RATINGS RECAP: 3/23/11

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 7.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
8:30 The Middle (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 10.9 million, 18-49 demo: 4.4
9:30 Mr. Sunshine
Viewers: 5.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
10:00 Off the Map
Viewers: 4.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 11.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
9:00 Criminal Minds (Repeat)
Viewers: 8.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
10:00 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
Viewers: 8.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2

NBC
8:00 Minute to Win It
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 8.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 23.9 million, 18-49 demo: 7.9

ABC had mixed results on Wednesday night. At 8pm, The Middle was down eight tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo from the last new episode three weeks ago for season lows. This show got as high as over 10 million viewers and a 3 in the demo so the American Idol and Survivor competition is really taking its toll. A repeat of The Middle bridged the 8:30pm gap to numbers similar to new episodes of the preempted Better With You. At 9pm, Modern Family was up eight tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo from its last new airing which is solid with the Idol competition. Mr. Sunshine was helped somewhat as it was up 1.3 million viewers and three tenths in the demo, but its retention out of Modern Family is still very low and its been no improvement over Cougar Town. Finally at 10pm, Off the Map was up three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo but the overall numbers remained disappointing.

CBS had mixed results as well. At 8pm, Survivor was up three tenths in viewers but down a tenth in the demo. This has really done well against American Idol all spring. A Criminal Minds repeat at 9pm delivered solid numbers for a repeat standards but spinoff series Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior was down 1.5 million viewers and three tenths in the demo from last week when it followed a new Criminal Minds. The viewer total is a series low and this spinoff show just doesn't seem to be winning audiences and is no better than previous timeslot occupant The Defenders.

NBC started pathetically as usual with Minute to Win It (though it was up nine tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo from last week's episode) and a Law & Order: SVU repeat. But a new episode of Law & Order: SVU at 10pm won the hour in the demo and was up eight tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from its last new airing a month ago. This veteran series remains one of NBC's most stable and reliable performers. FOX had a night of American Idol as usual and was up 1.3 million viewers and three tenths in the demo from last week. This was despite the ABC comedies being new again so this is another impressive performance for the show that just won't die.