It's no secret that ratings are down over at American Idol. The folks at Fox realize this as well, and they ask realize they've got another music-centric show that's red hot: the hip-hop drama Empire. Promoters are considering a cross-promotional effort that would feature current competitors on Idol making guest appearances on the drama, which airs immediately following it on Wednesday night.
"It would be stupid not to," says Terrence Howard, who plays protagonist Luscious Lyon on Empire.
He's correct, and not from the perspective of Empire either. American Idol badly needs a shot in the arm and this is just what the doctor ordered. The average American can't even name the previous Idol winners, following a period where it was the pop culture epicenter on television, whereas the internet just can't stop talking about Empire. Figure out a way to get some kid dinging on that show and the social media effect will do the rest.
At any rate, it can't hurt Idol's prospects. The show has lost viewers every season since 2011—viewership was less than half, on average, during Season 13 compared to Season 10—and it recently cut its traditional Thursday results night because it couldn't hold the audience for two nights. It took another blow recently when Coke ended its long-running sponsorship with the program.
There hasn't been any reaction from the Idol side yet as to the Empire idea but they'd be wise to consider Howard's advice.
Billboard suggests that host Ryan Seacrest blamed contestants for not connecting with the audience enough. If only it were that simple. Empire won't cure all but it may delay the inevitable for American Idol.
