TV Ratings: 'American Idol' keeps rolling on Tuesday

Randy Jackson of 'American Idol'

Credit: FOX

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, April 14, 2009.

Another slightly over-long "American Idol" performance episode aided the ratings for "Fringe" and pushed FOX to an easy Tuesday night win.

Among adults 18-49, FOX averaged a 6.3 rating, beating the 3.3 rating for NBC in the key demographic. CBS was third with a 2.6 rating, nipping the 2.1 rating for ABC and The CW's 1.0 rating. 

Overall, FOX averaged an estimated 17.49 million viewers in primetime to go with a 10.0 rating/15 share. CBS was second with an 8.2/13, followed by the 5.6/9 for ABC and NBC's 5.2/9. The CW was fifth with a 1.4/2.

The Songs of the Cinema theme night for "American Idol" did a 13.3/21 for FOX in the 8 p.m. hour. CBS was second with an 8.6/13 for a repeat of "NCIS." The first hour of NBC's "Biggest Loser: Couples" was third, topping two episodes of "According to Jim" on ABC. The CW's "Reaper" had a 1.3/2 for the hour.

ABC moved into first at 9 p.m. with a 9.4/14 for the "Dancing with the Stars" results show. CBS' "Mentalist" repeat was second, topping the 6.7/10 for "Fringe," which got a boost from "American Idol," which ran four minutes into the hour. NBC's "Biggest Loser: Couples" was fourth with a 6.1/9. The CW's "90210" had a 1.4/2.

"Without a Trace" did an 8.4/14 for CBS in the 10 p.m. hour. NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" was second, nipping the 4.4/7 for ABC's "Cupid."

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change, specially when "American Idol" can't come in on time.