Ratings: American Idol down 7% from last week, up 3% from last season (14% in viewers)

Update: FOX Research just posted very good news! Don't panic anymore!

American Idol posted largest gain vs. last year for a performance show this season, +3% in A18-49 (7.1 vs. 6.9) and +14% in viewers (22.5m vs. 19.7m)

Oh no! Nigel Lythgoe was right! PANIC! The ratings are down -- something's going on. The producers must have seen a shift in viewing that we don't know and is affecting the ratings.

I still don't want them to change American Idol! But the ratings are down! PANIC!

20+ million viewers still though. DON'T PANIC!

From TVbytheNumbers:

With 90 minutes of American Idol, Fox easily won the night with adults 18-49 and total viewers. Other than Survivor (down 3% to a 3.0 adults 18-49 rating) CBS was in repeats, and NBC was two-thirds repeats as well.

American Idol was down 7% with adults 18-49 from last week to a 6.8 rating, but look for a 0.2-0.3 increase in the final numbers.