RATINGS RECAP: 1/15/14

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 7.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
8:30 Suburgatory
Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 9.1 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
9:30 Super Fun Night
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
10:00 Nashville
Viewers: 5.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

CBS
8:00 Two and a Half Men (Repeat)
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
8:30 The Millers (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 10.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:00 CSI
Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0 

NBC
8:00 Revolution
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
10:00 Chicago PD
Viewers: 5.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

FOX 
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 15.2 million, 18-49 demo: 4.7

Wednesday night had the return of American Idol. It no longer comes in like a wrecking ball and destroys everything in its sight but it can still have an impact as it proved with its performance. It was down a rough 2.7 million viewers and 1.3 demo points from last year's premiere but that's to be expected because last year still started strong before showing major decline as the season went on. I think by season's end, the year to year comparison will be much better for the show than it is right now especially given the positive reception the new judging panel has gotten from fans and critics. It's easy to knock American Idol for how far it has fallen from it's glory days but it's worth noting that it's still right up there with The Voice and The Big Bang Theory as TV's top shows in the demo. 

ABC took a hit from Idol even with the season premiere of Suburgatory. At 8pm, The Middle was down 1.3 million viewers and four tenths in the demo for a season low. It may perk up a bit again in coming weeks as there may have been some initial interest and tune-in for American Idol right at the beginning. At 8:30pm, Suburgatory returned to disappointing numbers. Though retention out of The Middle was not bad, it was only slightly above where Back in the Game ended up. It'll be interesting to see if this show gets a fourth season since it didn't have a full third season and that's usually necessary for the automatic syndication renewal. At 9pm, Modern Family was down four tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo, tying a season low. At 9:30pm, Super Fun Night was down three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. This show can't end soon enough for ABC but I really doubt Mixology is going to be any stronger. At 10pm, Nashville was down a tenth in viewers and the demo for a new series low. Yet, with Scandal gone for now, a 1.3 demo is still the best 10pm drama number for ABC this winter besides Castle... yikes!

Despite facing Idol, the CBS dramas came back strong after several weeks off. At 9pm, Criminal Minds was down eight tenths in viewers but even in the demo. At 10pm, CSI was up a tenth in the viewers and two tenths in the demo. Right now, it looks like it will be able to easily handle Chicago PD but the parent show slowly crept up on CSI during last season as the episodes went on. NBC was down big from last week. Revolution was down 1.1 million viewers and two tenths in the demo for a series low. It took a hit this week after last week's surprising numbers. At 9pm, Law & Order: SVU was down a terrible 3.4 million viewers and seven tenths in the demo. This show has had some violent swings this year as it has peaked high and then gone very low. It wilts against Criminal Minds so NBC should really consider moving this elsewhere next season - maybe Thursdays or Fridays at 10pm? At 10pm, week two of Chicago PD was down 3.1 million viewers and half a demo point. It's hard to envision how it could have done any better considering how much its lead-in was down and the fact that it had to face CSI this week. The good news is it actually grew from its lead-in so that's a bit encouraging.