‘Idol’ sticks to its lyrics, though McGhee can’t seem to

America has voted, and it’s official: Contestants on Fox’s “American Idol” need to try hard to remember song lyrics.

Husky-voiced Melissa McGhee was given the hook during Wednesday’s “results show.” No surprise there -- on Tuesday’s performance show, she blew the lyrics to a Stevie Wonder tune during a pre-taped rehearsal with the Motown legend himself. Then she came onstage and forgot the words again during her live number.

As they say in sumo: sayonara.

At a trim half-hour, Wednesday’s “Idol” was easily the night’s most-watched show, with 27.8 million total viewers and an 11.4 rating/28 share, according to figures from Nielsen Media Research. That was down a bit from the 11.8 rating in the key 18- to 49-year-old demographic “Idol” did the week before, with a one-hour show featuring the guys singing.

And yet rivals still felt the “Idol” effect.

A clip show of CBS’ “Survivor: Panama” could manage no better than a tie in the demo with Fox’s me-too forensics drama “Bones” (4.4 rating/12 share). But that’s mostly because “Bones’ ” demographic audience climbed by 15% in anticipation of “Idol’s” 9 p.m. start.

At 9:30 p.m., Fox unfurled its new comedy “The Loop,” which did a boffo-sounding 6.5 rating/16 share in the demographic, 13.8 million viewers. But again, those are “Idol”-inflated numbers. “The Loop” retained just 57% of the demographic audience from “Idol,” which is hardly cause for celebration.

Otherwise, it was a mostly quiet night, with CBS’ “Criminal Minds” and “CSI: NY” and NBC’s “Law & Order” all in a typical March repeat pattern. Fox won the night overall in the demo (6.7 rating/17 share) and in total viewers (16.5 million).

‘King of Queens’ in negotiation

“King of Queens,” CBS’ longest-running current sitcom, may abdicate the throne.

CBS is negotiating with stars Kevin James and Leah Remini to return for a ninth season, but a deal is looking increasingly iffy.

The network last year agreed to pay James a reported $500,000-per-episode salary this season, making him among the highest-paid stars in prime time. And since James’ film career is on the upswing -- he won plaudits for his work in last year’s comedy “Hitch,” alongside Will Smith -- he has alternatives if a favorable deal can’t be struck.

Because of James’ commitments to feature projects, a decision on “King” would probably need to be made in the next few weeks, according to one person familiar with the situation.

“It could go either way,” Jeff Sussman, the actor’s manager, said, adding that “it’s up to the network” whether the show will go on.

“It’s been eight great years,” Sussman said. “Hopefully, it’ll continue.”

A CBS spokesman declined to comment.

CBS may not need “King” as much as it did a year ago. The series has been an important utility player, if never a huge hit, and now kicks off the network’s Monday comedy lineup. But executives may feel sufficiently covered on the sitcom side with “Two and a Half Men” and “How I Met Your Mother.”

Plus, the network has ordered episodes for next season of “The Class,” an ensemble comedy from “Friends” writer David Crane, which was scheduled to start production this week.

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