RATINGS RECAP: 1/9/11

ABC
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos
Viewers: 7.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
8:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Viewers: 9.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7
9:00 Desperate Housewives
Viewers: 12.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9
10:00 Brothers & Sisters
Viewers: 8.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2

CBS
7:00 60 Minutes
Viewers: 10.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
8:00 CSI: Miami
Viewers: 12.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 Undercover Boss
Viewers: 11.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
10:00 Criminal Minds (Repeat)
Viewers: 7.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

NBC
7:00 Dateline NBC
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
9:00 The Cape
Viewers: 8.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6

FOX
7:00 NFL Wildcard Playoffs
Viewers: TBD
7:47 NFL Postgame
Viewers: 24.9 million, 18-49 demo: 9.4
8:00 The Simpsons
Viewers: 12.6 million, 18-49 demo: 5.7
8:30 Bob's Burgers
Viewers: 9.4 million, 18-49 demo: 4.5
9:00 Family Guy
Viewers: 9.3 million, 18-49 demo: 4.7
9:30 The Cleveland Show
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6

ABC was solid on a very busy night for the broadcast networks. At 7pm, America's Funniest Home Videos was down half a million viewers and two tenths in the demo which is not surprising since it was up against the NFL Wildcard Playoff game. At 8pm, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was down just a tenth in viewers and even in the demo which is good considering the lead-in was down and there was more competition. Desperate Housewives followed and was up six tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. The viewer total is the best since its second episode of the season and nearly a 4 in the demo is still a strong performance even though its not what it once was by any means. Finally, Brothers & Sisters was up four tenths in viewers but down a tenth in the demo which is troubling. This show has been heading in the wrong direction lately and could wind up being a casualty.

CBS also had some good news but not at 7pm as 60 Minutes was down 2.4 million viewers and six tenths in the demo. This really isn't surprising at all since it didn't have a football lead-in and was also competing with football. Numbers slightly above this are probably what we should expect for spring. CBS moved CSI: Miami to 8pm for a second straight week and it was up a solid 1.1 million viewers and three tenths in the demo from last week. The viewer total is a season high and this could see a second half renaissance without football on NBC anymore. A new Undercover Boss followed and was down a tenth in viewers and even in the demo while a Criminal Minds repeat did solid repeat numbers at 10pm.

NBC had a new lineup sans football starting with a two hour Dateline NBC which didn't make much noise and had a very low demo. But the news was better at 9pm as the new superhero series The Cape had a solid premiere in a special Sunday sneak preview. Though it will air Mondays, it received a solid sampling and better news for NBC was that it held up through two full hours. The encore of the pilot on Monday night didn't do much but it will be interesting to see next Monday how much of the audience comes back.

FOX had a terrific night for its animated shows thanks in large part to a huge lead-in from the NFL Wildcard playoff game between Green Bay and Philadelphia. At 8pm, The Simpsons was up a ridiculous 5.4 million viewers and 2.5 points in the demo from its last original airing. These are easily season highs and the 5.7 demo is one of the best for any scripted show this season. This led into the premiere of Bob's Burgers, the newest animated sitcom which got a great sampling. It will be interesting to see how it does this week with The Simpsons likely coming back to earth. At 9pm, Family Guy was up 1.3 million viewers and eight tenths in the demo from its last episode to a nice 4.7. These are also season highs and it built on Bob's in the demo. Finally, The Cleveland Show in its new timeslot was even in viewers and up two tenths in the demo from its last original airing. Though it may be stronger than American Dad!, the 9:30 show is still the weak link of the night at this point.