TV Ratings: 'American Idol' gives 'Human Target' a Tuesday boost

CBS' procedural repeats and 'Biggest Loser' still draw Tuesday viewers

By Daniel Fienberg Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 2:05 PM

Ryan Seacrest of 'American Idol'

Credit: FOX

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, January 19, 2010.

The Tuesday encore of the "Human Target" premiere drew a larger audience in the key demo than in its original Sunday airing. That may, just possibly, be related to a little lead-in called "American Idol." Due to the "Idol" juggernaut, FOX dominated Tuesday night in all key measures.

Among adults 18-49, FOX averaged a 6.7 rating, topping the 3.4 rating for NBC and the 2.4 rating for CBS. ABC's 1.0 rating was a distant fourth, with The CW's 0.3 rating trailing.

Overall, FOX averaged an estimated 17.61 million viewers to go with a 9.8 rating/15 share. CBS' 7.7/12 was good for second, with NBC's 5.2/8 taking third. ABC's 2.1/3 was fourth. The CW's 0.5/1 was fifth.

FOX started the night in dominant fashion with a 14.3/22 for "American Idol," which averaged 26.05 million viewers and a 9.9 rating in the key demographic. CBS' "NCIS" repeat averaged 8.9/14 for second. NBC's "Biggest Loser" did a 5.0/8 overall and finished second in the key demographic. Repeats of "Scrubs" and "Better Off Dead" averaged a 1.6/2 for ABC. The CW's "90210" repeat was fifth.

CBS' repeat of "NCIS: Los Angeles" finished first overall for the 9 p.m. hour with a 7.9/12. NBC's "Biggest Loser" improved to a 6.5/10 in its second hour and won the demo with a 4.7 rating. FOX got a 5.3/8 for the "Human Target" encore, though the fall-off at the half-hour was dramatic. ABC's new "Scrubs" and "Better Off Ted" had a 2.1/3 for fourth. The CW's "Melrose Place" repeat stayed fifth.

A "Good Wife" repeat had a 6.4/11 in the 10 p.m. hour for CBS. "The Jay Leno Show" had a 4.0/7 and tied with CBS for first in the key demographic. A repeat of "The Forgotten" trailed for ABC.

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

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.