TV ratings: 'American Idol,' 'Touch' preview solid for FOX Wednesday, 'CSI' up for Marg Helgenberger's goodbye

Fast national ratings for Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012

"American Idol" was predictably down some from its premiere last week, but Wednesday's episode was still far and away the highest-rated show of the night. It also gave a preview airing of FOX's new drama "Touch" a pretty good launchpad.

Elsewhere, Marg Helgenberger's "CSI" farewell gave the show its best ratings of the season, but "Are You There, Chelsea?" took a hit for NBC.

FOX delivered 15.7 million viewers and a 9.0 rating/14 share in households for the night, winning by a comfortable margin over CBS (11.9 million, 7.6/12). ABC (4.4 million, 2.9/5) finished a distant third with a night of repeats. NBC took fourth with 4 million viewers and a 2.7/4, and The CW (1.1 million, 0.7/1) trailed.

FOX also easily led the adults 18-49 demographic with a 5.2 rating. CBS came in second with a 2.9. ABC's 1.5 was good enough for third, topping NBC (1.3) and The CW (0.5).

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

FOX: "American Idol" (19.5 million viewers, 11.1/17 households)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" rerun (7.9 million, 5.3/8)
ABC: "The Middle" rerun (5.25 million, 3.4/5)/"Suburgatory" rerun (4.2 million, 2.7/4)
NBC: "Whitney" (4.5 million, 3.0/5)/"Are You There, Chelsea?" (3.9 million, 2.6/4)
The CW: "One Tree Hill" (1.5 million, 1.0/2)

18-49 leader: "American Idol" (6.4)

9 p.m.

CBS: "Criminal Minds" (13.7 million, 8.6/13)
FOX: "Touch" series premiere (11.9 million, 7.0/11)
ABC: "Modern Family" rerun (6.5 million, 4.1/6)/"Happy Endings" rerun (4 million, 2.6/4)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" rerun (3.75 million, 2.6/4)
The CW: "Remodeled" rerun (659,000, 0.4/1)

18-49 leader: "Touch" (3.9)

10 p.m.

CBS: "CSI" (14 million, 8.9/15)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" rerun (4 million, 2.7/4)
ABC: "Revenge" rerun (3.1 million, 2.3/4)

18-49 leader: "CSI" (3.3)

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