TV Ratings: 'American Idol' delivers a lucky Thirteen for FOX Tuesday

Anoop Desai performs on Michael Jackson Night on 'American Idol'

Credit: Ray Mickshaw/FOX

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

After a couple weeks of very slightly slipping Tuesday ratings (very very slightly), "American Idol" brought the fans back for the start of the Top 13, dominating another Tuesday.

FOX averaged a 9.2 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, will more than the combined tallies for NBC (3.7 rating), CBS (2.5 rating), ABC (1.5 rating) and The CW (0.6 rating).

Overall, FOX averaged an estimated 25.24 million viewers and a 14.5 rating/22 share. CBS was a distant second with an 8.0/13, beating the 6.2/10 for NBC. ABC's 3.0/5 was a distant fourth, still well ahead of the 1.0/2 for The CW.

In the 8 p.m. hour FOX got a 13.7/22 for the start of Michael Jackson Night on "American Idol." CBS' repeat of "NCIS" was second with an 8.4/13. NBC's "Biggest Loser: Couples" was third, topping the 3.5/5 for ABC's "Homeland Security, USA." The CW's "Reaper" held most of its premiere audience with a 1.4/2. 

FOX's "American Idol" improved to a 15.2/23 in the 9 p.m. hour, topping the 9.0/14 for a repeat of "The Mentalist" on CBS. NBC's "Biggest Loser: Couples" was up to a 6.2/9 in its second hour. Repeats of "Scrubs" on ABC and "90210" on The CW trailed.

NBC grabbed first at 10 p.m. with a 7.2/12 for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." A CBS repeat of "Without a Trace" had a 6.7/11 for second. ABC's "What Would You Do?" special trailed.

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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