RATINGS RECAP: 3/14/12

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 6.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
8:30 Suburgatory
Viewers: 6.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 10.6 million, 18-49 demo: 4.5
9:30 Happy Endings
Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:00 ABC News Special: Revenge for Real
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 10.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 11.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
10:00 CSI
Viewers: 11.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8

NBC
8:00 Whitney
Viewers: 3.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
8:30 Are You There, Chelsea?
Viewers: 2.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
9:00 Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.5 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7
10:00 Rock Center with Brian Williams
Viewers: 2.6 million, 18-49 demo: 0.6

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 18.4 million, 18-49 demo: 5.4   

On Wednesday night, ABC's comedy lineup was back to new episodes but saw several declines. At 8pm, The Middle was down 1.3 million viewers and a big half a demo point for a season low. Perhaps some can be blamed on daylight savings but this was disappointing. At 8:30pm, Suburgatory was down seven tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for a series low. Its retention was way better this week though. At 9pm, Modern Family was down a million viewers and three tenths in the demo for a season low while Happy Endings was up eight tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo from last week when it was following all repeats. A "Revenge for Real" special did very little at 10pm.

On CBS, Survivor was down two tenths in viewers and the demo but a 3.0 demo against more competition and with Daylight Savings is not bad at all. At 9pm, Criminal Minds was down 1.1 million viewers and three tenths in the demo for a series low. This is a surprisingly bad showing for a show that is almost always consistent regardless of time of year or competition. At 10pm, CSI was up four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. It outperformed Minds in viewers and tied it in the demo which is a very strong showing for the veteran drama.

On FOX, American Idol was down three tenths in viewers and the demo but still did very solidly as it seems to have stabilized after some bad drops. Finally on NBC, Whitney was down three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for series lows. This show has been holding off for dear life on Wednesdays but Daylight Savings may be the final straw. Are You There, Chelsea? was down seven tenths in viewers and a rough four tenths in the demo for series lows. This show needs to be yanked now as it will be a terrible lead-in for new comedy Bent next week. After a Law & Order: SVU repeat, Rock Center with Brian Williams was pathetic and was down nine tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo. A 0.6 demo should not be happening, even for a cheap newsmagazine.