RATINGS RECAP: 10/23/12

ABC
8:00 Dancing with the Stars
Viewers: 12.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
9:00 Happy Endings
Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
9:30 Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
10:00 Private Practice
Viewers: 4.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4

CBS
8:00 NCIS
Viewers: 17.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
9:00 NCIS: Los Angeles
Viewers: 16.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
10:00 Vegas
Viewers: 10.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

NBC
8:00 The Voice
Viewers: 11.2 million, 18-49 demo: 4.3
9:00 Go On
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
9:30 The New Normal
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
10:00 Parenthood
Viewers: 4.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9

FOX
8:00 Raising Hope
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
8:30 Ben and Kate
Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 New Girl
Viewers: 5.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7
9:30 The X Factor
Viewers: 5.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3

On Tuesday night, ABC finally had its 9pm comedies premiere to compete with comedies on NBC and FOX but the results were not positive. At 8pm, Dancing with the Stars was even in viewers but up three tenths in the demo for its best Tuesday demo this season. It seems to be rallying a bit after a real disappointing start. At 9pm was the season premieres of Happy Endings and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. Both shows came in last in the demo as they showed they can't survive without a Modern Family lead-in. None of this is surprising though because the young adult comedies don't fit after Dancing with the Stars and they don't have a large enough fan base to survive on their own. I think ABC will be much more patient with Endings than Apartment though. At 10pm, Private Practice had a lower lead-in and fell 1.4 million viewers and two tenths in the demo, tying a season low. This show definitely should end this season so it's good that it is. 

CBS' drama lineup was down across the board for season lows from the last time they aired two weeks ago. At 8pm, NCIS was down seven tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo while NCIS: Los Angeles was up 1.3 million viewers but down two tenths in the demo. But the real bad news came at 10pm where Vegas, which was just given a full season, plummeted a million viewers and four tenths in the demo to a real low 1.6. This is lower than any results for Unforgettable in this slot last year and it's not acceptable for a Tuesday slot even with over 10 million viewers. It just seems as though period dramas can't find mass audiences and this has to have CBS thinking twice about that full season renewal.

On NBC, everything was down some as well though not as much as CBS. The Voice was down a million viewers and three tenths in the demo from last week. Is it finally starting to drift back to the pack? We'll see next week. At 9pm, Go On was down six tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo as it maybe took a hit from the ABC comedies. It still is the highest rated comedy on NBC. At 9:30pm, The New Normal was down six tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo, tying a series low in the demo. This show just isn't doing enough right now but it has a full season so NBC will be patient. At 10pm, Parenthood was down a tenth in viewers and the demo but that was good enough for it to win the demo in the hour outright for the first time this season. NBC shouldn't mess with this show in this slot. It's viewer total is low but it skews quite young especially against Vegas and Private Practice.  

On FOX, Raising Hope started off the night down a tenth in viewers and even in the demo while Ben and Kate rallied a bit as it was up three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. It may have benefited by having New Girl back after it instead of the presidential debate. At 9pm, New Girl was up three tenths in viewers and even in the demo. It won the comedy battle against Go On and Happy Endings and nearly toppled NCIS: Los Angeles to win in the demo. At 9:30pm, a special recut airing of The X Factor didn't do too much but it was an improvement over The Mindy Project.