The Hollywood Reporter.com – The eighth season debut of the massively popular singing competition lost about 10% of its audience this year and a bit more (-15%) in the adult demo.

“Idol” was seen by 30.1 million viewers, with an 11.7 national rating among adults 18-49 and 28 share. That’s the lowest since the show’s non-comparable series debut in the summer of 2002. Among total viewers, it’s the lowest since a special Monday start in 2004 (30.0 million).

Randy? “Yo Dawg, We can do better!”

Paula? “Blah blah blah *burp* Blah Blah Blah I Love You and your beautiful *hic*!”

Simon? “This is all a bad dream. I’m out of here!”

The Hollywood Reporter – Two programs derailed by last year’s writers strike returned Sunday to considerably smaller ratings than when they were last seen in 2007, yet both the Golden Globes and Fox’s “24″ managed to draw competitive audiences.

The 66th annual Globes averaged 14.6 million viewers across its three hours on NBC, earning a 4.8 rating among adults 18-49 and an 11 share.

That’s down 26% in the adult demographic compared with two years ago (last year’s short Globes press conference is not considered comparable) and marks the lowest-rated Globes since NBC took over the telecast in 1996. A red carpet special served as lead-in (7.7 million, 1.8/5).

The Globes were upstaged in the 9 p.m. hour by a drama series that was shut out from this year’s nominations — ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” (13.8 million, 5.2/12), which ranked as the top-rated entertainment program of the night.

On Fox, “24″ (12.5 million viewers, 4.2/9) returned to face the similarly strike-exiled Globes head on. The action-drama came in second place at 8 p.m., but slipped into third when the “Housewives” stepped in. The “24″ rating is up 5% from November’s prequel “Redemption” movie, but down a sharp 31% from the program’s 2007 series premiere. This is the lowest-rated “24″ debut in the adult demo, though not among total viewers.

Reviews of the Globes: “A safe, notably apolitical show that delivered a three-hour feel-good respite to a depressed nation,” writes THR. Best/worst moments from EW. “Was actually good this year,” writes Newsday. Golden Globes live blog. Complete list of winners.

Reviews of “24:” “God may have rested on the seventh day, but Jack Bauer will receive no such luxury,” writes THR. “Now that his show seems back on track, [Bauer is] rolling at top form,” writes USA Today. “The first four hours of ‘24′ are self-conscious and self-referential about the issue of torture,” writes Time.

Despite all the fireworks among these heavy hitters, CBS actually won the night because of some high-rated NFL overrun early in the evening. CBS also had “60 Minutes” (15.6 million, 4.0/9), “Cold Case” (12.4 million, 3.0/7) and “The Unit” (10.4 million, 2.7/7). NBC was second with the Globes. ABC placed third and had “Extreme Makeover” (10.3 million, 3.4/8) and “Brothers & Sisters” (9.1 million, 3.4/8) included in its lineup. Fox was close behind in fourth with “24″ and repeats.