RATINGS RECAP: 2/22/12

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 7.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
8:30 Suburgatory
Viewers: 6.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 11.5 million, 18-49 demo: 4.8
9:30 Happy Endings
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:00 20/20 Special: Before They Were Famous
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4

CBS
8:00 Survivor: One World
Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 12.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
10:00 CSI
Viewers: 11.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9

NBC
8:00 Whitney
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
8:30 Are You There, Chelsea?
Viewers: 3.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Rock Center with Brian Williams
Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.6
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 16.1 million, 18-49 demo: 5.1 

It was another weak Wednesday for the broadcast networks led by American Idol which was down 2.8 million viewers and a shocking full demo point for its lowest ratings in-season ever. It is also down hugely year-to-year. While still a force, it is being eclipsed by The Voice and just one of the stronger performers instead of the far-and-away champ. This may finally be the decline that people have been predicting for years but it can still fall some more and be a player. CBS started with Survivor which was down half a million viewers and three tenths in the demo. The fall edition was getting 3 demos throughout the fall so this is not a great sign. At 9pm, Criminal Minds was up six tenths in viewers and even in the demo while CSI closed the night up a nice eight tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo.  

Over on ABC, The Middle started off the night down half a million viewers and three tenths in the demo for a season low. This show must have a large crossover with American Idol because it always wilts in the spring. At 8:30pm, Suburgatory was down a tenth in viewers and two tenths in the demo for series low. Modern Family followed and was up three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo, but it remained below average. At 9:30pm, Happy Endings was up a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. A 20/20 special at 10pm did nothing. ABC will air a "Real Life Revenge" newsmagazine series in place of Revenge repeats over the next couple weeks.

Over on NBC, the ratings were pathetic. Whitney was down four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo, coming back to its levels from two weeks ago after a spike last week. Are You There, Chelsea? followed and was even in viewers but down a tenth in the demo for a series low. Whitney might squeak out a renewal but Chelsea, not so much. At 9pm, Rock Center with Brian Williams was completely uncompetitive as it was down three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. Even for a cheap newsmagazine, this is pathetic. They could have just left Harry's Law here. At 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was up a tenth in viewers but down a tenth in the demo to another series low. This show is dying with a terrible lead-in and against CSI. NBC needs to move it because once upon a time, it was a decent performer in a sea of bad NBC ratings.