An 'Idol' in distress: The top six reasons season nine is a turn-off

What’s wrong with "American Idol" this season? That’s the question I keep hearing, from fans and foes of the long-running Fox reality series. Although ratings continue to slip and slide, "Idol" remains one of the most-watched shows on television, pulling in more than 20 million viewers for its weekly episodes. The biggest competitor: "Dancing With the Stars," which seems poised to reach "Idol" status in 2010 and occasionally sneak past it.

Putting Ellen DeGeneres in a spangly ball gown or teaching Randy Jackson to samba really isn’t the solution for "Idol," though. America’s favorite singing contest is dealing with a variety of pesky gremlins, including the following:

Season nine burnout. "Idol" watchers have seen it all before, and frankly, we’re getting a bit tired of the concept and its execution. Same-old theme nights, revolving door of singers, cheesy group performances, doggedly upbeat Ford commercials, dragged-out results shows.