RATINGS RECAP: 5/1/13

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
8:30 Family Tools
Viewers: 5.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 9.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6
9:30 How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)
Viewers: 6.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
10:00 Nashville
Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

CBS 
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 9.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 10.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:00 CSI
Viewers: 9.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9

NBC
8:00 The Voice Recap Show
Viewers: 5.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
9:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 5.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
10:00 Chicago Fire
Viewers: 6.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

FOX 
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 11.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9

On Wednesday night, everything was new and some shows felt the weight of the competition as the audience is dwindling with warmer weather. On ABC, The Middle started things off down two tenths in viewers and even in the demo. It held up well after a couple weeks ago. The series premiere of Family Tools followed and pretty much delivered DOA numbers. Considering this was probably the high point and it's the same demo that The Neighbors end with, it's certainly going to have a quick run. The May 1 debut was another pretty obvious sign that ABC is not invested in this show. At 9pm, Modern Family was down eight tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. After following Family repeats for two weeks, How to Live with Your Parents rebounded somewhat as it was up 1.4 million viewers and six tenths in the demo. Its retention out of Family was pretty much the same as the last time it followed a new episode so I would say this likely seals a renewal. At 10pm, Nashville was down seven tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo.

CBS took a hit as everything was down. At 8pm, Survivor was down a million viewers and a big half a demo point to tie a season low. At 9pm, Criminal Minds was down a worse 1.4 million viewers and six tenths in the demo for a series low. What happened to this show? This was a bad time to happen as a lot of cast members are locked down in contract talks, which is holding up the show's renewal. At 10pm, CSI was down 1.6 million viewers and half a demo point but it won the 10pm hour with a 1.9 demo. So every show on CBS was down at least half a demo point. Yikes.

On NBC, a recap show of The Voice didn't do much. It's live next week at this time though which could really shake up the hour. At 9pm, Law & Order: SVU was down 1.6 million viewers and four tenths in the demo as it really wilts against Criminal Minds. NBC's best news came at 10pm where Chicago Fire returned even in viewers and up a tenth in the demo. Aside from the rise for How to Live... in a different situation, this was the only show to go up from its last airing. On FOX, American Idol was down 1.2 million viewers and four tenths in the demo for a Wednesday low.