RATINGS RECAP: 12/1/10

ABC
8:00 The Middle (Repeat)
Viewers: 6.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
8:30 Better With You (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 Modern Family (Repeat)
Viewers: 6.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
9:30 Cougar Town (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
10:00 The Whole Truth
Viewers: 3.6 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 12.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6
9:00 Criminal Minds (Repeat)
Viewers: 9.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
10:00 Grammy Nominations Concert
Viewers: 5.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

NBC
8:00 Undercovers
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 9.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
10:00 Law & Order: Los Angeles
Viewers: 9.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2

FOX
8:00 Human Target
Viewers: 5.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 Hell's Kitchen
Viewers: 5.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6

ABC started things off with repeats of its comedies. All were better than usual repeat numbers except for Cougar Town which was the lowest performer of the night. That led into the burning-off The Whole Truth which hit a series low. Will ABC keep something this low on even in December? CBS aired a new Survivor which was up three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from its last regular airing. It dominated in its time period but it's surprising it was only up a bit with less competition. That led into a Criminal Minds repeat which was up in the demo from last week. Finally, the Grammy Nominations Concert special was disappointing at 10pm as it was down from last year.

NBC was all-new and had good news from 9-11pm. The burning off Undercovers was down three tenths in viewers from its last airing on Nov 10 but up a tenth in the demo. The viewer total is a series low, not that it matters much. At 9pm, a new Law & Order: SVU was up 1.5 million viewers and four tenths in the demo from its last airing. The nice rise was to be expected as it did not have to compete with new episodes on ABC and CBS. Law & Order: Los Angeles followed and was up 1.4 million viewers and three tenths in the demo from its last episode. The viewer total is the best since the series premiere, which is good news for NBC.

FOX also had an all-new lineup. Human Target was up three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo from last week's Thanksgiving eve episode. FOX may have been hoping for more of a rise especially against repeats on ABC and a weak offering on NBC. Hell's Kitchen was up seven tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo from last week and won the hour in the demo at 9pm, which is great news for this reliable reality show.