What exactly is it- too many options, no taking into account all the folks with a handy-dandy DVR, it’s getting old hat or is there really an X-Factor in play here?

Whatever, the first night’s ratings for Idol in that key demographic area of 18-49 years old (I’m outta that one), dropped 27 percent from a year ago.

That’s the bad news. The good news – AI is still the highest rated show.

Season 10 opening night went down 11 percent from the year before.

I have an answer – viewers are simply watching more and more of Pawn Stars and Swamp People and less and less of mainstream shows.