RATINGS RECAP: 2/15/12

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 8.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
8:30 Suburgatory
Viewers: 6.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 11.2 million, 18-49 demo: 4.7
9:30 Happy Endings
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:00 Revenge
Viewers: 7.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 10.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 12.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
10:00 CSI
Viewers: 11.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6

NBC
8:00 Whitney
Viewers: 4.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
8:30 Are You There, Chelsea?
Viewers: 3.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 Rock Center with Brian Williams
Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 18.9 million, 18-49 demo: 6.1 

A week of mostly declines for network shows continued on Wednesday night. CBS started off the night with the premiere of the 24th edition of Survivor. Though it was the lowest premiere number ever, it wasn't too far behind last spring and a 3.1 demo is very solid for a show on its 24th cycle. At 9pm, Criminal Minds seemed to be impacted by American Idol as it was down 1.1 million viewers and two tenths in the demo for a season low. CSI was one of the few shows to go up as its first episode with new cast member Elisabeth Shue was up two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. Expanded to two hours, American Idol was down four tenths in viewers but even in the demo.

ABC had some troubling numbers across the board. Every show is at a 2.4 demo except Modern Family. At least they're steady with each other but a 2.4 is nothing to write home about. At 8pm, The Middle was down four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for a season low. Suburgatory followed suit and was down the same for a series low. Modern Family was down 1.7 million viewers and a big eight tenths in the demo as it had to face American Idol this week. Happy Endings was down 1.3 million viewers and half a demo point. It had better retention this week but it's still a mismatch. At 10pm, Revenge was even in viewers but down a tenth in the demo which is surprising since this was its big "reveal" episode. 

Over on troubled NBC, the news was surprisingly ok to start off the night as Whitney was actually up four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. It was one of the few shows to go up and that was despite tougher competition. Maybe this show has a fighting chance because it hasn't completely collapsed. Despite this rise, Are You There Chelsea? was down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo which does not bode well for this show. Rock Center was down a big 2.1 million viewers and four tenths in the demo from its Wednesday debut last week. If NBC is going to keep going with this show, it doesn't belong on a weeknight. It seemed to bring down Law & Order: SVU as the veteran show was down seven tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo for a series low. This show needs to get away from CSI.