RATINGS RECAP: 4/17/11

ABC
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos
Viewers: 6.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
8:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Viewers: 7.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
9:00 Desperate Housewives
Viewers: 9.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7
10:00 Brothers & Sisters
Viewers: 6.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

CBS
7:00 60 Minutes
Viewers: 10.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
8:00 The Amazing Race
Viewers: 8.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
9:00 Undercover Boss
Viewers: 9.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
10:00 CSI: Miami
Viewers: 10.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2

NBC
7:00 Dateline NBC
Viewers: 4.6 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9
8:00 America's Next Great Restaurant
Viewers: 3.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 Celebrity Apprentice
Viewers: 7.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6

FOX
7:00 The Cleveland Show (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
7:30 American Dad! (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
8:00 The Simpsons (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
8:30 American Dad!
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
9:00 Family Guy
Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
9:30 The Cleveland Show
Viewers: 4.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3

ABC was all new on Sunday night and the April doldrums continue to set in for the networks. America's Funniest Home Videos started off the night and was down four tenths in viewers and even in the demo from its last new episode. At 8pm, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition returned after a seven week break but it was down 2 million viewers and four tenths in the demo from its last airing on February 20. It was also well below the numbers that Secret Millionaire was pulling. It wouldn't be surprising to see Millionaire take this slot next fall and Makeover shipped elsewhere (Fridays?). At 9pm, Desperate Housewives was even in viewers but down two tenths in the demo, tying a season low in that category. This show has slipped badly this spring. At 10pm, Brothers & Sisters was down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from last week's two hour episode, tying season lows. It seems like its time for ABC to part with this drama. 

CBS did not have great news either as the downward trend across networks continued. At 7pm, 60 Minutes was down 2.2 million viewers and eight tenths in the demo from last week when it aired immediately after the Masters Tournament. At 8pm, The Amazing Race was down a rough 1.7 million viewers and half a demo point for its lowest numbers not counting the night it aired against the Oscars. The biggest problem though was Undercover Boss which was down 2.2 million viewers and 1.1 in the demo from last week for series lows. This was a huge drop and somewhat surprising since the rest of the shows weren't down that much. This concept appears to be wearing thin quickly and CBS should save next year's episodes (it is already renewed) for midseason and perhaps retool it as bit. It had gotten a 4 in the demo earlier this season so that's a dramatic drop. At 10pm, CSI: Miami was even in viewers and down just a tenth in the demo despite a much weaker lead-in. That should help its ever rosier renewal outlook.

NBC did not have a great Sunday night. At 7pm, Dateline NBC was up three tenths in viewers and even in the demo. It was followed by America's Next Great Restaurant which was also up three tenths in viewers and even in the demo but still very low. At 9pm, Celebrity Apprentice didn't perk things up as much like usual as it was down half a million viewers and four tenths in the demo. Despite Donald Trump's increasing presence on the news and in Republican polls for President, his show dropped to a season low.

FOX was in repeats for the first half of their night but had new animated shows for the last half. At 8:30pm, American Dad! aired at a special time and was up 1.3 million viewers and six tenths in the demo from last week's episode, which aired at 7:30pm. Not surprisingly, this show does better when it is not airing in its regular slot. At 9pm, Family Guy was down six tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo. While the demo is a season low, it was still the best of the night on any network. At 9:30pm, The Cleveland Show was down three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo.