RATINGS RECAP: 3/24/11

ABC
8:00 Wipeout
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7
10:00 Private Practice
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6

CBS
8:00 NCAA Basketball March Madness
Viewers: 6.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:24 NCAA Basketball Between Game Break
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:42 NCAA Basketball March Madness
Viewers: 8.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.3

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 4.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
8:30 Perfect Couples
Viewers: 3.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 7.1 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4
9:30 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 5.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:00 30 Rock
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
10:30 Outsourced
Viewers: 3.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 21.3 million, 18-49 demo: 6.4
9:00 Bones (Repeat)
Viewers: 8.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

ABC was all new on Thursday night with its regular lineup. At 8pm, Wipeout was up two tenths in viewers and the demo for its best numbers since February 3. It was followed by Grey's Anatomy which was up 1.2 million viewers and three tenths in the demo from its last new airing. It benefited from no CSI and a Bones repeat airing against it but it is not the powerful hit it once was. Finally, Private Practice was up 1.9 million viewers and seven tenths in viewers from last week's episode which aired at 9pm. Not surprisingly, this show continues to be lead-in dependent. CBS had decent numbers from Sweet 16 games of March Madness, especially the later game.

NBC was all new but low rated as usual with its comedy lineup despite being up across the board. At 8pm, Community was up three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from last week. It was followed by Perfect Couples which was up half a million viewers and a surprising four tenths in the demo. These are its best numbers since the second episode but it's too little too late as the show is basically (but not officially) cancelled with The Paul Reiser Show coming in April. At 9pm, The Office was up a million viewers and two tenths in the demo from its last new airing a month ago. This show may build in April with Steve Carell's nearing departure and Will Ferrell's guest arc. Of course its rise helps Parks and Recreation which was up 1.1 million viewers and six tenths in the demo, proving it is quite lead-in dependent. At 10pm, 30 Rock was up two tenths in viewers and the demo from last week's lows. Outsourced was even in viewers and up a tenth in the demo from last week but actually finished behind Perfect Couples as the lowest rated show which doesn't bode well for an on-the-bubble show.

FOX was new from 8-9pm with American Idol and its save of the voted-off Casey Abrams. Idol was up a solid 1.7 million viewers and seven tenths in the demo from last week's episode that had to compete with St. Patrick's Day. This is a better performance for a results show after last week's troubling drop. It was followed by a decently rated repeat of Bones.