TV Ratings: NBC, FOX split Tuesday as 'Shaq Vs' strikes out

'Hell's Kitchen' and 'America's Got Talent' score

By Daniel Fienberg Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 3:33 PM

TV Ratings: NBC, FOX split Tuesday as 'Shaq Vs' strikes out

Uber chef Gordon Ramsay of "Hell's Kitchen."

Credit: FOX

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009.

Paced by "Hell's Kitchen," FOX won the Tuesday ratings race in the 18-49 demo, while "America's Got Talent" helped NBC win the night overall. Meanwhile, "Shaq Vs" had a less-than-huge debut.

Among adults 18-49, FOX averaged a 2.6 rating to nip the 2.5 rating for NBC. CBS' 1.9 rating and the 1.5 rating for ABC followed closely in the key demographic. The CW's 0.4 rating was fifth.

Overall, though, NBC averaged an estimated 9.79 million viewers in primetime to go with a 5.9 rating/10 share. CBS was second with a 4.6/8, while FOX's 3.4/6 and the 3. 1/5 for ABC followed. The CW took fifth with a 0.6/1.

CBS started the night in first with a 6.3/11 for "NCIS." FOX's "Hell's Kitchen" and ABC's "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire" both averaged a 4.1/7, though FOX's series averaged more than a million more viewers and handily won the hour in the 18-49 demo with a 3.4 rating. NBC's "America's Got Talent" repeat was fourth. On The CW, "90210" had a 0.6/1.

NBC moved into the lead in the 9 p.m. hour with a 7.0/12 for "America's Got Talent." A dramatic episode of "Big Brother" did a 4.8/8 for CBS and tied with "Talent" for the hourly win in the demo. ABC's "Shaq Vs" premiere did a 2.7/5 (improving on its lead-in in the 18-49 demo), nipping the 2.6/4 for FOX's "More To Love." The CW's "90210" trailed. [Note that while the "Shaq Vs" premiere wasn't great, it was still too good for use to utilize a clever headline like "Shaq Vs The Ratings" or "Shaq Vs Viewers."]

"America's Got Talent" had a 6.9/12 in the 10 p.m. hour, giving NBC a commanding win. CBS' "Medium" was a distant second, just ahead of the 2.3/4 for ABC's "Primetime" special.

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