RATINGS RECAP: 11/3/10

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 9.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9
8:30 Better With You
Viewers: 7.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 12.2 million, 18-49 demo: 4.8
9:30 Cougar Town
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
10:00 In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 12.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 14.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9
10:00 The Defenders
Viewers: 9.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3

NBC
8:00 Undercovers
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 8.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
10:00 Law & Order: Los Angeles
Viewers: 7.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9

FOX
8:00 Hell's Kitchen (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 Hell's Kitchen (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

ABC had another mostly solid Wednesday. The Middle continued to show lots of strength in the 8pm hour as it was down just a tenth in viewers and even in the demo from last week's series highs. This show is stronger than ever and that's great news for ABC. New comedy Better With You followed and was basically dead even with last week which is good news as the show seems to be stabilizing though retention isn't incredible. Modern Family was down nearly a million viewers from last week and even in the demo but remained the standout of the night. Cougar Town was also off about the same amount as The Middle is definitely now a bigger success story than Cougar Town. Finally the burning off The Whole Truth was preempted for a Robin Roberts special which wasn't too impressive but well above Truth's numbers. ABC will launch Off the Map in this slot in January. Next week, the entire lineup will be preempted for the CMA Awards.

CBS made gains across the board from last week without the World Series to compete with. Survivor was up half a million viewers and two tenths in the demo. It should see gains as the finale nears. Criminal Minds was up over half a million viewers and half a demo point for its best numbers (in the demo) since the season premiere. This was a nice showing for the veteran underrated drama. Finally The Defenders was up too but not as much, just a tenth in viewers and two tenths in the demo. With Minds up much more, the retention isn't great and it doesn't seem likely to stay in this slot come midseason but we'll see.

NBC did not have much to write home about. The just-cancelled Undercovers was low as usual. Although it was up a bit in total viewers, it hit a series low in the demo and its cancellation is certainly justified. Law & Order: SVU was down over half a million viewers and a full half demo point from the last original two weeks ago. The demo number was a season low (and it tied a season low in viewers). This show is languishing in a 9pm slot and should move back to 10pm on some night. Finally, Law & Order: Los Angeles was down a bit in viewers and half a demo point (tying a series low) from the last original. After a gain two weeks ago, NBC may have killed some of this show's momentum by airing a repeat last week. Finally, FOX aired repeats of Hell's Kitchen (my apologies for saying they were new in The Rundown as that will be next week). They were low but it's worth noting that the 8pm edition beat Undercovers in the demo.