RATINGS RECAP: 5/25/11

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 7.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
8:30 Modern Family (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 4.2
9:30 Cougar Town
Viewers: 5.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
10:30 Happy Endings
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
8:30 The Big Bang Theory (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 Criminal Minds (Repeat)
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
10:00 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
Viewers: 7.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

NBC
8:00 Minute to Win It (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8
9:00 Minute to Win It (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
10:00 Law & Order: LA
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 29.3 million, 18-49 demo: 9.2

The 2010-2011 TV season came to a close on Wednesday night and ABC was mostly all new with season finales. At 8pm, The Middle was down four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo from last week but it was facing the American Idol finale so that's not bad at all. It will probably be able to perk back up some in the fall. After a repeat of Modern Family, the season finale aired at 9pm and was even in viewers and up a tenth in the demo from last week. This is a great showing against the juggernaut that was Idol. At 9:30pm, a one hour Cougar Town season finale aired and was down two tenths in viewers, tying a season low, and even in the demo. This wasn't a great showing but it was against the final half hour of Idol. Finally at 10:30pm, the season finale of Happy Endings was up from both the 10pm & 10:30pm episodes last week which is good news. Also a 1.7 demo at 10:30pm is the best 10:30 showing for this sitcom so far. How will it do with a Modern Family lead-in in the fall?

CBS was in repeats from 8-10pm. At 10pm, the series finale of the cancelled Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior was down 1.2 million viewers and two tenths in the demo for series lows. This was a rare misstep in CBS's successful franchising of crime dramas and, with all the dramas in the arsenal, didn't need to come back next season. NBC aired repeats of Minute to Win It from 8-10pm to miniscule ratings. At 10pm, Law & Order: LA aired on a special night and was actually slightly above its usual Monday showing. It doesn't matter though as this cancelled drama is just finishing out its run.

FOX aired the season finale of American Idol that crowned Scotty McCreery the winner. It delivered a mammoth number and was up a strong 5.1 million viewers and a full demo point from last season's finale. It also had a ridiculous 38 million viewers watching the final half hour. In a season where everyone thought American Idol would continue its slow but steady fading, it came back with a vengeance and the franchise feels somewhat refreshed. That is quite an accomplishment and a great end to the TV season for the top demo network.