RATINGS RECAP: 4/14/11

ABC
8:00 Wipeout
Viewers: 6.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
9:00 Grey's Anatomy (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
10:00 Private Practice (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.8 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory (Repeat)
Viewers: 7.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
8:30 Rules of Engagement (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 CSI (Repeat)
Viewers: 8.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
10:00 The Mentalist (Repeat)
Viewers: 10.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
8:30 The Paul Reiser Show
Viewers: 3.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 4.0
9:30 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 5.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
10:00 30 Rock
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
10:30 Outsourced
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 21.9 million, 18-49 demo: 6.4
9:00 Bones
Viewers: 11.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.5

ABC was new for the first hour on Thursday with Wipeout which was down two tenths in viewers and even in the demo from its last new airing two weeks ago. Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice were in reruns and very low as they don't rerun nearly as well as some dramas. CBS was in repeats with its regular lineup but it was solid for repeats, particularly The Mentalist's 1.9 demo at 10pm.

NBC was all new on Thursday night with mixed, but mostly bad, results. At 8pm, Community was down a million viewers and four tenths in the demo for season lows. Why did NBC renew this show? It has a loyal but incredibly small audience and those shows shouldn't see a third season. The 8pm fall did not help an already doomed show as the series premiere of The Paul Reiser Show was completely dead on arrival with the worst debut of any show this year. Will NBC let this show stay on the air after it completely bombed? However things improved at 9pm as The Office with guest star Will Ferrell was up eight tenths in viewers and six tenths in the demo for its best numbers since January 27. It should only go up in the next two weeks with Steve Carell's finale coming. The better lead-in only slightly helped Parks and Recreation though which was even in viewers and up a tenth in the demo. This seems to be its core audience and it doesn't rise much when The Office does. At 10pm, 30 Rock was even in viewers but up three tenths in the demo from its last new airing. Finally, Outsourced closed out the night and was up half a million viewers and three tenths in the demo from last week when it followed a repeat. It seems to be a dead show walking at this point.

FOX was all new on Thursday night starting with American Idol which was up four tenths in viewers and even in the demo from last week. This show isn't slipping like it did last year. At 9pm, Bones was up eight tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo. The demo is the best number since January 27 as it benefited from repeats on both ABC and CBS. Where will FOX put Bones next fall?