Although he's a slightly built fellow who stands 5 feet tall and weighs less than 100 pounds, Mike Darnell will apparently carry the Fox network on his shoulders through the balance of the television season.
Spectacular ratings for Tuesday's premiere of the second "American Idol," coupled with the allure of the twisted dating show "Joe Millionaire," are salvaging what began as a dismal year for Fox, and both programs come under the aegis of Darnell, the network's executive vice president of alternative series and specials.
Tuesday's 90-minute "American Idol" premiere averaged nearly 26 million viewers, which, excluding major sports events, qualifies as the most-watched night in Fox's history. The audience far surpassed expectations, exceeding the first talent showcase's September finale by roughly 3 million. Nielsen Media Research estimates almost 40 million people watched at least a portion of the broadcast.
"I'm flabbergasted by these numbers," Darnell said, adding that he has "always been able to hatch ideas that got noticed."
Because Fox airs 15 hours of prime-time programming a week -- a third less than CBS, ABC or NBC -- the 2 1/2 hours of "American Idol" (playing twice a week into May) and "Joe Millionaire" will have an even greater impact in boosting the network's average. Fox will also milk the "Idol" franchise on Thursdays by featuring interviews with contestants in its newsmagazine "The Pulse," which premieres next week.
