RATINGS RECAP: 5/19/11

ABC
8:00 Wipeout
Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 9.9 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6
10:00 Private Practice
Viewers: 7.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 11.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6
8:30 Rules of Engagement
Viewers: 8.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 14.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8

NBC
8:00 The Office (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
8:30 The Office (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 7.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9
10:00 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:30 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 3.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 21.8 million, 18-49 demo: 6.3
9:00 Bones
Viewers: 9.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2

ABC was all new with finales of its regular lineup. The spring finale of Wipeout was up two tenths in viewers and even in the demo as it will be back for a summer run soon. It collapsed against American Idol and maybe is better off as just a summer show. At 9pm, the season finale of Grey's Anatomy was up three tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo. The rise is nice but it's still well below last year's season finale. At 10pm, the season finale of Private Practice was up two tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for its best numbers since March. The 9-11pm portion of this lineup will stay in tact next fall.


CBS also had a night of season finales. At 8pm, The Big Bang Theory was up half a million viewers and two tenths in the demo. While it was down a lot from the fall, it still held its own against American Idol this spring. At 8:30pm, the season finale of Rules of Engagement was up six tenths in viewers and even in the demo. It will be on the move to Saturdays next fall, can it survive? A two hour season finale of The Mentalist was even in viewers and up a tenth in the demo from last week's 10pm hour. It was very strong in the 10pm slot though which proves it was a smart thing to leave it at 10pm next year. Despite these strong numbers, it was fourth in the demo at 9pm which might spell trouble for the new Person of Interest in the fall.

NBC was new from 9-11pm after two repeats of The Office. A one hour season finale of The Office with a ton of cameo guest stars was up eight tenths in viewers and six tenths in the demo, winning the hour in the latter category. That's not surprising, but how will the show do next fall without Steve Carell? And who will be the new boss at Dunder Mifflin? A new Parks and Recreation followed at 10pm and was up eight tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo from last week's 10pm episode. The season finale followed at 10:30 and was lower but a 2.0 demo at 10:30pm is not bad for a comedy. The show will slide back to its old timeslot of 8:30pm next fall.

FOX was all new with its regular lineup. The results show at 8pm which set up the finals between Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery was down seven tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo from last week's results show, which is somewhat surprising. At 9pm, the season finale of Bones was down seven tenths in viewers and even in the demo, finishing third in both categories. Next week, American Idol will air on Tuesday and Wednesday to close out the season.