RATINGS RECAP: 3/21/12

ABC
8:00 The Middle (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
8:30 Suburgatory (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Modern Family (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
9:30 Happy Endings
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
10:00 Missing (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 10.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 12.1 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
10:00 CSI
Viewers: 11.4 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: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 Bent
Viewers: 2.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:30 Bent
Viewers: 2.4 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8
10:00 Rock Center with Brian Williams
Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 17.2 million, 18-49 demo: 5.1

On Wednesday night, NBC saw some pathetic returns in the 9pm hour. But first, Whitney was up three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. Given NBC's troubles, this could actually get renewed at these low numbers. At 8:30pm, Are You There Chelsea? was up six tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo as it may have benefited from repeats on ABC. At 9pm was the first two episodes of Bent. It was an instant bomb as it had the lowest debut ever for the big four broadcast networks and then dropped in its second airing. An instant cancellation is warranted but it appears NBC may let all six episodes air since it will only take three weeks. At 10pm, Rock Center with Brian Williams was up four tenths in viewers and the demo. On FOX, American Idol was down 1.2 million viewers and three tenths in the demo. 

ABC was all repeats except for Happy Endings which was worse than the last time it followed repeats two weeks ago. Though reports have it getting a third season, the ratings are very poor when it doesn't follow Modern Family. On CBS, Survivor started off the night down a tenth in viewers and two tenths in the demo despite less competition from ABC. At 9pm though, Criminal Minds rebounded in a big way as it was up seven tenths in viewers and a strong four tenths in the demo from last week's lows. CSI closed out the night down three tenths in viewers and even in the demo.