These are what we call the 'YMMV items.' Things that some people find in this work. We call them 'your mileage might vary' because not everyone sees these things in the same way. This starts discussions in the trope lists, a thing we don't want. Please use the discussion page if you'd like to discuss any of these items.
Ensemble Darkhorse - When news of Idolm@ster DS first emerged, Ryo was generally considered the least interesting character. Cue the reveal of one minor detail, and Ryo near singlehandedly doubles the game's preorders.
Makoto Kikuchi is this of the main characters.
Fan Dumb - Upbeat, feelgood, and happy fun though this game may be, the behavior of hardcore fans can be downright maniacal and disturbingly possessive. Said behavior includes celebrating the birthdays of the girls in real life (amongst the milder cases) and all the way to threatening the ACTRESSES of the girls when their characters have boyfriends in the GAME universe.
Fan Nickname - "Broducer" for the anime version of the Producer.
There is the てってってー (Te Te Tee) meme from Nico Video, where remixes of alldifferentsorts are done with a BGM song from THE IDOLM@STER, as well as the popular trend of putting the choreography of the dances (Usually the most popular ones.) to different songs.
Due to the popularity of iDOLM@STER in Japan, Sony offered a Haruka "skin" for avatars in Playstation Home. The resultant skin, really intended like a plastic mask for the avatar, fell so forcefully into the Uncanny Valley that "Home Haruka-san" (as she's been dubbed) has become a minor meme on Nico Nico, particularly in the Vocaloid fandom where the 3D choreography program "Miku Miku Dance" is readily available. Home Haruka-san should be treated with the same amount of fear and respect as you would give Michael Meyers.
Yukiho's Catch Phrase ("I'll go bury myself!") soon become a meme about Yukiho's extraordinary ability to dig holes on every surface, as well as the ability to summon shovels from Hammer Space. Somehow ascended in episode 15 of the anime, where she (as a super robot) has drills and an obsession to dig through stuff.
Kuroi also got one thanks to his nonsensical sense of board game: "CHECKMATE!"
Narm - In the anime, Kuroi seems to have a fetish on chess, Go, etc and likes making up things to make Check Mate (and says it out loud)... until you realize that he's just arranging the pieces into some shapes he likes rather than making an actual check mate situation... Clearly the man knows nothing about the board games he plays.
That One Level - The VESPERIA Festival. Also counts as Brutal Bonus Level. Without some serious aid and preparation, there's no way to beat it.
The Scrappy - Jupiter. Ye gods, Jupiter. Then again, this is expected when the series up to their debut consists entirely of female idols (except for Ryo) and Most Gamers Are Male.
Ship-to-Ship Combat - Makoto is most commonly paired with either Miki or Yukiho. They are depicted as rivals in many MADs.
Tastes Like Diabetes - It's a game about J Pop, so quite a few of the songs. The spinoff manga "Puchimasu!" probably qualifies too.
Dear GOD, the preschoolers in Episode 24.
Shiny FestaVisionary is two minutes of sugary cuteness.
Almost 99% of what the Petit Idols in the anime.
Ugly Cute: Harukasan. With her constant wide mouth and eyes, she like the pug of the Petit Idol gang.
The Woobie - Poor, poor Chihaya-chan. Not only her past is that dark and troubled (for this kind of series' standards anyway), the last moments of anime episode 19 will make you want to hug her... while cursing at Kuroi and scream for his death for what he did to her.
Haruka becomes this in episode 23, since all of her friends are busy and have no time for her, a show that was suppose to happen gets canceled, and Miki starts viewing Haruka as a rival. The ending makes it worse.
