http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2008/09/american-idol-n.html

VIDEO: Can 'American Idol' finally zoom ahead of 'Amazing Race'?

As I note in my overview article about the Emmy program races, TV's
top program, "American Idol," has never won best reality-competition
show and, even more amazing, "Amazing Race" has never lost.

At the Creative Arts Emmy ceremony last Sunday I caught up with Kynt
and Vyxsin — "a couple of Goth kids from Louisville," says Kynt —
whose elimination episode of "Amazing Race" will decide that show's
fate this year. That's the one that was judged by Emmy voters — and
it's a doozie full of thrilling action as five teams compete in
Mumbai, India, to thread 108 flowers into a wedding garland, deliver
propane gas tanks to residents and ride a rickshaw to a tailor shop.

However, "American Idol" submitted an excellent episode too: the
two-hour season finale that not only includes the gripping suspense
over which of the two Davids (Cook or Archuletta) will win, but their
joint performance of Nickelback's "Hero" and other socko musical turns
by Donna Summer, ZZ Top, the Jonas Brothers and past "Idol" champ
Carrie Underwood.

On Sep 18, 2:11 pm, edonline verizon.net> wrote:

Ken McElhaney wrote:

Ratings are only a barometer of a shows popularity, not its excellence.
DWTS is a perfect example of that. The "Peoples Choice Awards" are
similarly geared toward popularity. The Emmys are not. IMO, a talent
show that allows ANYONE to be a judge (AI) is not worthy of an Emmy.

On Sep 18, 11:02 pm, UCLAN thanks.org> wrote:

I would agree with that. But I'm willing to bet that if the producers
of TAR & CBS had the choice between 6 Emmy wins in a row OR ratings in
the top 20 for six seasons straight they would jump on the latter in a
heartbeat. The better the ratings, the more money a show can pull in
for the network which also benefits the pocketbook of the producers.

OTOH, Emmys look good on the mantle and make a decent paperweight,
other than that...

True, but there is a certain honesty to the "PCA". They pretend to be
nothing more than a popularity contest.