RATINGS RECAP: 3/22/12

ABC
8:00 Missing
Viewers: 8.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 Grey's Anatomy (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
10:00 Private Practice (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8

CBS
8:00 NCAA Basketball March Madness
Viewers: 6.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:21 NCAA Basketball March Madness
Viewers: 6.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 3.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
8:30 30 Rock
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 30 Rock
Viewers: 3.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:30 Up All Night
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
10:00 Awake
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 15.6 million, 18-49 demo: 4.2
9:00 Touch
Viewers: 11.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.3 

On Thursday night, American Idol started out the night down four tenths in viewers and the demo for a season low in the demo. A 4.2 is nothing special for the once dominant show. At 9pm, Touch aired a new episode for the first time since its preview episode in January. Though it was down from that, it still posted good numbers and pretty good retention. If it can hang in this area, it is a slam dunk renewal. Even if it drops into the 2s, it's a likely renewal. Over on ABC, Missing was the only new show but it was down a rough 1.8 million viewers and half a demo point. This is a big second week drop after a decent debut so that does not bode well for the series.  

NBC had a disastrous night without The Office. At 8pm, Community was down nine tenths in viewers and half a demo point from last week's surprisingly high return. The sad thing is that a 1.7 demo is not horrible for NBC. Two episodes of 30 Rock followed to poor ratings. NBC has some aging comedies that were never mass appeal shows and now are slipping. At 9:30pm, Up All Night was down two tenths in viewers and the demo. What a flop this has been on Thursdays. At 10pm, Awake was down four tenths in viewers and the demo for a series low in the demo. A 1.6 demo may have been enough but a 1.2 demo won't cut it, even on NBC.