Honestly, I think people keep watching american idol because it's kinda like comfort food for TV. I've followed it on and off since I was a kid, and even when it gets predictable, there's always something nostalgic about it. But not gonna lie, sometimes I wonder if most viewers really care about discovering new artists or if they're just watching because that's what they've always done on Sunday nights. I remember my mom can't miss a finale even if she barely pays attention to the whole season. Plus, every few years there's at least one contestant who does something so wild or emotional that it ends up all over TikTok and gets everyone talking again. That's usually when I get sucked back in myself.

Still, after 20+ seasons, it feels like the show relies just as much on the drama and weird auditions as it does on finding real stars. But as long as people want to sit around their TV as a family and vote for their favorites, I think american idol will stick around. Even if a lot of us are just watching because it's what we've always done, sometimes that's enough.