RATINGS RECAP: 2/4/15

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 8.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
8:30 Fresh Off the Boat
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 9.9 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4
9:30 Fresh Off the Boat
Viewers: 7.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
10:00 Nashville
Viewers: 5.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

CBS
8:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 9.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 10.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
10:00 Stalker
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

NBC
8:00 The Mysteries of Laura
Viewers: 6.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 Law & Order: SVU
Viewers: 6.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
10:00 Chicago PD
Viewers: 7.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 11.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
9:00 Empire
Viewers: 11.5 million, 18-49 demo: 4.6

Wednesday night had a solid series premiere for ABC and another huge night for Empire among other things. On ABC, The Middle kicked things off up half a million viewers and even in the demo from its last airing two weeks ago. The premiere of Fresh Off the Boat followed. It aired at 8:30pm and 9:30pm before it heads to Tuesdays next week. It had a great showing at 8:30pm, where it easily built on its lead-in from The Middle and tied The Goldbergs' high of the season in the same slot. After Modern Family, which was up half a million viewers and a strong four tenths in the demo, it did not have as good a showing. Despite the much bigger lead-in, it was down a bit from the 8:30 episode. This could be partly due to Empire, but it's possible that some did not give it a second chance. We'll see how it does on Tuesdays next week because that will be a tall order, but at least it got sampled. At 10pm, Nashville returned for the first time since December 10, and it was down six tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo.

Despite full competition from all the broadcast networks, it was another incredible height for Empire. First up on FOX, American Idol was down a tenth in viewers but up two tenths in the demo. This is also positive since it was also against full competition. But it's just getting unreal with Empire. Despite having to face a top comedy and two successful crime dramas, it was up again. FOX's music drama monster was up a tenth in viewers and three tenths in the demo. It's truly been years since we've seen an out of the box hit this big. Every week, I think it will finally take a step back, and that hasn't happened. Incredible.

It was a rough night for CBS and NBC. On CBS, The Mentalist started things out down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo for a season low. Criminal Minds followed and was down the same to tie its series low two weeks ago. Stalker finished the night down nine tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for a series low. This was probably the final nail in the coffin for this show. It's also looking a little bleak for The Mysteries of Laura, which was up three tenths in viewers but even in the demo at a low 1.0. At 9pm, Law & Order: SVU was down six tenths in viewers and even in the demo with its series low two weeks ago. The second night of the Chicago franchise crossover on Chicago PD was up six tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. The crossover may have prevented it from being as low as its lead-in, but the crossover events have spiked much more other times.

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