TV Ratings: 'American Idol' give FOX a strong Wednesday

Simon Cowell of 'American Idol'

Credit: FOX

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, March 25, 209.

Forced into a Wednesday performance episode by President Obama, "American Idol" suffered no ratings let-down, improving on last week's performance numbers for FOX. Having to face "Idol," ABC's "Lost" wasn't so lucky.

FOX averaged a 9.1 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, beating the combined totals for CBS (2.9 rating), ABC (2.7 rating), NBC (1.5) and The CW (0.9) in the coveted age group.

Overall, FOX averaged an estimated 25.6 million viewers to go with a 14.6 rating/23 share. CBS was a distant second with a 7.3/12, while ABC's 4.0/6 was well back in third. NBC was fourth with a 3.2/5, leaving The CW in fifth with a 1.3/2.

In the 8 p.m. hour "American Idol" had a 13.9/22 for FOX. CBS' "Survivor: Tocantins" clip show was second with a 5.0/8. ABC's "Scrubs" and "Better Off Ted" averaged a 3.3/5 between them. The CW took fourth with a 2.0/3 for "America's Next Top Model," leaving NBC's "The Chopping Block" in fifth.

"American Idol" was up to a 15.3/23 for FOX in the 9 p.m. hour. CBS' "Criminal Minds" was a solid second with an 8.7/13. ABC's "Lost" was third with a 5.2/8, though it still finished second in the 18-49 demo. NBC's "Life" slumped to a 2.9/4 in fourth, while The CW's "90210" repeat trailed.

CBS won the 10 p.m. hour with an 8.1/14 for "CSI: NY." NBC's "Law & Order" was well back in second, still easily topping the 3.5/6 for ABC's "Life on Mars."

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.

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