RATINGS RECAP: 10/20/10

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 8.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6
8:30 Better With You
Viewers: 6.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 12.0 million, 18-49 demo: 4.7
9:30 Cougar Town
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
10:00 The Whole Truth
Viewers: 4.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 12.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 14.5 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7
10:00 The Defenders
Viewers: 10.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3

NBC
8:00 Undercovers
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 8.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7
10:00 Law & Order: Los Angeles
Viewers: 8.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

FOX
8:00 MLB NLCS Playoffs 
Viewers: 9.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9

ABC had a pretty standard Wednesday with its comedies and The Whole Truth. At 8pm, The Middle was up half a million viewers and a tenth in the demo to post its best numbers in both categories since the season premiere. Better With You rebounded a bit from last week's low in total viewers but the demo was the same and it's still losing more of The Middle's audience than it should. Modern Family followed and was up half a million viewers but down a tenth in the demo, easily the demo standout of the night. Cougar Town was also up a bit in viewers but down a tenth in the demo. It's still pulling above a 3, but losing a ton of Modern Family's audience. The Whole Truth returned after a week off and was up a tenth in viewers but even in the demo from its last airing two weeks ago. It has stayed pretty steady from its low launch. I wouldn't be surprised to see it get one more week, then pulled for sweeps and possibly given a final chance in December.

CBS also had its usual lineup. Survivor was even in viewers but down a bit in the demo, still easily winning the hour in both categories. Criminal Minds followed and was up in both viewers and the demo by a bit. Finally The Defenders was up a tenth in viewers but down two tenths in the demo. After last week's turnaround in the demo, it fell backwards again. This slot could be a prime contender for the Criminal Minds spinoff at midseason.

NBC had some positive news from its lineup. Undercovers appears to have finally stabilized as it was even in viewers and up a tenth in the demo. This is still very low - will NBC move try it in a different slot? That might be its best hope. Law & Order: SVU was also up a bit in viewers and also up in the demo after last week's low. But the best news for NBC came from Law & Order: Los Angeles which was up nearly a million viewers and half a point in the demo. That's quite a rebound for a new show and an encouraging sign for NBC. FOX had solid numbers with Game 4 of the Giants-Phillies series, it could be even better numbers tonight as the Giants try to clinch.