RATINGS RECAP: 3/29/12

ABC
8:00 Missing
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 Grey's Anatomy (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
10:00 Private Practice (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 14.0 million, 18-49 demo: 4.7
8:30 Rules of Engagement
Viewers: 8.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7
9:00 Person of Interest
Viewers: 14.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.3
10:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 13.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
8:30 30 Rock
Viewers: 3.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 The Office (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:30 Up All Night
Viewers: 2.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
10:00 Awake
Viewers: 3.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 15.9 million, 18-49 demo: 4.4
9:00 Touch
Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7

CBS was back with its regular lineup on Thursday night. At 8pm, The Big Bang Theory was down a million viewers and four tenths in the demo from its last airing. This isn't a huge shock as it is contending with Daylight Savings now. Rules of Engagement returned after a hiatus but posted terrible retention. I still think it may have the edge over Rob as a utility player renewal. At 9pm, Person of Interest returned down 1.1 million viewers but just a tenth in the demo as it showed a great hold after a couple weeks off. The Mentalist closed out the night down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. Only Missing was new on ABC and it was down nine tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. This show skews too old to get renewed. 

On FOX, American Idol started off the night up three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo which is great considering CBS was back with its regular lineup. At 9pm though, Touch was down a big 2.9 million viewers and six tenths in the demo. This was a really sizable drop but that could be partly due to the competition from Person of Interest. We'll see how it does this week but that wasn't a promising showing for FOX's last best hope for a new drama success.   

NBC was all new except for The Office. At 8pm, Community was down four tenths in viewers but even in the demo which is good considering it had to contend with Big Bang this week. This show's renewal chances keep getting better. At 8:30pm, 30 Rock was down two tenths in viewers and even in the demo from last week's 8:30pm episode. My prediction is it will get one final season. At 9:30pm, Up All Night was down four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for a series low. I'm seriously questioning if this show will actually get a renewal after all. It has sunk like a rock in recent weeks. Even a repeat back in January got a 1.4. This show continues to go in the wrong direction. At 10pm, Awake was down a rough 1.5 million viewers and two tenths in the demo, which probably seals its doomed fate.