RATINGS RECAP: 5/8/11

ABC
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos
Viewers: 6.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
8:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Viewers: 8.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:00 Desperate Housewives
Viewers: 10.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9
10:00 Brothers & Sisters
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9

CBS
7:00 60 Minutes
Viewers: 14.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
8:00 The Amazing Race
Viewers: 9.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6
10:00 CSI: Miami
Viewers: 9.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

NBC
7:00 Dateline NBC
Viewers: 3.9 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8
8:00 Celebrity Apprentice
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

FOX
7:00 The Simpsons (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
7:30 American Dad!
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
8:00 The Simpsons
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
8:30 Bob's Burgers
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
9:00 Family Guy
Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 3.3
9:30 The Cleveland Show
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2

Please note that with all networks, I will be comparing their ratings to the last new episode before last week as last week's numbers were skewed from the breaking news of the Osama bin Laden capture.

ABC was all new on Sunday with its regular lineup but the results were not overly strong. At 7pm, America's Funniest Home Videos was down three tenths in viewers and even in the demo with a repeat, though repeats and originals seem to be interchangeable as far as numbers for this show go. At 8pm, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was up two tenths in viewers but down a tenth in the demo. At 9pm, Desperate Housewives was down two tenths in viewers and the demo. This is not as low as it has been this season but below a 3 in the demo is concerning for a show that used to be a demo powerhouse. At 10pm, the season finale of Brothers & Sisters was up six tenths in viewers and even in the demo. While this may end up being the series finale, many reports have ABC renewing it for a cheaper final season next year with a limited number of episodes.

CBS had a strong start to the evening with the first interview of President Obama since the bin Laden capture. The newsmagazine was up a big 3.5 million viewers and seven tenths in the demo. These are the best numbers for the show without having a big sports lead-in. At 8pm, the two hour season finale of The Amazing Race was down four tenths in viewers but even in the demo. This show's numbers haven't been too strong this spring and I would suggest CBS consider having it share a timeslot with Undercover Boss to not overdo the two shows. At 10pm the season finale of CSI: Miami was down two tenths in viewers and the demo. While this show is "on the bubble," I expect to see it back next fall and possibly in the same timeslot as it made a fairly seamless move to Sunday nights this season.

NBC started things off with Dateline NBC which was low as usual and down four tenths in viewers and even in the demo. At 8pm, a three hour edition of Celebrity Apprentice was down 1.1 million viewers and six tenths in the demo for season lows. Some of that could be due to the 8pm hour being included which was weaker than the regular 9-11pm timeslot for the show. The finale will air next week.

FOX was all new from 7:30-10pm with its animated lineup fully in tact for the first time in awhile. At 7:30pm, American Dad! was down a tenth in viewers and even in the demo from the last time it aired in this timeslot which was a month ago on April 10. FOX has been shuffling its animated schedule around a lot this spring. At 8pm, The Simpsons was up four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo from season lows on April 10. Bob's Burgers was up three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from its last new airing, also on the 10th. At 9pm, Family Guy - which was just renewed through 2012-2013 - was up half a million viewers and three tenths in the demo from its last new airing three weeks ago. It was the demo champ of the night of any network. At 9:30pm, The Cleveland Show - which was also renewed through 2012-2013 was up a tenth in viewers but down a tenth in the demo from its last new airing three weeks ago. This show doesn't seem to be garnering the ratings to get a renewal a year in advance.