RATINGS RECAP: 5/4/11

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 7.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
8:30 Better With You
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 9.9 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9
9:30 Cougar Town
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
10:00 Happy Endings
Viewers: 3.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
10:30 Happy Endings
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 11.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 12.9 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
10:00 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
Viewers: 8.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2

NBC
8:00 Minute to Win It
Viewers: 3.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 Minute to Win It (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 8.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 21.1 million, 18-49 demo: 6.6
9:30 Breaking In
Viewers: 7.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

ABC had more mixed results on Wednesday night with its three hours of comedy. At 8pm, The Middle was up three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from its last new airing, finally climbing back into the 2s. At 8:30pm, Better With You was up eight tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo, posting its best total viewer numbers in its Wednesday slot since its six week break. It's still too low to warrant a renewal though. At 9pm, Modern Family was down a tenth in viewers but up a tenth in the demo from its last new airing. At 9:30pm, Cougar Town was down a tenth in viewers and up a tenth in the demo from last week when it followed a Family repeat. This proves that they don't have the same audience which shows that Cougar, which was already renewed, should move elsewhere. After a rise last week, Happy Endings was pummeled by the return of new crime dramas on CBS and NBC. The 10pm episode was down 1.3 million viewers and four tenths in the demo while the 10:30pm slipped more to series lows. This has to be disappointing after the promising growth last week.

CBS was all new but each show was down from its last new airing. At 8pm, Survivor was down three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from last week. At 9pm, Criminal Minds was down seven tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo from its last new airing three weeks ago, posting one of its lower numbers of the season. At 10pm, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior was down 1.2 million viewers and four tenths in the demo. While not series lows, it continues to bleed a significant audience from its parent show especially when Law & Order: SVU is new on NBC. Will CBS give this spinoff one more chance next season?

NBC was quiet as usual from 8-10pm as a new Minute to Win It at 8pm was up three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo but still ridiculously low. At 10pm, Law & Order: SVU with guest star John Stamos was up two tenths in viewers and the demo from its last new airing three weeks ago, easily winning the hour in the demo. FOX was all new as well with American Idol down 1.2 million viewers and a rough half a demo point, hitting season lows for a performance show. It was followed by Breaking In, which was up a tenth in viewers and even in the demo from last week. Showing steadiness despite a weaker lead-in helps this bubble show's case.