RATINGS RECAP: 12/9/10

ABC
8:00 Shrek the Halls
Viewers: 6.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
8:30 Disney's Prep & Landing
Viewers: 7.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
9:00 Barbara Walters Special: Interview with Oprah
Viewers: 13.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
10:00 Barbara Walters Special: 10 Most Fascinating People of 2010
Viewers: 12.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 12.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9
8:30 $#*! My Dad Says
Viewers: 9.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7
9:00 CSI
Viewers: 13.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
10:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 13.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
8:30 30 Rock
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7
10:00 The Apprentice
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

FOX
8:00 Bones
Viewers: 8.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
9:00 Fringe
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

ABC had a successful evening thanks to two highly rated Barbara Walters specials. 8pm holiday specials were serviceable while the 9pm Oprah interview had a great total viewer number and the annual Most Fascinating people Special had a stellar demo for the 10pm hour. Ms. Walters continues to deliver for ABC. CBS had a new Thursday lineup for the first time in three weeks. The Big Bang Theory was down a million viewers and four tenths in the demo for season lows. This is disappointing for a show that was a sure thing for a 4 in the demo all season. $#*! My Dad Says followed and was down seven tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo. These are series lows but retention out of Big Bang was slightly better. CSI followed and was down a million viewers but just a tenth in the demo while The Mentalist was down a troubling 1.3 million viewers and six tenths in the demo, easily hitting season lows. This may have been partly due to the Barbara Walters special but it should still be concerning for CBS.

NBC did not have a very merry night of Christmas episodes. The heavily promoted lineup was down slightly as Christmas does not seem to have the same bump Halloween did for sitcoms. Community was down three tenths in total viewers and even in the demo while 30 Rock slipped two tenths in viewers and the demo. The total viewer number is a season low and the demo ties a season low. This is concerning for a show that must anchor the bold 10pm hour next month. A one-hour The Office was down just a tenth in viewers and even in the demo which is good by comparison but its surprising it didn't go up considering it was an hour and featured the return of Amy Ryan. Finally the season finale of the low-rated The Apprentice was even in viewers but up two tenths in the demo for a season high. It is highly unlikely there will ever be a regular edition of The Apprentice again while Celebrity Apprentice will return in March.

FOX did not have a very good night either. Bones was down four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo for another season low. This usually reliable performer has slipped in the last two weeks for no obvious reason. Fringe followed and was down four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo, with the total viewer number being a season low. This show doesn't seem like it will do very well on Fridays at midseason.