TV Ratings: 'Criminal Minds' keys CBS Wednesday win

Pre-Thanksgiving episodes of 'Modern Family,' 'Glee' and 'Cougar Town' hit series lows

Thursday, Nov 26, 2009 12:02 PM

Daniel Fienberg

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TV Ratings: 'Criminal Minds' keys CBS Wednesday win

Thomas Gibson of 'Criminal Minds'

Credit: CBS

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, November 25, 2009.

Airing new episodes on the night before Thanksgiving led to series-low ratings for programs like "Modern Family," "Cougar Town," "Eastwick" and "Glee." The pending holiday had no negative impact on CBS' "Criminal Minds, though," which celebrated its 100th episode and helped give CBS easy Wednesday wins in most key measures.

Among adults 18-49, CBS averaged a 2.6 rating, beating NBC's 2.4 rating and the 2.0 rating for FOX in the key demographic. ABC's 1.7 rating was fourth, with The CW trailing with a 0.4 rating.

Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 11.03 million viewers to go with a 6.7 rating/12 share. NBC was a distant second with a 4.1/7, followed by FOX's 3.3/6 and the 3.2/6 for ABC. The CW's 0.8/1 was fifth.

NBC began the night in first with a 4.6/8 for a "The Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now" special, which also won the hour in the key demo with a 2.6 rating. CBS' "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and "Gary Unmarried" had a 4.1/7 for second, with ABC's "Modern Family" repeat and a new "The Middle" doing a 3.5/6 for third. FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance" results episode was fourth with a 3.0/5. The CW aired the movie "Gracie" and finished fifth.

CBS moved into first at 9 p.m. with an 8.2/14 for "Criminal Minds," which also won the hour with a 3.1 rating in the key demo. NBC's "Biggest Loser" special was steady in second. ABC finished third with "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town" plummeting to a 3.7/6 overall and a 2.2 rating in the demo. Also proving the danger of airing new episodes on a holiday eve was "Glee," which had a 3.5/6 overall and dropped to a 2.5 rating in the demo. The CW's movie had a 0.8/1.

"CSI: New York" won the 10 p.m. hour for CBS with a 7.9/14 and a 2.8 rating in the demo. NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" was second. ABC's already cancelled "Eastwick" returned with a new episode and could muster only a 2.4/4 for third, also finishing last in the demo with a dismal 1.1 rating.

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