RATINGS RECAP: 1/18/12

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 8.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
8:30 Suburgatory
Viewers: 7.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 11.9 million, 18-49 demo: 5.1
9:30 Happy Endings
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9
10:00 Revenge
Viewers: 7.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5

CBS
8:00 NCIS (Repeat)
Viewers: 9.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 13.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
10:00 CSI
Viewers: 12.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8

NBC
8:00 Whitney
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
8:30 Are You There, Chelsea?
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
9:00 Harry's Law
Viewers: 6.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 6.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 21.9 million, 18-49 demo: 7.4

Hurricane American Idol returned to the broadcast networks on Wednesday night, causing havoc on the rest of the night. Though Idol experienced its biggest year-to-year drop ever for premieres, I wouldn't panic if I was FOX for a couple reasons. First of all, it still dominates anything on the broadcast networks outside of football. Secondly, last year's premiere numbers were inflated thanks to curiosity for the changes of judges that occurred. Thirdly, all reality shows have been down and this is still the crown jewel of them. So, even though the drop is strong and other shows can survive against it, it's still a force to be reckoned with and will continue to be.

CBS aired new episodes of their crime dramas for the first time since December 14. Criminal Minds was up a tenth in viewers and down two tenths in the demo for a season low. It certainly could have been affected by Idol. At 10pm, CSI was down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. It should be able to go up next week for Marg Helgenberger's final episode.

ABC was certainly affected by Idol - particularly the 8pm hour where The Middle was down 1.4 million viewers and four tenths in the demo and Suburgatory was down 1.7 million viewers and also four tenths in the demo. Both shows tied lows in the demo for the season with their Thanksgiving Eve performances. At 9pm, Modern Family held up very well against fierce competition as it was down just two tenths in viewers and even in the demo. Happy Endings followed and was down six tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo for a season low in total viewers. At 10pm, Revenge didn't have to deal with Idol and was up a tenth in viewers and the demo despite increased competition from CBS. This show has broken the curse of ABC's Wednesday 10pm slot.

Poor NBC was hit the hardest with the onslaught of competition (as usual). After ok debuts last week, the "happy hour" of comedies tumbled in a big way. Whitney was down 1.6 million viewers and four tenths in the demo while week two of Are You There, Chelsea? was down a whopping 2 million viewers and six tenths in the demo. Whitney will not be a hit no matter how hard NBC tries and this is a terrible week two drop for Chelsea even with American Idol being considered. At 9pm, Harry's Law was down 2 million viewers and a tenth in the demo. Though it's total viewers is not bad for NBC, a 1.1 demo isn't going to cut it. We'll see how it does on Sunday. At 10pm, Law & Order: SVU fell 2 million viewers and two tenths in the demo for series lows. NBC is such a mess.