RATINGS RECAP: 4/12/12

ABC
8:00 Missing
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9
10:00 Scandal
Viewers: 7.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory (Repeat)
Viewers: 9.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
8:30 Rules of Engagement
Viewers: 8.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7
9:00 The Big Bang Theory (Repeat)
Viewers: 10.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
9:30 2 Broke Girls (Repeat)
Viewers: 7.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
10:00 Person of Interest (Repeat)
Viewers: 8.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 3.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
8:30 30 Rock
Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
9:30 Up All Night
Viewers: 3.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
10:00 Awake
Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 15.8 million, 18-49 demo: 4.3
9:00 Touch
Viewers: 8.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3 

CBS had an interesting evening even though most of its lineup was repeats. The so-called "test" of comedies at 9pm saw mixed results. The repeat of The Big Bang Theory was a beast, doing a 3.1 and beating all the other networks. It's scary to think what new episodes of Big Bang could get at 9pm if CBS were to make that move, but would it weaken the 8pm hour? The news wasn't as good for 2 Broke Girls which didn't repeat as well at 9:30pm and proved it needs to grow some more. A Person of Interest repeat at 10pm did well but I still think CBS should leave well enough alone. Yes, Big Bang could be a monster at 9pm but it might be sacrificing other times, nights, and shows. CBS did have a new Rules of Engagement at 8:30pm and it was down just a tenth in viewers and even in the demo despite its lead-in being a repeat this week. This is a much better utility player than Rob and deserves to cheat death once again.

ABC was all new starting with Missing which was up seven tenths in viewers but down a tenth in the demo for a series low. The viewers have held up surprisingly well but the demo is just too low to get another season. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy was up seven tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. Week two of Scandal followed and it was exactly even with its premiere. It had limited competition and its lead-in was up but it's still a good thing to hold 100% of a premiere audience. That does not happen very often so consider this a good second week for Scandal. Over on FOX, American Idol was up 1.5 million viewers and four tenths in the demo while Touch was up a million viewers and even in the demo. It looks like Touch has leveled off here but how much of that is due to its big lead-in?

NBC was all new but in trouble as usual. At 8pm, Community was up a tenth in viewers and the demo. It probably should have been up more with a Big Bang repeat opposite it. At 8:30pm, 30 Rock was up two tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. The Office returned after several weeks of repeats and was down half a million viewers and two tenths in the demo for a series low. It was obvious a series low was coming at some point this season and with rumors of NBC trying to reboot the show for next year, it just needs to be put out of its misery. Yes I know a 2.2 is hard to come back on NBC these days but this show deserves to go out with what little dignity it had left. At 9:30pm, the season finale of Up All Night benefited a bit from having a new lead-in as it was up half a million viewers and three tenths in the demo. Renewal could go either way for this show which disappointed greatly this spring. At 10pm, Awake was up a tenth in viewers and even in the demo.