American Idol: "The Ultimate Schoolyard Bully (CBS)," "Death Star (NBC)"



(image via capefeare)

Is "American Idol" the "Ultimate Schoolyard Bully"? Is Idol the "Death Star"? That's what its network rivals believe. Timesman Bill Carter, author of the excellent but unheralded "Desperate Networks," comes back strong, after his rather punchy rival Rebecca Dana over at the salmon-colored weekly hinted -- incorrectly -- that Jimmy Kimmel may be on his way out (Broadcasting and Cable -- link via tvnewser -- reports that ABC is thisclose to signing a multiyear contract to keep Kimmel on). From the Gray Lady:

"Listening to the Fox network’s competitors describe what “American Idol” has done to the television landscape is not unlike listening to a group of quavering readers offer a synopsis of a Stephen King novel:

"Once a year an unrelenting monster invades a town, and all the townspeople, cowed by years of being crushed under its massive claws, have to pay it fealty or run off and hide until it goes back into a six-month hibernation.

"Kelly Kahl, the chief scheduler for CBS, summed up the “Idol” factor this way: 'This is a big monolith sitting out there. It’s the ultimate schoolyard bully.'

"If any of Fox’s rivals had hopes that this year might signal some hint that the monster — NBC favors the term Death Star — would finally betray some sign of weakness, those hopes were dispelled in just a week."

And, Wikipedia tells us, "The Death Star was the Galactic Empire's ultimate weapon ... mobile battle stations that mounted a directed superlaser weapon capable of completely destroying a planet with a single shot." Or, in other words, Rupert Murdoch's baby.

Later in the article, "Jeff Zucker, the new chief executive of NBC Universal, said, 'I think Idol is the most impactful show in the history of television.'"

The full story (NYTimes)