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May 24, 2006
American Idol's big numbers
"American Idol" concluded its season tonight; host Ryan Seacrest said the show recorded 63.4 million votes from viewers in the race between contestants Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee. (Taylor Hicks won.)
63.4 million votes for anything is extraordinary. That's more votes than any winning U.S. presidential candidate has ever received. That may be a biting commentary about the state of our republic to some, but it is a telling commentary about the level of fanaticism "American Idol" has built during its five-year run.
Other blogs that reference American Idol's big numbers:
» Idol and the 63.4 million voters from Neomarketing. Marketing for the 21st Century.
I watched last night's final of American Idol. Yes, I watch - and can't figure out the claim from host Ryan Seacrest, who said that the show recorded 63.4 million votes from viewers in the race between Taylor Hicks and [Read More]
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Most people vote but once for the president, which I doubt is true for American Idol.
The number is certainly staggering, however when looking at some of the fan sited for American Idol, there are many fans that brag about voting "hundreds" of times in a night during the show. I can only imagine how many times they vote in the finale.
I think it is a commentary on the popularity of the show, but hardly a direct comparison to a presidential election.
The number is certainly staggering, however when looking at some of the fan sites for American Idol, there are many fans that brag about voting "hundreds" of times in a night during the show. I can only imagine how many times they vote in the finale.
I think it is a commentary on the popularity of the show, but hardly a direct comparison to a presidential election.
The number is certainly staggering, however when looking at some of the fan sited for American Idol, there are many fans that brag about voting "hundreds" of times in a night during the show. I can only imagine how many times they vote in the finale.
I think it is a commentary on the popularity of the show, but hardly a direct comparison to a presidential election.
The number is certainly staggering, however when looking at some of the fan sited for American Idol, there are many fans that brag about voting "hundreds" of times in a night during the show. I can only imagine how many times they vote in the finale.
I think it is a commentary on the popularity of the show, but hardly a direct comparison to a presidential election.
I agree. When Seacrest stated his figures last night, my wife said that maybe if we changed the way presidential elections were held to phone-in/text-in voting there would be more response. (Couldn't you just see GWB huddled over his Treo trying to figure out the right buttons to push?)
Not only do some vote more than once (and would these voters be "Idol Evangelists?"), but they also vote from all over the world. Plus, is every voter above the age of 18? Doubtful. Finally, the "Idol" system of voting attracts more voters because of the participatory nature of the process. This is the opposite in American politics, where two guys get the nominee in the spring of an election year and duke it out for six long, mind-numbing months.
But it's all rather interesting, eh?
Yeah, that was my response too. I'd like to see how many unique voters there were, not how many times the hit redial.
The show is entertaining, sure; but I think the real draw of the show is that the fans actually have a say. As a society, we're embracing any model that puts our feedback and input to use. (Maybe Fox has been reading your blog)
I don't know about you guys, but I've watched every season, and I have yet to vote. If they had counted actual sets of eyeballs WATCHING the broadcast, the number of votes would seem insignificant by comparison, I'd wager.
It also doesn't hurt that McPhee and Hicks are much more attractive and more hip than any US President.
American Idol has a few very dedicated fans.
Some of these fans boast on the AI website that they have voted anywheres from 100 to 1000 times for a contestant in one night. So AI can boast of 63 million votes....they dont have 63 million voters
American Idol has a few very dedicated fans.
Some of these fans boast on the AI website that they have voted anywheres from 100 to 1000 times for a contestant in one night. So AI can boast of 63 million votes....they dont have 63 million voters.
