RATINGS RECAP: 4/11/12

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 7.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
8:30 Suburgatory
Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 10.4 million, 18-49 demo: 4.2
9:30 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
Viewers: 6.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9
10:00 Revenge: From the Beginning
Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 9.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 11.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
10:00 CSI
Viewers: 9.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

NBC
8:00 Betty White's Off Their Rockers
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
8:30 Best Friends Forever
Viewers: 2.8 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9
9:00 Rock Center with Brian Williams
Viewers: 2.6 million, 18-49 demo: 0.5
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 16.8 million, 18-49 demo: 5.0 

On Wednesday night, ABC's comedies were all new for the first time since March 14. At 8pm, The Middle was down two tenths in viewers and even in the demo which is not bad after nearly a month off. At 8:30pm, Suburgatory was also down two tenths in viewers and even in the demo. As usual, these two shows fit together like a glove. At 9pm, Modern Family was down two tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo for a season low. It's a far cry from the mid-5 demos it was getting back in the fall and winter but that's what happens this time of year. At 9:30pm was the series premiere of Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. It had a solid but not spectacular debut. It managed to get similar numbers to Happy Endings even though the lead-in was way down. Next week will be more telling. 

Over on CBS, Survivor started off the night down half a million viewers and a tenth in the demo for a season low. Criminal Minds followed and was up half a million viewers and even in the demo. This is a great showing against new ABC comedies and, as always, American Idol. At 10pm though the news was not as good for CSI which tumbled a big 2.1 million viewers and half a demo point. A lot of this could have been due to the return of Law & Order: SVU as CSI has been overperforming recently. FOX had American Idol which was down three tenths in viewers but up a tenth in the demo. After a few weeks losing to The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, and The Voice, Idol has come back to be the top demo draw again.

NBC was in trouble as usual. Week two of Off Their Rockers was down 1.3 million viewers and two tenths in the demo. If it stays here, it is just above what Whitney was getting in the same slot. At 8:30pm, week two  of Best Friends Forever was down 1.1 million viewers and three tenths in the demo proving to be another disastrous Wednesday comedy for NBC this season after Free Agents, Are You There Chelsea?, and Bent. At 9pm, Rock Center was down four tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo from last week's 10pm edition. Yikes, at a 0.5, NBC is in CW territory and not even competing. At 10pm, Law & Order: SVU returned and was up two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. NBC would be wise to move this away from CSI next season.