TV ratings: NCAA tourney gets viewers, 'American Idol,' 'Community,' 'Awake' down

Fast National ratings for Thursday, March 22, 2012

"American Idol" was down just a bit again this week with its results show. Also down was ABC's "Missing," as well as NBC's "Awake" and "Community." Bigger stakes in the 2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament on CBS had a hand in the shift, as No. 1 seed Michigan State lost to Louisville.

FOX grabbed the top spot among total viewers, averaging 13.35 million and a 8.0 rating/13 share in households. CBS was second with 6.7 million (4.4/7). ABC (5.6 million, 3.8/6) came in third ahead of NBC (3.8 million, 2.5/4) and The CW (2.2 million, 1.5/2).

In the adults 18-49 demographic, FOX won with a 3.6 rating. CBS had a 2.3, NBC had a 1.4, ABC 1.2 and The CW 1.0.

Thursday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

FOX: "American Idol" results (15.01 million viewers, 9.0/15 households)
ABC: "Missing" (8.7 million, 5.7/9)
CBS: 2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament (7.01 million, 4.4/7)
NBC: "Community" (3.89 million, 2.4/4)/"30 Rock" (3.27 million, 2.4/4)
The CW: "The Vampire Diaries" (2.7 million, 1.8/3)

18-49 leader: "American Idol" results (4.0)

9 p.m.

FOX: "Touch" (11.7 million, 6.9/11)
CBS: 2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament (6.95 million, 4.5/7
ABC: "Grey's Anatomy" rerun (4.7 million, 3.3/5)
NBC: "30 Rock" (3.4 million, 2.1/3)/"Up All Night" (3.2 million, 2.1/3)
The CW: "The Secret Circle" (1.7 million, 1.2/2)

18-49 leader: "Touch" (3.2)

10 p.m.

CBS: 2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament (6.3 million, 4.2/7)
NBC: "Awake" (4.64 million, 3.2/5)
ABC: "Private Practice" rerun (3.4 million, 2.5/4)

18-49 leader: 2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament (2.4)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.