(Image source: On The Red Carpet)

BY BRICE SANDER

This-- is the end of ‘American Idol.’ At least that’s what some people are saying after the reality show’s eleventh season slipped sharply in viewership. The New York Times has the ratings.

“‘American Idol’ may have officially crossed over from phenomenon to mere hit television show on Thursday, as the second outing of this year’s edition fell a steep 27 percent in the ratings from its performance on the same night last year – and 44 percent from its number two years ago.”

Those Thursday numbers follow a similar slip in Wednesday’s premiere. CNN’s AJ Hammer gives us some insight.

AJ HAMMER: “I’m thinking it’s got to be some kind of a disappointment of sorts at least for the people behind the show. At its height, ‘Idol’ saw 32 million people tuning in for a premiere episode- that was back in 2007.”

Deadline points out other shows are starting to draw more viewers.

“After ABC’s Modern Family on Wednesday logged its best ratings ever against American Idol, CBS’ The Big Bang Theory did one better last night, besting the Fox reality juggernaut for the first time [in key demos].”

This is the first time a regularly scheduled, competing show bested ‘Idol’- ‘The Insider’ points out this might be because ‘Idol’ isn’t the only singing competition out there anymore.

MARY MURPHY: “Ratings are down because of a glut of reality singing contests. There’s ‘The Voice,’ there’s ‘The X Factor,’ now ‘American Idol’ returns. I think the audience may be reaching a saturation point.”

And Gawker suggests this is the beginning of the end for ‘Idol.’

“...it looks like ‘Idol’ is more like fat, drugged out Elvis in a jumpsuit than his smooth, slick, money making younger self … this is the first sound of its death rattle.”

But the Washington Post says, hey- it’s still America’s number one show.

“‘American Idol’: steady, reliable, always there — an institution, not like that pack of new guys. ‘American Idol’: the Mitt Romney of Singing Competitions!”