‘Idol’ loses some of its shine

The best days likely are ahead for Jordin Sparks, but the same may not be said for “American Idol.”

The 30.7 million people who watched Sparks win the sixth-season “Idol” title on Wednesday was a sharp drop from the 36.4 million people who saw Taylor Hicks in last year’s finale, according to Nielsen Media Research.

A lackluster pool of contestants, increased DVR usage, and the simple laws of TV gravity are all mentioned as factors.

“People are getting tired of it,” says Marc Berman, an analyst for Media Week Online.

“I know I am.”

But the Fox phenomenon still was TV’s most popular program this season, and barring a major surprise, it likely will be again next year.

For the first half of this season, ratings outstripped last year.

But when water-cooler favorite Sanjaya Malakar was voted off in April, much of the interest left with him.