RATINGS RECAP: 11/2/11

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 9.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
8:30 Suburgatory
Viewers: 8.5 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 13.4 million, 18-49 demo: 5.7
9:30 Happy Endings
Viewers: 7.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4
10:00 Revenge
Viewers: 8.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 12.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 12.9 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7
10:00 CSI
Viewers: 10.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7

NBC
8:00 Up All Night
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
8:30 Up All Night (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 Harry's Law
Viewers: 7.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 7.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

FOX
8:00 The X-Factor
Viewers: 11.8 million, 18-49 demo: 4.0

ABC has really found a groove on Wednesday night as the entire lineup is working better in the third year of the Wednesday comedy block even though numbers were mostly down from last week's Halloween episodes. At 8pm, The Middle was down eight tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo from last week's series highs. Suburgatory followed and was down 1.2 million viewers and three tenths in the demo. While the drop isn't great, it's also coming off a series high. At 9pm, Modern Family was up four tenths in viewers and even in the demo from its last new airing two weeks ago as this is clearly TV's top scripted show now that Two and a Half Men has cooled. Happy Endings followed and was down seven tenths in viewers but just a tenth in the demo from last week's series high. Though the retention is bad, this show seems to be headed in the right direction. The best news though came at 10pm where Revenge was down a tenth in viewers and up three tenths in the demo for its best numbers since its premiere. This show is getting great buzz because serialized dramas have a really hard time keeping their audience. This is a major win for ABC in a timeslot that has been very difficult for them. 

Over on CBS, Survivor started off the night up two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo for season highs. This show seems to be building more than usual at this time of year. At 9pm, Criminal Minds was down three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo from its last new airing two weeks ago. 9pm Wednesday is really a major hour for broadcast TV with each network airing some of its highest total viewer shows. Finally at 10pm, CSI was even in viewers and up a tenth in the demo from its last new airing. The slot where CSI came from may not be set but it has made Wednesday 10pm stronger and it was time for the veteran show to move.

One of NBC's best nights is headed in the wrong direction (surprise, surprise). At 8pm, Up All Night was down six tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo from its last new airing two weeks ago, hitting a series low. This show was showing such steadiness but this is a troubling drop for a rare bright spot on the schedule. After a repeat of Up All Night, Harry's Law was down 1.1 million viewers and two tenths in the demo for a season lows in viewers and a series low in the demo. Is a 1.1 demo really going to cut it now on NBC? Even with the total viewer count? At 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was down six tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for season lows. NBC is just a big mess. There's no positive way to spin this. Over on FOX, a live episode of just-renewed The X-Factor pulled numbers close to where it has been performing.