Mixed-up judge doesn't mix up 'Idol' numbers

May 01, 2008 Tuesday night's much-discussed on-air blunder by "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul had little impact on the show's ratings, with Wednesday night's episode down only a tenth from the previous week. With "Idol" (22.1 million viewers, 8.1 preliminary adults 18-49 rating and a 21 share) already having dropped in nearly every episode in recent weeks, however, that means the reality show has once again hit a five-year low. At the other end of the reality ratings spectrum, the CW debuted Farmer Wants a Wife (2.4 million, 1.0/3) up against Idol, and the result was a lower premiere rating than the CW's previous reality effort, Crowned.

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