Update: Is Idol In Trouble? Ratings Drop. David Cook’s Album Disappears.

Is American Idol in trouble? Even with Andrew Lloyd Webber mentoring the show’s final 6 tonight [watch a clip of the final 6], the past few days have been rough on the top-rated show, at least in the press. Then again, it might just be another week in the life of America’s top-rated show. Despite dominating the ratings top 10 each week, the series incurred a roughly 7% drop in viewership compared to last year, the Los Angeles Times reported. The paper added that Idol has also seen a drop among younger and female viewers ages 18-34. The Mariah Carey performance show was a five-year low. The Times speculated the show might be suffering from “fatigue.” Earlier in the week, judge Simon Cowell told Variety the show was suffering from lack of personality. A Fox exec maintained the show has “defied the odds.”

In the meantime, the New York Times stepped into the let’s-dis-Idol fray with a behind-the-scenes piece headlined, “If Only Reality Was This Well Organized.” Anyone who has wondered what it’s like to be in the studio during Idol should consider this required reading. “From the placement of local sorority members along camera sight lines to the instructions to the audience members about when to stand and how to wave their hands, `American Idol’ is as scripted as a “reality” show dare be. Finally Fox News’ gossip Roger Friedman noted that Idol contestant David Cook’s album “Analog Heart,” available yesterday for downloading on Amazon’s MP3 site, is now gone. “What remains are the 91 reviews from enthusiastic Cook fans who did download “Analog Heart” before “American Idol” had it pulled down,” wrote Friedman. “One can only wonder what’s gone on backstage with Cook and the “Idol” producers, particularly the folks at 19 Entertainment. Cook seemed to be doing an end run around his contract with the show and management group before the contest ended.”