TV Ratings: CBS' 'Criminal' smooth on Wednesday

Shemar Moore of 'Criminal Minds'

Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008.

Paced by a new "Criminal Minds," CBS dominated the Wednesday competition in most measures.

In the key 18-49 demographic, CBS delivered a 3.2 rating, topping the 2.0 for NBC. ABC and FOX posted matching 1.8 demo ratings and beat the 0.7 rating for The CW.

Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 11.9 million viewers and a 7.7 rating/13 share. NBC was second with a 4.0/7 and ABC took third with a 3.7/6. FOX's 3.5/6 was fourth and beat the 1.3/2 for The CW.

CBS swept the primetime hours, starting with a 5.0/8 at 8 p.m. for "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and "Gary Unmarried." FOX was a close second with a 4.3/7. A Muppets special on NBC was third in the overall ratings, but its 2.4 demo rating won the hour. ABC's "Pushing Daisies" was fourth with a 3.0/5, nearly doubling up The CW's encore airing of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

"Criminal Minds" did a 9.5/15 in the 9 p.m. hour, trouncing the 4.6/7 for ABC's "Private Practice." NBC's "Life" did a 3.3/5, beating a "Bones" repeat on FOX." The finale of "Stylista" limped to a 0.9/1 on The CW.

CBS closed strong at 10 p.m. with an 8.6/15 for "CSI: NY." ABC's "Law & Order" held second, beating the 3.5/6 for "Dirty Sexy Money" on ABC.

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