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TV ratings: 'Idol Gives Back' dominates Wednesday
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Fast National ratings for Wednesday, April 21, 2010Reruns on ABC and CBS meant FOX and "American Idol" had little competition in Wednesday's ratings, clearing the "Idol Gives Back" special to dominate the ratings.
FOX averaged 18.4 million viewers and a 10.4 rating/17 share in households in primetime, leaving everyone else in the dust. CBS was the best of the rest with 6.8 million viewers and a 4.4/7. NBC (6.3 million, 4.3/7) came in third, followed by ABC (4.3 million, 2.8/5). The CW trailed with 1.9 million viewers and a 1.3/2.
In the adults 18-49 demographic, FOX's 5.8 rating nearly beat the combined total of the other four networks. NBC took second in the demo, albeit with only a 1.8, while ABC and CBS tied for third at 1.6. The CW drew a 0.9.
Wednesday hour by hour:
8 p.m.
FOX: "Idol Gives Back" (17.1 million viewers, 9.7/17 households)
CBS: "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (5.3 million, 3.5/6)/"Accidentally on Purpose" season finale (5.3 million, 3.5/6)
NBC: "Mercy" (5 million, 3.5/6)
ABC: "The Middle" reruns - two episodes (4.6 million, 3.0/5)
The CW: "America's Next Top Model" (3 million, 2.1/3)
18-49 leader: "Idol Gives Back" (5.4)
9 p.m.
FOX: "Idol Gives Back" (19.7 million, 11.0/18)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" rerun (8.1 million, 5.2/8)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" rerun (5.3 million, 3.6/6)
ABC: "Modern Family" reruns - two episodes (5.2 million, 3.3/5)
The CW: "Fly Girls" (965,000, 0.7/1)/"High Society" (886,000, 0.6/1)
18-49 leader: "Idol Gives Back" (6.1)
10 p.m.
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (8.7 million, 5.9/10)
CBS: "CSI: NY" rerun (6.9 million, 4.6/8)
ABC: "Cougar Town" reruns - two episodes (3.1 million, 2.2/4)
18-49 leader: "Law & Order: SVU" (2.7)
Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.
More ratings at Zap2it: Daily, weekly and cable
Photo credit: FOX
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oh oh!! Idol seems to be on its way down... no wonder with those terrible contestants this year.. too bad there are no new modern family / Cougar town :S
@AaronR: Hopefully you'll see that if it's up in the cue, but you'll be surprised that I really enjoyed the new Dr. Who pilot.
I found it fresh and enjoyable, well-acted and with production values that really put to shame the recent Russell Davies productions (which I still think look like they were shot on a camcorder with a DP intent on highlighting every weakness of the video medium ;).
But BBC has a really good show on its hands with the new one.
The ABC re-run numbers show the great weakness of all those shows which ABC renewed so it could boast it had a great year.
Very sad, as it will hold ABC back next year. :(
Similarly Mercy on NBC is incredibly low-rated. Why NBC wants to bring it back next year is beyond me.
On CW, Fly Girls and High Society's only usefulness will be to bump Gossip Girl up a few notches from the bottom. Why don't we hear any wringing hands speeches about reality shows when they bomb?
Except for Idol, which is indeed falling, Wednesday is up for grabs. Why ABC and NBC don't want it is quite strange.
Idol may have "dominated" - but, it once again lost the week to Dancing With The Stars. Being an AVID Idol fan over the years, I am almost ashamed to say "I could not care less about this season". Yes, Crystal Bowersocks is going to win - but, what is she going to do? Open for The Indigo Girls for the rest of her career?
Actually, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I like the new Doctor, Rena. David Tennant will always be the best of the modern ones in my opinion, as he hit the perfect notes of high enjoyment of being a Time Lord, as well as the tragic realization that he couldn't do a lot to change the worst parts of history (Waters of Mars is a good example of that). Matt Smith will do a fine job, and I absolutely adore his co-star (although I am partial to redheads). I look forward to the current series.
Nothing to say about the ratings except my usual snoring when American Idol is mentioned for the 72,324th time in a Zap2It headline. But when network television is catering to undereducated women between the ages of 18-25 (and men who are too lazy to turn the damn channel), this is what we have to look forward to.
Season 3 had worse Idol wannabe's imho. Well... maybe just a worse final 2.
Christine did pretty well against Idol. Has it been renewed yet for next year?
Ouch for Idol- Geez, another new low!
In the name of jesus i bind every evil spirit that will post on this board with anger and bad language,this board is about tv and television ratings only-why would anyone want to use 666 as there user name on a g rated board. I pray the people in charge of this board will put there foot down and regulate this board to where everyone can read and learn here.Amen and thank you.
It was against a CSI: NY repeat, but pleased to see Law & Order: SVU win the hour, even though the ratings were down a bit.