RATINGS RECAP: 10/17/12

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 8.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
8:30 The Neighbors
Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 12.3 million, 18-49 demo: 4.7
9:30 Suburgatory
Viewers: 7.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
10:00 Nashville
Viewers: 6.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

CBS 
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 10.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 11.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
10:00 CSI
Viewers: 10.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3

NBC
8:00 Animal Practice
Viewers: 3.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
8:30 Guys with Kids
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 6.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
10:00 Chicago Fire
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

FOX
8:02 Ben and Kate (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
8:40 The X Factor
Viewers: 6.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
9:47 The Mindy Project (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

Wednesday night was not kind to the newest shows but more on that in a minute. ABC started with The Middle which was up half a million viewers and a tenth in the demo while The Neighbors was up a tenth in viewers but down a tenth in the demo. Though this hasn't completely tanked, it's not a positive sign that it was down when its lead-in was up. At 9pm, Modern Family was up two tenths in viewers and down a tenth in the demo from last week's 9pm episode. The season premiere of Suburgatory in its new time underwhelmed at 9:30pm. Though it was up from its spring episodes, it didn't come close to the 3.3 series premiere it had last year. It also didn't seem to take advantage of the huge lead-in as well as it should. ABC had to be hoping for more in this slot with a more compatible companion than Family usually has. At 10pm, the second episode of Nashville had a mammoth 2.2 million viewer and eight tenth in the demo drop. This is one of the biggest week two drops which is concerning for ABC's showcase freshman. To be fair, the lead in was 2.1 demo points lower so that makes things a little more understandable but ABC had to be hoping for more. Revenge only went this low once last year in the same slot.

Over on NBC, the now cancelled Animal Practice was up a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. It will air three more episodes before Whitney takes over. Guys with Kids built on its lead-in again as it was up two tenths in viewers and even in the demo from last week. It will be getting a more compatible companion in a few weeks so NBC is likely going to see how it does then before any decisions are made. At 9pm, Law & Order: SVU was up a tenth in viewers but down two tenths in the demo. It's time to call this a day for the long running show. This should be the final season. At 10pm, week two of Chicago Fire was down seven tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo. The drop is not as severe as Nashville but it started much lower so already being down to a 1.5 demo in week two is not a positive sign.

On CBS, Survivor started off up six tenths in viewers and even in the demo. Criminal Minds was up three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. This still seems to be underperforming this year. At 10pm, CSI was down a tenth in viewers and three tenths in the demo but it managed to win the hour over the newbies on ABC and NBC and it squeaked by the huge 2.2 demo premiere for FX's American Horror Story. FOX was a mess with rain delayed baseball cutting in and out among repeats and The X Factor all night. It's not even worth analyzing those ratings.