RATINGS RECAP: 1/14/15

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 7.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
8:30 The Goldbergs
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 9.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
9:30 Black-ish
Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
10:00 Forever (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.2 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7

CBS
8:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 9.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
10:00 Stalker
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

NBC
8:00 The Mysteries of Laura
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 6.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
10:00 Chicago PD
Viewers: 6.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 10.9 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
9:00 Empire
Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 4.0

Wednesday night had a pretty shocking ratings result as Empire built on its huge premiere from last week. First up for FOX, American Idol was down three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo from last week's premiere. Then at 9pm, Empire followed up its incredibly strong debut by growing four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. When a show gets sampled as well as Empire did last week, a pretty decent drop almost always happens the next week. But viewers responded in a big way and tuned back in for more. We'll have to see what happens but this is looking like it could be a real hit for FOX, which desperately needs one. Over on ABC, everything was down. To start things off, The Middle was down seven tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo while The Goldbergs was down six tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. At 9pm, Modern Family was up a tenth in viewers but down two tenths in the demo. Empire seems to be the worst thing to happen to Black-ish as Black-ish was up three tenths in viewers but down another two tenths in the demo for a series low.

On CBS, The Mentalist started things off up three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. The crime dramas returned at pretty normal levels. Criminal Minds was up two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo while Stalker was up six tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. Stalker's fate seems to be sealed when it didn't get a renewal alongside other freshmen dramas and it has its season ending early, but it's not doing that bad. Finally, NBC was left in the dust. At 8pm, The Mysteries of Laura was down a rough seven tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo for a series low. It was holding up well for awhile, but this was a bad showing. If this becomes the new normal for this show, it's chances of renewal go way down. At 9pm, Law & Order: SVU took a hit from the return of Criminal Minds. It was down 1.1 million viewers and three tenths in the demo. Chicago PD didn't have as much of a drop as its lead-in. It was down six tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo.

WINNER OF THE NIGHT: Empire (FOX)
LOSER OF THE NIGHT: The Mysteries of Laura (NBC)