RATINGS RECAP: 4/28/11

ABC
8:00 20/20 Special
Viewers: 7.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 10.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7
10:00 Private Practice
Viewers: 6.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 10.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.3
8:30 Rules of Engagement
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
9:00 CSI
Viewers: 10.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 13.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
8:30 The Office (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 8.4 million, 18-49 demo: 4.2
9:50 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
10:30 30 Rock
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 19.6 million, 18-49 demo: 5.7
9:00 Bones
Viewers: 9.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8

ABC was all new on the first night of May Sweeps. At 8pm, a special on the Royal Wedding was old-skewing. Those most interested in this special may have been getting ready for bed for an early wakeup call! At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy was down a big 2.4 million viewers and 1.2 in the demo from the last new episode three weeks ago, which was the big music episode. It was basically on par with the episode before that which is ok because the competition was fierce on broadcast networks and from the NFL Draft. At 10pm, Private Practice was down seven tenths in viewers and half a point in the demo. The demo is a season low for an episode airing in its regular timeslot. Will ABC give another show a chance on Thursday at 10pm next season?


CBS was all new as well. The Big Bang Theory lead off the night and was down seven tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo from its last new airing three weeks ago, hitting season lows. This show has certainly taken a hit in the 8pm hour and against American Idol but if CBS keeps it here, it will likely go back up in the fall. At 8:30pm, Rules of Engagement was down eight tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo from its last new airing. The demo was a season low and the viewers tied a season low as this is getting hit by the much-stronger second half-hour of Idol. At 9pm, CSI was down a big 2.3 million viewers and half a demo point from its last new airing, easily hitting season lows. This was quite a disappointing performance for the veteran show and may convince CBS to move it elsewhere next fall. Finally at 10pm, The Mentalist was down 1.7 million viewers and four tenths in the demo. While it was down a fair amount, it did not hit season lows and built heavily from CSI to put an ok end on a rough night for the Eye network.

NBC was all new except for 8:30pm where a repeat of The Office replaced the cancelled Paul Reiser Show. At 8pm, Community was up a tenth in viewers and even in the demo, remaining terribly low for a series that got an early renewal. At 9pm, the extended finale of series star Steve Carell on The Office helped the show jump 1.5 million viewers and nine tenths in the demo. While the jump was nice, the number was below most expectations and below the season opener this year. Still, it was one of the few shows to go up on Thursday. It was followed by an extended episode of Parks and Recreation which was down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from last week's regular episode. For an episode that ran from 9:53-10:30, a 2.3 demo is not too bad. At 10:30pm, 30 Rock aired at a special time and was down six tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo from last week's one hour episode. NBC's real problem on Thursdays in the 8pm hour, not the 10pm hour.

FOX was all new with its regular lineup. At 8pm, the results hour of American Idol was down seven tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo, tying a season low but still dominating the 8pm hour. At 9pm, Bones was down 1.3 million viewers and four tenths in the demo, hitting a low for 9pm - where it started airing in January. Considering it was up against new dramas on ABC & CBS, Steve Carell's final episode, and the NFL draft after having almost no competition last week, this drop is not too surprising.