RATINGS RECAP: 2/29/12

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 8.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6
8:30 Suburgatory
Viewers: 6.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 11.6 million, 18-49 demo: 4.8
9:30 Happy Endings
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7
10:00 Revenge
Viewers: 7.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 10.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 12.5 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
10:00 CSI
Viewers: 11.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6

NBC
8:00 Whitney
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
8:30 Are You There, Chelsea?
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Rock Center with Brian Williams
Viewers: 2.8 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

FOX8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 17.2 million, 18-49 demo: 5.0

Over on CBS, Survivor started off the night up four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. At 9pm, Criminal Minds was down three tenths in viewers but even in the demo. This show is never quite as strong when it's against American Idol even though the two shows don't seem like they'd have much crossover. At 10pm, CSI came back from its oddly high week last week as it was down six tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo.

On the final night of February Sweeps, ABC was all new with its regular lineup. At 8pm, The Middle had a nice rebound from last week's season low as it was up seven tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo. The competition was the same so this was a good showing. At 8:30pm, Suburgatory was up a tenth in viewers and even in the demo as the retention wasn't nearly as strong as usual. At 9pm, Modern Family was up a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. Happy Endings closed the comedy block up four tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo, also rebounding nicely. Finally at 10pm, Revenge was down two tenths in viewers and even in the demo from its last new airing two weeks ago. This is a good hold considering the last new episode was the big reveal episode. This show will take a break in March as it doesn't repeat well and ABC will air a limited newsmagazine "Real Life Revenge" 

On FOX, American Idol was actually up 1.1 million viewers but down another tenth in the demo. This show is still strong but not a death knell for the competition by any means. Over on the very low NBC, Whitney started things off dead even with last week. The sad thing is, at a 1.5, it has a real chance for renewal. At 8:30pm, Are You There Chelsea? was up a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. Rock Center with Brian Williams was up a tenth in viewers and the demo. This show really brings down the whole lineup, it's not even worth its cheap cost. At 10pm, Law & Order: SVU was down six tenths in viewers for another series low but was even in the demo. Why won't NBC get this show away from CSI?