For many people reality television is like a train wreck. They know it is wrong to stare but they find it hard to turn away. It doesn't matter how good or bad a reality television program is, watching is addictive. These people think that they must tune in week after week so that they don't miss one single detail.
This is especially the case for American Idol (a reality television show that's sole purpose is finding a good singer based on viewer votes). The fact that American Idol was voted the worst website has nothing to do with the popularity of the show. The website is made to accompany the show, it doesn't make the show.
Many hardcore members of American Idol don't even visit the site. Those that do visit the site and don't like it always have the option of not returning. This is the case with tuning in to the show. If you don't like what you see, you can easily flip the channel.
There are many horrible web pages on the Internet. If you comb the archives of My space, Yahoo, or America Online: you will probably find several distasteful pages. That doesn't mean that you won't visit these sites again. One worm doesn't always ruin an apple, you just have to look past it and find the good parts.
If American Idol is losing its popularity it is likely to be another reason. For one, it isn't as much about music as it is the image. There is always somebody with drama and scandals on the show. As the seasons roll on, things get more predictable and less interesting, this is what turns people off to the show.
Of course all of the spoofs and shows that were created in the likeness of American Idol are also a good indicator as to why people are choosing to look the other way. If something is no longer original, people lose interest. The more the producers beat a dead horse, the easier it is to get bored with things.
Another big factor in the show is the judges. You either love them or hate them but truly they aren't even needed. Paula is overemotional. Randy is everybody's "dog". Simon wouldn't know kindness if it smacked him in the face. These people add to and take away from the fan base.
True fans of the contestants and music in general will tune in to the show no matter what. Music can be universal. If someone is hooked on the actual entertainment factor of the show, no opinion about a website will change that.
When it comes down to it, people will watch because it is reality with a twist. They get to call in and vote so they feel like their voice counts. If a website mattered, so would bad magazine reviews and other gossipy news that has been happening since the beginning of the show.
Many people want to be popular and famous. They want to be the next American Idol. They buy the products. They watch the contestants on tour. They tune in week after week, even to watch reruns. When American Idol's fifteen minutes of fame is over, there will still be fans. The popularity of a website isn't going to effect that either way.