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IDOL TRIUMPHS IN SEASON DEBUT Wednesday, January 19 2005 
One
day
after
the
CEO
of
the
Fox
Network
predicted
that
American
Idol
would
experience
a
decline
in
the
ratings
this
season,
the
talent
contest
bowed
with
its
best-ever
season-debut
ratings.
Tuesday's
night's
overall
18.2
rating
and
27
share
was
well
above
last
year's
15.5/23.
Among
18-49-year-old
adults,
it
was
nothing
short
of
a
sensation:
a
14.0
rating
(compared
with
last
year's
12.5)
that
was
larger
than
the
other
five
networks'
combined.
The
show
peaked
(more)IDOL ON IDLE? Tuesday, January 18 2005 
The
chief
executive
of
the
Fox
network
admitted
Monday
that
the
network
had
"drifted
too
much"
toward
reality
shows
this
season
and
said
she
doubted
that
American
Idol
would
improve
the
network's
situation.
In
fact,
she
said,
she
expected
ratings
for
the
talent
contest
to
decline.
"We
can
expect
to
see
audience
dispersion
and
some
declines.
I
think
that
is
only
natural,"
Gail
Berman
told
critics
at
their
annual
winter
tour
in
Los
Angeles.
Idol's
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Paramount on Tuesday confirmed trade and Internet rumors that it is in final negotiations to bring on board Fox Entertainment President Gail Berman. Today's (Wednesday) Los Angeles Times said that she is expected to be named president of Paramount "with a possible additional title" under its new chairman, Brad Grey. In a statement, the studio described Berman as "one of the most talented executives in the entertainment industry, with great relationships, exceptional taste and an amazing creative track record." It added: "She would be a great addition to the Paramount team." Daily Variety reported that executives at both Fox and Paramount were stunned at the development. It quoted an insider at Fox as saying that execs there were "shell-shocked" over the news. At Paramount, it said, there was "uniform amazement" that the studio would try to land someone without movie-making credentials. "It's surreal," an unnamed Paramount producer told the Los Angeles Times. "They totally want to break from the status quo in a major way." Former ABC Co-chairman Lloyd Braun told the newspaper. "Gail is as good as it gets." Several executives took note of the fact that Fox is currently into its best season ever and likely to win the ratings crown among adults 18-49 for the first time in its history. Former NBC President Warren Littlefield told the New York Times that Berman was "pulling a Seinfeld," a reference to Jerry Seinfeld, who left the network when his show still ranked #1.
