RATINGS RECAP: 4/3/11

ABC
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos
Viewers: 6.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
8:00 Secret Millionaire
Viewers: 9.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7 
9:00 Desperate Housewives
Viewers: 9.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9
10:00 Body of Proof
Viewers: 8.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

CBS
7:00 60 Minutes
Viewers: 10.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 ACM Awards
Viewers: 13.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.3

NBC
7:00 Dateline NBC
Viewers: 5.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
8:00 America's Next Great Restaurant
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 Celebrity Apprentice
Viewers: 8.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1

FOX
7:00 The Simpsons (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
7:30 American Dad!
Viewers: 3.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
8:00 The Simpsons (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
8:30 Bob's Burgers (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
9:00 Family Guy (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:30 The Cleveland Show
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1

ABC was all new on Sunday night but there was plenty to be concerned about in the lineup from 9-11pm. At 7pm, America's Funniest Home Videos was down seven tenths in viewers but even in the demo with last week. At 8pm, Secret Millionaire was down six tenths in viewers for a series low but even in the demo. It has definitely stabilized at this point and seems to be a solid pickup by ABC. The season finale (only 6 total episodes) will air next week. At 9pm, Desperate Housewives was down a rough 2.4 million viewers and half a demo point from its last new airing a week ago. The viewer total is a series low and this aging hit is really slipping badly this spring. That led into Body of Proof in a special timeslot. It was down big from its premiere last Tuesday but the real test is what it does tonight in its regular timeslot. If it gained extra exposure, it might be a long term gain within a short term loss.

CBS started with 60 Minutes which was down a huge 4.3 million viewers and 1.6 in the demo but last week's had a big basketball lead-in. This show rises and falls based on its lead-in as the fall proves with football. It led into the Academy of Country Music Awards which was a solid draw, particularly in total viewers. NBC had a usual Sunday night. At 7pm, Dateline NBC was up 1.7 million viewers and four tenths in the demo and it may have been helped by 60 Minutes coming back to Earth. At 8pm, America's Next Great Restaurant was up three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for its best numbers since its premiere. It was still very low though. However, the night improved as usual at 9pm with Celebrity Apprentice which was even in viewers and up a tenth in the demo for a season high. And this was despite tougher competition on ABC and CBS. Celebrity Apprentice is quickly becoming NBC's most reliable performer.

FOX was mostly in repeats with just American Dad! and The Cleveland Show being new. American Dad! was down big from last week's episode that aired at 9:30pm and also below the new episodes that have aired at 7:30pm while The Cleveland Show was down seven tenths in viewers and half a demo point from its last airing two weeks ago. The demo is a season low but it can be hard to have success with new airings when most of the night is repeats even in today's day and age.