Hollywood, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – Auditions are now being held nationwide for Season 14 of American Idol  (AI)  but the reality show seems to be undergoing a mid-life crisis. Or shall we say ‘golden crisis?’

It all started when Steven Tyler became a judge on the singing competition.   Viewers considered him to be too old (read: senior citizen) to judge young contestants. Not that the other judges  weren’t close or already in their golden years.

Viewership & Contestants

In Season 1, the average age of American Idol viewers was 32. Today it’s 50 and beyond.

The only thing that has kept AI contestants within the teen and young adult demographic is the age cap of 28 years old.

But the sure sign of AI’s mid-life crisis is its newest sponsor: AARP.