A few years ago it seemed “American Idol” was an unstoppable pop-culture force, attracting legions of squealing fans, dominating TV ratings and producing a lineup of stars with big-selling albums and popular concerts. Its reach was almost to the point of ubiquity — if an “Idol” star wasn’t on the radio, the concert tour was coming through town; even the original versions of songs covered by contestants seemed to get a bump. Though the show still ranked No. 1 last season, a drop in ratings raised the question: Had “Idol” passed its prime?An analysis of “American Idol’s” top performers over six seasons shows a music-making machine that churns out stars and hit albums, though its popularity has varied.

The third season appeared to dip after two strong years, with fewer big personalities and lower ratings. The fourth season was defined by one strong performer, Carrie Underwood, while the fifth was defined by a group of likable, marketable personalities.

The sixth season slipped a little: Only two contestants were among the show’s most successful performers. And the albums of winner Jordin Sparks and runner-up Blake Lewis are off to so-so starts. Additionally, it doesn’t appear there was as much talent in the sixth season as in the previous year, which yielded six potentially big stars.

As the show is poised to kick off its seventh season, in a TV lineup weakened by the writers strike, it looks as if the mechanics of a hit show are still in place. The writers strike gives the show an edge but doesn’t necessarily guarantee its success.

How it all unfolds starts Tuesday. Let the squealing begin.

Chicago Tribune