RATINGS RECAP: 3/16/11

ABC
8:00 The Middle (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
8:30 The Middle (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Modern Family (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
9:30 Mr. Sunshine
Viewers: 4.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
10:00 Off the Map
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 10.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 13.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6
10:00 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5

NBC
8:00 Minute to Win It 
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.2 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9
10:00 Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 22.6 million, 18-49 demo: 7.6

It was basically the same story for ABC on Wednesday night compared to last week. Repeats of The Middle and Modern Family were ok but down from last week. These shows don't repeat nearly as well when they're against American Idol. They were followed by a new episode Mr. Sunshine which fell another three tenths in viewers but held steady in the demo. It will be interesting to see if this show can perk up when it follows a new Modern Family because right now it's been highly disappointing. At 10pm, Off the Map fell another tenth in viewers and the demo for series lows. Many think ABC will grant a mercy renewal for one of its freshman dramas but will this really be the one as many predict? It shouldn't be as its now close to the level of the long-written off Detroit 1-8-7.  

CBS was all new on Wednesday night. At 8pm, Survivor was down three tenths in viewers but even in the demo as it continued to hold its own against Idol. At 9pm, the final episode (for now) of Paget Brewster in Criminal Minds was down seven tenths in viewers but even in the demo from its last new airing two weeks ago. A 3.6 in the demo against Idol is great. The better lead-in helped Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior was up 1.2 million viewers and three tenths in viewers. This may be serviceable but it's not a breakout hit like some of the other crime drama spinoffs have been.
 
NBC was not competitive as usual with a very low-rated Minute to Win It and two Law & Order: SVU repeats. Though it's worth mentioning that the 10pm SVU repeat was up significantly from the 9pm and actually beat Off the Map in viewers and the demo. Finally on FOX, American Idol was down 1.8 million viewers and half a demo point from last week. Part of this could have been due to tougher CBS competition at 9pm but it is the lowest Wednesday performance yet for the ratings monster.