RATINGS RECAP: 1/20/11

ABC
8:00 Wipeout
Viewers: 8.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6
9:00 Grey's Anatomy (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
10:00 Private Practice (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 13.6 million, 18-49 demo: 4.2
8:30 $#*! My Dad Says
Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
9:00 CSI
Viewers: 14.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
10:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 14.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
8:30 Perfect Couples
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 8.3 million, 18-49 demo: 4.5
9:30 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
10:00 30 Rock
Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7
10:30 Outsourced
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 22.9 million, 18-49 demo: 7.8
9:00 Bones
Viewers: 10.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.5

ABC was the only network not entirely new on a busy Thursday. At 8pm, Wipeout was hit by American Idol as it was down a rough 2.3 million viewers and 1.1 demo points. This is a big drop but not too surprising as it had limited competition in recent weeks. If it can level off here or creep back up, it will still be the best performer in this timeslot on ABC in a long time. Repeats of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice followed to low numbers but up from recent repeat numbers.


CBS did fine the increased competition. At 8pm, The Big Bang Theory was down just four tenths in the demo and two tenths in the demo from its last original two weeks ago despite going head-to-head with American Idol. This is a great hold as Big Bang faced its toughest competition all season and was still strong. At 8:30pm, $#*! My Dad Says was actually up two tenths in viewers but down a tenth in the demo from last week. This comedy is delivering strong enough numbers for renewal on other networks but probably not CBS. At 9pm, CSI was up a tenth in viewers but down two tenths in the demo from two weeks ago while The Mentalist was down a tenth in viewers and three tenths in the demo. CBS stayed strong with its reliable Thursday lineup.

NBC had its long-promoted three hours of comedy finally debut and saw mixed results. At 8pm, Community was up four tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo from its last original airing, tying a season high in the demo in its regular timeslot. Though it was low as always, it's encouraging that it went up in viewers and the demo despite facing Idol. The series premiere of Perfect Couples premiered at 8:30pm to low numbers. It won't be long before this is the glaring weak link on this lineup. At 9pm, The Office was up a nice 1.1 million viewers and eight tenths in the demo from its last airing. This is a season high in the demo and it could perk up as Steve Carell's finale nears. Parks and Recreation returned for a new season at 9:30pm to series highs. NBC has been pumping this for a long time and it will always be a niche show but a 3.1 demo is good. The big question was how the 10pm comedies will do and the result was mixed. At 10pm, 30 Rock was positive as it was up half a million viewers and six tenths in the demo. The demo is a season high except for the special "live show" and it was a positive start to the 10pm comedy plan, which seems likely to continue next season at this point. Finally at its new time of 10:30pm, Outsourced was down a rough 1.3 million viewers and seven tenths in the demo for series lows. Unlike 30 Rock, Outsourced doesn't have a built in viewer base and it may wither away in this late time period.

FOX had night two of American Idol which dominated the ratings despite being down from Wednesday's premiere and last year's second night. Though it may hit more lows this year, it's still a dominating show even with the new judging team. Bones followed in its new time period and hit season highs thanks to the Idol lead-in. It was up a nice 2.2 million viewers and 1.3 in the demo but its retention out of Idol wasn't very strong. It's surprising they used Bones as an Idol lead-out when Bones can stand on its own fine.