RATINGS RECAP: 3/17/11

ABC
8:00 Wipeout
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1 
9:00 Private Practice
Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
10:00 Off the Map (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0

CBS
8:00 NCAA Basketball March Madness Round 1
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:29 NCAA Basketball Between Game Break
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
9:48 NCAA Basketball March Madness Round 1
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4 

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
8:30 Perfect Couples
Viewers: 2.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 The Office (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:30 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
10:00 30 Rock
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
10:30 Outsourced
Viewers: 3.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 19.6 million, 18-49 demo: 5.7
9:00 Bones
Viewers: 11.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.3

ABC was new from 8-10pm on a quiet Thursday night as it seems the networks were impacted by St. Patrick's Day. At 8pm, Wipeout was up a tenth in viewers but down a tenth in the demo from the last new airing three weeks ago. It was followed by Private Practice at a special time but it did not impress without a Grey's lead-in, as it was down four tenths in viewers and the demo from its last new airing at 10pm. Still after four years, this show can't seem to stand on its own very well. It was followed by a repeat sampling of Off the Map but it did not pick up many (if any) new viewers. CBS did not have very impressive numbers for Day 1 of March Madness thanks to the spreading out of viewers over four networks. Overall, the tournament's numbers were up on the first day, but it's negatively impacting CBS.

NBC's comedy lineup was new except for The Office, and was low as usual. At 8pm, the just-renewed Community was up four tenths in viewers but down a tenth in the demo from its last airing. The fact that this got renewed speaks to the problems at NBC. Perfect Couples was even in viewers but down two tenths in the demo for a series low. This will likely not be joining the renewed comedies. After an Office repeat, another renewed series, Parks and Recreation was down half a million viewers and a rough six tenths in the demo. Not having a new lead-in did not help this show. At 10pm, 30 Rock was down three tenths in viewers and also six tenths in the demo for a season low in the latter category. NBC's young skewing shows probably had a lot of cross audience with the St. Patrick's Day bar crowd. Finally at 10:30pm, the on-the-bubble Outsourced was actually up three tenths in viewers and even in the demo with its last new airing.

FOX started things off with American Idol of course but the results show was down 2.5 million viewers and a full demo point from last week for season lows. Again, the demo could have been hurt badly by St. Patrick's Day. It was followed by Bones which was actually up 1.1 million viewers and a tenth in the demo posting much better retention this week. The viewer total was the veteran show's second best of the season.