RATINGS RECAP: 1/19/12

ABC
8:00 Wipeout
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 9.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.5
10:00 Private Practice
Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 15.8 million, 18-49 demo: 5.3
8:30 Rob
Viewers: 11.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.5
9:00 Person of Interest
Viewers: 14.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
10:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 14.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0

NBC
8:00 30 Rock
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
8:30 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
9:30 Up All Night
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
10:00 The Firm
Viewers: 3.4 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 18.0 million, 18-49 demo: 5.7
9:00 The Finder
Viewers: 6.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2

On Thursday night, FOX aired night two of the new season of American Idol. While it still beat all other broadcast network shows (except in the 8pm half hour, see below), it was down significantly year-to-year and a 5.7 demo isn't towering above other shows considering several sitcoms have been above 5s for most of the year. It's still a force and will be for a long time but it's not a kill-everything-in-its-path type of show anymore. At 9pm, week two of The Finder was up 1.1 million viewers and half a demo point with a better lead-in but it still posted terrible retention. It doesn't look like the Bones spinoff will be around too long as this could be its peak number.

CBS had plenty to smile about as The Big Bang Theory not only was down just three tenths in viewers and nothing in the demo. It also beat American Idol in the half hour in the demo. What a beast this show has become on Thursday night as shows don't beat Idol often. It appears that Idol will have little to no effect on this huge hit for CBS. At 8:30pm though, week two of Rob was down 2.1 million viewers and six tenths in the demo from its premiere. While the overall numbers look good, the retention is not any better than other fillers CBS has put here. We'll have to see how it does in week three though. At 9pm, the news was good again as Person of Interest was down just half a million viewers and even in the demo from last week's series highs. This show is catching on for CBS. At 10pm, The Mentalist was up a nice half a million viewers and three tenths in the demo.

Over on ABC, Wipeout started off the night 1.2 million viewers and four tenths in the demo. This show is always one of the hardest hit by Idol with a likely similar audience. It will probably stick in these levels for the rest of its run this season. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy was down 1.3 million viewers and three tenths in the demo. Private Practice followed and was down six tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. It hit a season low in total viewers as ABC is a far cry from where it was two weeks ago against no competition. 

There was more bad news from NBC which was below a 2 all night except for The Office. At 8pm, 30 Rock was down four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo from its season premiere last week. So basically, no improvement over Community. Though would Community have sank lower against the competition? At 8:30pm, Parks and Recreation was actually up two tenths in viewers and even in the demo which isn't a horrible performance, all things considered. At 9pm, The Office was up a tenth in viewers and the demo, cracking a rare 3 demo for a scripted NBC show. Up All Night followed and was down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. It's surprising that this is no better than Whitney as a companion for The Office. Finally, The Firm was down another eight tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. It finished an embarrassing eighth in the time period when you consider cable.