Idol was picked up by ABC for a 16th season. The show brought back Ryan Seacrest as the host and introduced new judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan.
The show wisely paid homage to its roots with a week revolving around Carrie Underwood while also taking advantage of its new corporate partnership with ABC by having the top 10 contestants sing Disney songs. This combination of the new and the familiar was well received by fans. The season ended with Maddie Poppe winning the competition.
Season 18 (7.4)
Debuting in early 2020, season 18 faced unprecedented challenges as the ongoing pandemic disrupted filming. Despite these difficulties, the show found new and creative ways to resume the season.
Sometimes necessity is the mother of invention and that proved true in this season as the forced innovation helped revitalize the show. Just Sam was eventually named the champion of this unique season. While ratings were far lower than they were at the show's peak, this new format was clearly a hit with the loyal viewers who continued to tune in.
Season 17 (7.6)
American Idol season 17, the second on ABC, saw the show build upon the format the previous season established. All three judges returned, along with host Ryan Seacrest, allowing the group to further develop chemistry. Viewers found that the continuity led to an improved season.
Once again, this season successfully combined nods to the show's past with new corporate synergy. Several past contestants from the Fox seasons returned as guest performers, such as Adam Lambert and Carrie Underwood, while the contestants competed in another Disney-themed round. Laine Hardy was crowned as the season 17 winner.
Season 19 (8.1)
Premiering in February 2021 and currently airing on ABC, the 19th season of American Idol has the best fan reviews of any season in the show's entire storied history. Because of the ongoing pandemic, the show was again forced to adapt its format. However, since this is the second season to air during the pandemic, the show is better prepared this time around, featuring live virtual auditions for the first time ever.
While there are still several more weeks yet to air, this season has clearly found a direction that is resonating with fans. If the remaining episodes are able to continue this momentum, season 19 will cement its place as the best American Idol season of all time.