RATINGS RECAP: 4/5/12

ABC
8:00 Missing
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 8.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
10:00 Scandal
Viewers: 7.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 13.3 million, 18-49 demo: 4.4
8:30 Rules of Engagement
Viewers: 8.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7
9:00 Person of Interest
Viewers: 13.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
10:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 12.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

NBC
8:00 Community
Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
8:30 30 Rock
Viewers: 2.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 The Office (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:30 Up All Night
Viewers: 2.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
10:00 Awake
Viewers: 2.6 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 14.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9
9:00 Touch
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3 

On a Thursday night that was filled with drops everywhere, Missing started off the night down seven tenths in viewers and even in the demo. It's impressive that it didn't drop on a night where nearly everything was down but a 1.5 demo isn't going to get it renewed. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy was down 1.4 million viewers and two tenths in the demo for a series low. So many shows go down in the spring but a 2.8 demo for this show is awfully low. The lower numbers did not help the series premiere of Scandal that followed. It got off to a ho-hum start but in its defense, Private Practice would likely have been down too. Let's see how it holds up next week. 

Over on CBS, nearly everything took a hit. The Big Bang Theory was down seven tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo for season lows but such is life for this time of year. It still dominated American Idol in the timeslot. At 8:30pm, Rules of Engagement was down a tenth in viewers but even in the demo. It was the only show not to go down and posted better retention this week which boosts its chances. At 9pm, Person of Interest was down nine tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo, still winning its time period against Grey's. At 10pm, The Mentalist was down a million viewers and three tenths in the demo for a season low. This should move to Fridays or Sundays and CBS should use Person of Interest to launch a new 10pm drama in my opinion. 

Just when you think NBC's Thursday can't get worse, it does. Now not a single show was over 3 million viewers or a 1.3 demo. What a mess this once proud night has become. At 8pm, Community came crashing back to Earth as it was down half a million viewers and four tenths in the demo. Yet, it was the top show of the night. Just sad. At 8:30pm, 30 Rock was down three tenths in viewers and the demo for a series low. Up All Night was down three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo for a series low. This show seemed to be a rare bright spot in the fall but it has crashed and burned on Thursdays, which was supposedly an upgrade. At 10pm, Awake was down six tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. And to think The Playboy Club was cancelled when it fell to a 1.2. This season has been another nightmare for NBC.   
 
Finally on FOX, American Idol was down 1.6 million viewers and half a million viewers to a season low. Yes, the once powerful Idol is down to a 3.9 demo. Still good but nothing spectacular but that can be blamed on its age and a huge number of similar shows on TV. At 9pm, Touch was down another 1.7 million viewers and four tenths in the demo. This show is falling pretty hard in its first couple weeks and may not be the drama savior that FOX was hoping for. What kind of numbers would it be pulling without an Idol lead-in?