RATINGS RECAP: 5/2/12

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 6.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
8:30 Suburgatory
Viewers: 5.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 10.1 million, 18-49 demo: 4.1
9:30 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
Viewers: 5.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
10:00 Revenge
Viewers: 7.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 9.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 11.5 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
10:00 CSI
Viewers: 9.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3

NBC
8:00 Betty White's Off Their Rockers
Viewers: 4.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
8:30 Betty White's Off Their Rockers
Viewers: 4.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 Rock Center with Brian Williams
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 6.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 16.7 million, 18-49 demo: 4.7 

On Wednesday night, ABC was back in force with its lineup. The Middle was down half a million viewers and a tenth in the demo from its last new episode for a season low. Tis the season for 8pm shows. At 8:30pm, Suburgatory was up a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. The good news is it continued to hold all of The Middle's demo. The bad news is it was basically even from its last new episode which followed a repeat of The Middle. At 9pm, Modern Family was down a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 rebounded some with a new lead-in as it was up eight tenths in viewers. It still had very bad retention though. At 10pm, Revenge was up a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. 

NBC started with an hour of Betty White's Off Their Rockers. The bad news was the 8pm episode was down a rough nine tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo. The good news was the 8:30pm episode was a big upgrade over previous timeslot holder Best Friends Forever. It also seemed to help the rest of the night some as Rock Center with Brian Williams was up four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo while Law & Order: SVU was even in viewers but up two tenths in the demo for its best demo number since February 8. This was especially surprising since CSI was new again and probably solidified its already sure thing renewal.  

On CBS, Survivor started off the night down four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo for a series low. Tons of reality shows are slipping this spring with each passing week. At 9pm, Criminal Minds was down three tenths in viewers and even in the demo with its last new episode. At 10pm, CSI was down a tenth in viewers and the demo, tying a series low from last May. Spring ratings are always so depressing for broadcast networks. On FOX, American Idol was down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo for a Wednesday low.