TV Ratings: FOX's 'American Idol' controls another Wednesday

Scott MacIntyre of 'American Idol'

Credit: Chris Cuffaro/FOX

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, April 8, 2009.

As per usual, an "American Idol" results show helped FOX control the Wednesday night ratings race, even if numbers for "Lie to Me" continue to be soft.

FOX averaged a 5.2 rating, far ahead of the 2.9 rating for CBS and the 2.6 rating for ABC. The CW finished fourth with a 1.3 rating, leaving NBC's 1.2 rating in fifth.

Overall, FOX averaged an estimated 15.43 million viewers and a 9.2 rating/15 share. CBS was second with a 7.0/11. ABC's 4.1/7 was a distant third, topping the 3.3/5 for NBC. The CW's 2.0/3 trailed.

At 8 p.m. FOX's "Lie to Me" won the hour with a 5.3/9. CBS' "Gary Umarried" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine" took second with a 4.6/8. NBC was third with a repeat of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." ABC's "Scrubs" and "Better Off Ted" averaged a 3.0/5 for fourth, edging the 2.6/4 for "America's Next Top Model" on The CW.

"American Idol" had a 13.2/20, romping in the 9 p.m. hour for FOX. CBS' "Criminal Minds" was second with an 8.4/13. ABC's "Lost" fell all the way to a 5.0/8. The season finale of NBC's "Life" was fourth with a 2.9/5, better than an "America's Next Top Model" clip show on The CW.

CBS moved into first at 10 p.m. with a 7.9/13 for "CSI: NY." ABC's premiere of "The Unusuals" did a 4.5/8, showing far better audience retention and numbers than "Life on Mars" in the same slot. A repeat of "Law & Order" was third for NBC.

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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