RATINGS RECAP: 1/19/11

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 8.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6
8:30 Better With You
Viewers: 6.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 10.9 million, 18-49 demo: 4.6
9:30 Cougar Town
Viewers: 5.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:00 Off the Map
Viewers: 5.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1

CBS
8:00 Live to Dance
Viewers: 5.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 12.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9
10:00 Blue Bloods
Viewers: 12.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

NBC
8:00 Minute to Win It
Viewers: 5.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 Chase
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 7.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 26.2 million, 18-49 demo: 9.7

On a very crowded Wednesday, ABC had an all-new lineup. The comedies from 8-10pm took a hit from American Idol but this was probably the biggest hit they'll take from FOX's ratings mammoth. At 8pm, The Middle was down 1.8 million viewers and four tenths in the demo from last week. It remains a strong 8pm entry. It was followed by Better With You which dropped a million viewers and four tenths in the demo from its last new episode two weeks ago. It tied a season low in viewers and the demo but what ABC decides to do with it next year depends on their comedy plans and the new midseason comedies. At 9pm, Modern Family was down two tenths in viewers but up four tenths in the demo from last week's episode which aired at 9:20pm. It didn't seem to take a big hit from Idol and should be even more competitive as the Idol season wears on. Cougar Town followed and sunk nine tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo from two weeks ago. The viewer total is a season low and it will be interesting to see what Matthew Perry's new sitcom Mr. Sunshine can do with this slot in a couple weeks because Cougar isn't pulling its weight. The comedies led into the second week of new drama Off the Map which was down 1.8 million viewers and two tenths in the demo from its premiere last week. Despite the extra exposure it got from a Thursday encore week, ABC's problems in the Weds 10pm slot continue and Map does not look like it will be a keeper.

CBS had a mixed bag of news. Live to Dance was clobbered by American Idol and was down 1.6 million viewers and half a demo point to an embarrassingly low 1.0 demo. Will CBS even let this show finish its run? Nothing on the eye network gets a 1.0 in the demo so this has been a huge flop. At 9pm, Criminal Minds returned and was down a rough 1.8 million viewers and four tenths in the demo from its last original airing in December. This are easily season  lows. Was it because of Idol or the bad lead-in? Either way, it should rebound soon. At 10pm, Blue Bloods premiered in its new temporary time period and had some success. It actually built on Minds in viewers significantly but continued to be old skewing. This belongs on Fridays which is an old-skewing night anyway, but it wasn't a bad move to give it some additional sampling.

NBC did not have a strong night. Minute to Win It was serviceable enough at 8pm and above the numbers Undercovers was getting at the end of its run. There was probably significant crossover with Idol so as Idol slips a bit, Minute could perk up a bit. At 9pm, Chase premiered in its new time period to very quiet results. Will NBC even let it finish its 18 episode order? The competition is so fierce in this slot, it's hard to imagine what NBC could put there instead. Finally at 10pm, Law & Order: SVU took a hit and was down 1.4 million viewers and two tenths in the demo. It still managed to win the demo for the hour but NBC has to hope it can be a stronger performer at 10pm this spring. 

Finally, FOX had the season premiere of a little show called American Idol. It was down 3.7 million viewers and a full demo point from last spring. While this is a bigger year-to-year drop than usual, it was still a ratings powerhouse and feedback on new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler has been mostly positive so far. It may continue its annual slide but it still has a long way to go to rejoin the pack of regular shows. For now, FOX must be breathing a sigh of relief as it looks like Idol will continue to be a ratings star this spring.