RATINGS RECAP: 4/26/12

ABC
8:00 Missing
Viewers: 7.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 9.5 million, 18-49 demo: 3.3
10:00 Scandal
Viewers: 6.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 12.7 million, 18-49 demo: 4.1
8:30 Rules of Engagement
Viewers: 8.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 Person of Interest
Viewers: 12.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 12.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 3.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
8:30 30 Rock
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:30 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 3.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
10:00 Awake
Viewers: 2.2 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 14.9 million, 18-49 demo: 4.0
9:00 Touch
Viewers: 6.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9

On the first night of May Sweeps, every network was fully new. CBS started with The Big Bang Theory which was down six tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo from its last new episode. It's a season low but that's the nature of the beast this time of year. It was still over a 4 demo which is good. At 8:30pm, Rules of Engagement was up six tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo from last week when it was following a Big Bang repeat. At 9pm, Person of Interest was down a million viewers and a rough six tenths in the demo for a series low after several strong weeks. A likely contributor to this drop was the NFL Draft which negatively affected male skewing shows like this one. At 10pm, The Mentalist also took a hit as it was down six tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. 

Over on ABC, Missing started off the night down two tenths in viewers and even in the demo. Grey's Anatomy followed down three tenths in viewers and even in the demo. For whatever drops it has had over the years, a 3.3 is pretty strong for a drama in spring on broadcast TV. At 10pm, Scandal was also down three tenths in viewers and even in the demo. Each of its first four episodes have gotten a 2.0 demo. While nothing earth shattering, the consistency is extremely rare for a new show so that has to be considered a positive for one of ABC's many bubble dramas. 

NBC had another low rated fiasco starting with Community which was up four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. The live episode of 30 Rock was up four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. Its first live episode a couple years ago got a much bigger boost. At 9pm, The Office was down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo for another series low. It may be one of NBC's few shows above a 2 in the demo but it is sinking fast. At 9:30pm, Parks and Recreation was down three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. Awake closed out the night down six tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. Can NBC even keep this on through May sweeps? It is doing terribly. They need to completely revamp Thursday. 
 
Finally on FOX, American Idol started off the night down a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. It was a positive that it held steady against a new Big Bang and the NFL Draft. At 9pm, Touch was down nine tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo despite the lead-in holding steady. Honestly this show would be doing nothing without the Idol lead-in. Maybe FOX should cancel this one too and start fresh with Bones as the only returning drama next year.