TV Ratings: 'American Idol' lets FOX nip CBS on Tuesday

Kara DioGuardi of 'American Idol'

Credit: FOX

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, April 7, 2009.

"American Idol" helped FOX race out to a big Tuesday night ratings lead and then the return of "Fringe" nearly allowed CBS to steal the night.

FOX had no trouble winning among adults 18-49, doing a 6.2 rating in the key demographic. CBS was a distant second with a 3.3 rating, edging the 3.2 rating for NBC. ABC's 2.1 rating was fourth, topping the 1.0 rating for The CW.

Overall, FOX averaged an estimated 16.97 million viewers to go with a 9.8 rating/15 share, barely beating the 9.7/15 for CBS. NBC and ABC were well back in third with a matching 5.3/8. The CW's 1.5/2 trailed.

FOX's "American Idol" had a 12.8/8 for a solid 8 p.m. hour victory. CBS was second with the 10.8/17 for "NCIS." NBC's "Biggest Loser: Couples" was a distant third, beating the 2.8/4 for ABC's "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown." The CW's "Reaper" had a 1.5/2 for fifth.

CBS swooped into first with a 10.3/16 for "The Mentalist." ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" results show was second with an 8.9/13. Fast National figures credit FOX's "Fringe" with a 6.9/10, but those numbers include the nearly 10 minutes that "American Idol" ran into the hour. NBC's "Biggest Loser: Couples" was fourth with a 5.4/8. The CW was fifth with "90210," which lost viewers from "Reaper."

"Without a Trace" gave the 10 p.m. hour to CBS with an 8.0./13. NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" was second, while ABC's "Cupid" fell to a 4.1/7 in its second airing.

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change, especially when FOX lets "American Idol" run 10 minutes over.

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