Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Can American Idol judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan help the show reclaim the title of the nation’s favorite singing show? We’ll find out next week. (ABC Photo)

The rivals are the once seemingly invincible and now upstart American Idol against NBC’s The Voice, which stole its claim as the nation’s favorite TV show.

When the two shows went head to head on seven Monday nights earlier this year, The Voice won every time.

But the viewership margin between the two shows was nearly 3.5 million during the first head-to-head showdown on March 11.

By the seventh head-to-head encounter, that gap had narrowed to fewer than 1 million.

To up the ante, NBC is now home to the Billboard Music Awards, which until this year were aired on ABC.

That awards show is scheduled for this Sunday, opposite American Idol’s performance finale. With Voice coach and original Idol Kelly Clarkson as host, no less.

The last time American Idol went up against an awards show was Sunday, April 15 when the Academy of Country Music Awards aired on CBS. The ACM’s drew 12.08 million viewers. Idol? Just 6.35 milllion. Its smallest audience yet in Season 16.

Then on Monday night, The Voice will air its performance finale as the Top 4 of Kyla Jade, Spensha Baker, Britton Buchanan and Brynn Cartelli square off. At the same time, American Idol will reveal Gabby Barrett, Maddie Poppe or Caleb Lee Hutchinson as the Season 16 champ.

Who will win?

Who knows?

On May 1, The Voice recorded the lowest ratings in the show’s history with its Top 11 results show. The 8.71 million who tned in for this week’s live playoffs also marked a new low for the show.

The Voice’s claim as TV’s favorite singing show might be in serious jeopardy.

But only for a year. Both shows will be back in the spring of 2018, going head to head all over again.

Monday, Feb. 26

The Voice blind auditions, 2.8/10 12.31

Tuesday, Feb. 27

The Voice blind auditions, 2.4/9 10.84

Monday, March 5

The Voice blind auditions, 2.5/9 11.62

Tuesday, March 6

The Voice blind auditions, 2.1/8 10.09

Sunday, March 11

American Idol premiere, 2.3/8 10.48

Monday, March 12

The Voice blind auditions, 2.4/9 11.87
American Idol auditions, 1.8/7 8.41

Tuesday, March 13

The Voice blind auditions, 2.3/9 11.17

Sunday, March 18

American Idol auditions, 1.8/6 7.81

Monday, March 19

The Voice battles, 2.4/9 11.83
American Idol auditions, 1.6/6 7.68

Tuesday, March 20

The Voice battles, 2.2/9 10.96

Sunday, March 25

American Idol auditions, 1.7/6 7.51

Monday, March 26

The Voice battles, 2.0/8 10.37
American Idol Hollywood, 1.7/6 7.80

Tuesday, March 27

The Voice battles, 1.7/7 9.02

Sunday, April 1

American Idol Hollywood, 1.6/6 7.48

Monday, April 2

The Voice knockouts, 1.9/7 10.03
American Idol Showcase, 1.4/5 7.16

Tuesday, April 3

The Voice knockouts, 1.8/7 9.43

Sunday, April 8

American Idol Top 24, 1.5/6 7.23

Monday, April 9

The Voice knockouts, 1.9/7 9.86
American Idol Top 24, 1.6/6 7.72

Tuesday, April 10

The Voice clip show, 1.3/5 7.82

Sunday, April 15

American Idol Top 24, 1.3/5 6.35

Monday, April 16

The Voice playoffs, 1.8/7 9.35
American Idol Top 24, 1.4/5 6.97

Tuesday, April 17

The Voice playoffs, 1.5/6 8.35

Wednesday, April 18

The Voice playoffs, 1.5/6 8.38

Sunday, April 22

American Idol Top 14, 1.5/6 7.46

Monday, April 23

The Voice Top 12, 1.5/6 8.43
American Idol Top 14, 1.4/5 7.61

Tuesday, April 24

The Voice Top 12 results, 1.6/6 9.26

Sunday, April 29

American Idol Top 10, 1.9/7 8.77

Monday, April 30

The Voice Top 11, 1.7/6 8.82

Tuesday, May 1

The Voice Top 11 results, 1.2/5 7.64

Sunday, May 6

American Idol Top 7, 1.8/7 8.65

Monday, May 7

The Voice Top 10, 1.5/6 8.38

Tuesday, May 8

The Voice Top 10 results, 1.3/5 7.26

Sunday, May 13

American Idol Top 5, 1.7/7 8.53

Monday, May 14

The Voice Top 8, 1.6/6 8.71

Tuesday, May 5

The Voice Top 8 results, 1.4/6 8.04

Sunday, May 20

Billboard Music Awards
American Idol finals

Monday, May 21

The Voice finals
American Idol finale

Tuesday, May 22

The Voice finale