RATINGS RECAP: 5/12/11

ABC
8:00 Wipeout
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 9.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
10:00 Private Practice
Viewers: 7.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 10.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4
8:30 Rules of Engagement
Viewers: 8.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 CSI
Viewers: 11.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6
10:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 14.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
8:30 The Office (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 3.3
9:30 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 4.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:00 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
10:30 Outsourced
Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 22.5 million, 18-49 demo: 6.5
9:00 Bones
Viewers: 10.5 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2

ABC was all new on Thursday night with its regular lineup. At 8pm, Wipeout rebounded a bit from last week's lows as it was up six tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy was down half a million viewers and three tenths in the demo for a series low in the demo. This is troubling for the veteran show as it used to be a drama powerhouse. At 10pm, Private Practice was up four tenths in viewers and even in the demo despite the weaker lead-in which is a better performance.

CBS was all new with its regular lineup. At 8pm, The Big Bang Theory was up three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo, rebounding a bit from last week's season lows. A 3.4 demo in the spring at 8pm against American Idol is not too shabby. At 8:30pm, Rules of Engagement bounced back even more and was up half a million viewers and three tenths in the demo despite airing against an Idol top 4 elimination. That is why the show is renewed as CBS just announced this week. At 9pm, the season finale of CSI was up 1.1 million viewers and three tenths in the demo. Will this show move elsewhere next fall? It seems like it might be time. At 10pm, The Mentalist was up a tenth in viewers and even in the demo despite the rest of the lineup going up this week. A two hour season finale airs next week.

NBC was mostly all-new with its three hour comedy block. At 8pm, the season finale of Community was down two tenths in viewers and even in the demo. I still don't understand why this show was renewed. A new episode of The Office at 9pm was down four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo as it still seems to be holding up without Steve Carell but next season will be the real test. Two episodes of Parks and Recreation followed. The first episode in its regular timeslot was down half a million viewers and a tenth in the demo but the 10pm episode was not very strong. At 10:30pm, the series finale of Outsourced aired and was down a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. The first year comedy was cancelled by NBC as it cleaned house before Upfronts.

FOX was all new with its regular lineup. At 8pm, the Top 4 results show of American Idol was up 1.2 million viewers and two tenths in the demo, going up again as the finale gets closer. At 9pm, Bones was down four tenths in viewers and even in the demo from last week. Where will Bones air next fall and will it share timeslots with spinoff The Finder?