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For the first time ever, "American Idol" is bleeding viewers. Sure, Fox's red-hot hit is still the No. 1 show of the year, with anywhere from 25 million to 29 million viewers per episode. But this year's ratings are proving that "Idol" is vulnerable. According to news reports, the show is down 7 percent in total viewers from the same time last year. It's also lost one-fifth of female viewers ages 18 to 34 and is down among children 2 to 11. Recent episodes resulted in the worst ratings in the coveted 18-to-49 demographic since the show's inception in 2002. Something's got to be done, stat! Here are 10 things that might help.

Stop the schmaltzy faux hand waving.

New this year, producers have picked teen girls to stand in front of the stage and wave their hands side to side anytime there's a power ballad (which has been a lot this season). But a pre-packaged concert atmosphere just doesn't work on a Hollywood stage of about 200 people. What's next? Paying girls to stand in front and lift their tops for little David Archuleta?

Find musical mentors who were born after 1935.

Barry Manilow. Neil Diamond. Andrew Lloyd Webber. Elton John. Dolly Parton.

There's nothing like attracting a young, hip audience with musical mentors whose double-bypass scars are older than the oldest contestants. We know producers want someone with a vast musical catalog who is wise enough to be called a "mentor." But at least pick someone who only lived through the first Iraq war, not World War I. Can you imagine if Irving Berlin were still alive?

Ease up on the "bad" auditions.

I've said this a thousand times since season 3: Cut the number of audition episodes at least in half. The novelty of finding another William Hung has worn off. Besides, viewers are more wowed when they hear the really astounding singers, not the embarrassing ones.

Kill the Ford commercials - now!

Every Wednesday's results show has "Idol" contestants singing and acting silly in a commercial for the latest Ford car or truck. First of all, does "Idol," the biggest hit on television, really need sponsorship money for a series that already costs little to produce? (Well, save for the salaries of the judges and host Ryan Seacrest.) And those poor kids have to spend a whole day every week shooting that monstrosity. How about spending that day rehearsing to ensure better performances?

Kill the group performances, too.

It's "American Idol," not "American Idol Contestants Who Sound Like Walruses in Cheesy Group Performances." Everything about those group performances during the results shows is horribly produced: the staging, the breakdown of who sings what - and, oh yeah, the sound of them singing together.

Pick edgier contestants.

When your riskiest rockin' contestant (David Cook) seems like a choirboy next to someone like Amy Winehouse, you're in trouble. This season alone has two final contestants who could enforce Brigham Young University's honor code (Brooke White and Utah's David Archuleta, who are both Mormon). And don't forget redheaded Sinatra sound-alike John Stevens from season 3, who made every 75-year-old American woman swoon. It's time to be more contemporary. (But we're still rooting for you, little David.)

Pace each episode better.

Some two-hour episodes feel excruciatingly long. Others, like Tuesday night's episode, in which each contestant sang two songs, feel rushed. Understandably, producers want to be consistent with the length of episodes. But as the field of contestants goes down over time, and the number of songs they sing each episode changes, the length of the episode somehow needs to be adjusted.

Give judges more time.

They need more time for thoughtful, specific and original critiques. How many times can they use the "P word" ("pitchy") to describe a performance? Viewers want to hear what they think, and believe it or not, they respect judges' opinions. How many times have you heard Simon Cowell blast a contestant with full barrels only to think to yourself afterward, "He's right"?

Make better use of host Ryan Seacrest.

Unlike some critics out there, I like Seacrest. He's amiable and comfortable onstage and interacts with the judges well.

But he needs to be better used. Admittedly, a little of him can go a long way.

Get Paula Abdul even more liquored up.

My editor suggested the ditzy judge be ousted. I say keep her and give her more of what's making her loopy. Her silliness is about the only unpredictable thing that can happen on the show. Tuesday's episode, when she thought she heard Jason Castro sing twice after hearing him sing only once, was classic.