RATINGS RECAP: 9/29/10

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 8.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
8:30 Better With You
Viewers: 7.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 11.9 million, 18-49 demo: 4.6
9:30 Cougar Town
Viewers: 7.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
10:00 The Whole Truth
Viewers: 4.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 12.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.5
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 14.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6
10:00 The Defenders
Viewers: 10.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5

NBC
8:00 Undercovers
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 9.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
10:00 Law & Order: Los Angeles
Viewers: 10.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2

FOX
8:00 Hell's Kitchen
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
9:00 Hell's Kitchen
Viewers: 6.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0

Wednesday night was another busy night but all the networks were down from their premiere week numbers. ABC kicked things off with its comedies. The Middle was down a bit from its premiere but it will probably be right around these numbers all season. Better With You dropped about 12% in viewers and the demo in Week 2. If it can level off here or climb a bit, it will be fine. If it drops again next week, it could be in trouble. Modern Family slipped from its series high last week but was still powerful and easily had the best demo of the night. Cougar Town dropped significantly from its series premiere and seems to be settling back into its usual ways of bleeding Modern Family's audience. It had the same total viewer numbers as Better With You but after a much stronger lead-in. Finally, the second week of The Whole Truth only dipped a bit from its premiere but the premiere was a big disappointment. It did nothing to keep from being on the death watch list.

Over on CBS, things were down from a powerful Wednesday last week. Survivor dropped a surprising .5 in the demo but still easily won the hour. Criminal Minds was powerful again but also down in the demo. It was a full point behind Modern Family in the demo at 9pm. The Defenders dropped 15% in viewers and close to that much in the demo and may be CBS's biggest concern among new series as it is well below the relocated CSI: NY. Any further drops will be a red flag for CBS.

NBC saw a mix of good and bad news. The bad news was at 8pm where Undercovers dipped heavily (18% in viewers and over 20% in the demo). It might cut it for awhile for NBC but this is one of the bigger Week 2 drops and the first week wasn't that strong to begin with. Law & Order: SVU followed at 9pm was down a bit from its two hour premiere last week which is to be expected. Law & Order: Los Angeles had a strong debut for NBC, building on SVU and easily winning the demo while nipping The Defenders for the total viewer crown as well. Now how many people will come back next week? And finally, FOX had two episodes of Hell's Kitchen, the first was up slightly from last week and the second was down slightly. It remains a viable Wednesday option for FOX. FOX also announced yesterday that Human Target will air at 9pm Wednesdays in November, replacing Lie to Me, which itself replacing the cancelled Lone Star on Monday nights starting this coming week.