RATINGS RECAP: 2/3/11

ABC
8:00 Wipeout
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 11.2 million, 18-49 demo: 4.3
10:00 Private Practice
Viewers: 7.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 13.8 million, 18-49 demo: 4.3
8:30 $#*! My Dad Says
Viewers: 10.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
9:00 CSI
Viewers: 14.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
10:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 15.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
8:30 Perfect Couples
Viewers: 3.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 7.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7
9:30 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 4.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:00 30 Rock
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:30 Outsourced
Viewers: 3.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 21.9 million, 18-49 demo: 7.5
9:00 Bones
Viewers: 10.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.3

ABC was all new on the first night of February sweeps starting with Wipeout which was up three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. Its numbers would be great without the Idol competition but it is holding its own in this competitive hour. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy returned and was down a million viewers but even in the demo from its last original airing three weeks ago. It still remains the demo powerhouse at 9pm. At 10pm, Private Practice was down seven tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo from its last original airing a month ago, hitting season lows. Will next year be the year that ABC finally tries a new show in this timeslot? It should be while Grey's Anatomy still has a little bit of power.

CBS was all new with its regular lineup. At 8pm, The Big Bang Theory was up two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from its last original airing. This show can clearly square off with American Idol with no problem. At 8:30pm was $#*! My Dad Says which was up 1.8 million viewers and half a demo point from last week when it aired after an Big Bang repeat. This show has two more episodes to prove to CBS that it deserves to be back next year. At 9pm, CSI was down three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from its last original airing two weeks ago despite a little-promoted return by former star William Petersen. This show is still a powerful total viewer performer but it slipped to fourth in the demo for the time period. Will CBS send it to another night (like Friday) next week? At 10pm, The Mentalist was up four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from last week to be a powerful 10pm performer despite the old-skew.

NBC was a mess on Thursday night with its batch of low-rated comedies. At 8pm, Community was down two tenths in viewers and the demo. The viewer total tied a season low. This show doesn't deserve renewal but will it get one because of the lack of other options? At 8:30pm, Perfect Couples slipped another four tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo. This show has fallen fast from a low debut and may not even survive February sweeps. At 9pm, The Office was the only bright spot despite being down six tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo, towering over the other shows in both categories. Parks and Recreation slipped a lot after two solid weeks as it was down nine tenths in viewers and six tenths in the demo. Sadly, it appears this is a niche show like all others on this schedule except The Office. At 10pm, 30 Rock was down just a tenth in viewers and even in the demo despite first-run competition on CBS and ABC, which is a bit of positive news. But at 10:30pm, Outsourced was down four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. The viewer total is a series low. NBC just can't seem to figure things out.

Finally FOX led things off with the powerful American Idol which was six tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. It is slowly dipping but still strong in its third week of audition episodes. At 9pm, Bones was down a rough 1.9 million viewers and six tenths in the demo and its retention out of Idol was very poor. Perhaps it was hurt by new dramas on CBS and ABC? Either way, FOX continues to have a hard time finding any adequate lead-outs of the mighty Idol.