RATINGS RECAP: 3/9/11

ABC
8:00 The Middle (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
8:30 The Middle (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 Modern Family (Repeat)
Viewers: 6.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
9:30 Mr. Sunshine
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
10:00 Off the Map
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4 

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 11.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
9:00 Criminal Minds (Repeat)
Viewers: 8.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
10:00 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
Viewers: 9.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2

NBC
8:00 Minute to Win It
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9
10:00 Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 24.4 million, 18-49 demo: 8.1 

ABC had a troubling Wednesday night. Sitcom repeats of The Middle and Modern Family were lower than they were in the fall, perhaps due in large part to the American Idol competition. But it's still troubling to remember that Modern Family got a 3.5 in the demo for its last repeat on February 2. These led into Mr. Sunshine which tumbled 2.1 million viewers and six tenths in the demo to series lows. This show has been a big disappointment so far for ABC and it can't seem to hold its own against Idol and with repeat lead-ins. It was followed by Off the Map which fell seven tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo, also hitting season lows. ABC is really starting to fall apart this season with tons of flop freshman shows and many aging hits. Aside from The Middle and Modern Family, they don't have any young hit shows. They need to revamp before things get worse.

CBS started out strong as Survivor was down just three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. This show is a much more competent challenger to American Idol that CBS's weak sitcoms were last year. A repeat of Criminal Minds followed to respectable numbers but then spinoff Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior fell 1.3 million viewers and three tenths in the demo to series lows. While it was following a repeat instead of a lead-in, this performance is troubling since NBC was in repeats and ABC was barely competitive. CBS had to be hoping this show would follow the ways of the NCIS and CSI spinoffs but it appears so far that it won't.

NBC was barely competitive with a low-rated combo of Minute to Win It and repeats of Law & Order: SVU. FOX aired the first Top 13 performance show of American Idol and was up 1.6 million viewers and three tenths in the demo. FOX has to be thrilled that Idol is still so dominating and it should continue to be so in the repeat-dominated month that lies ahead. Plus, they have some interesting contestants that will keep viewers interested.