TV Ratings: Sluggish Wednesday favors CBS

'Criminal Minds' and 'CSI: NY' dominate overall, while 'Glee' gives FOX decent demo numbers

Thursday, Oct 22, 2009 11:39 AM

Daniel Fienberg

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TV Ratings: Sluggish Wednesday favors CBS

Eddie Cahill and Gary Sinise of 'CSI: NY'

Credit: CBS

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2009.

No network could muster even a 3.0 rating in the 18-49 demo on Wednesday night, but CBS probably had the most to crow about, dominating overall and splitting the key demo with FOX.

Among adults 18-49, FOX and CBS averaged a 2.9 rating. ABC's 2.2 rating and the 2.1 rating for NBC weren't that far off in the key demo, while The CW's 1.0 rating trailed.

Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 11.12 million viewers to go with a 7.1 rating/12 share. NBC was a distant second with a 4.8/8, just beating the 4.3/7 for FOX and the 4.2/7 for ABC. The CW's 1.4/2 was fifth.

Interestingly, the only networks not down from last week were NBC -- viewers seem to be rediscovering "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" at 9 p.m. -- and The CW.

NBC won the 8 p.m. hour overall with a 4.8/8 for "Mercy." CBS' "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and "Gary Unmarried" were a close second. FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance" had a 4.2/7 overall for third, but won the hour in the 18-49 demo with a 2.6 rating. ABC's "Hank" and "The Middle" averaged a 4.0/7 between them, though "The Middle" has an ever-growing advantage over "Hank" in the 18-49 demo. The CW's "America's Next Top Model" was fifth with a 2.1/4.

CBS moved into first at 9 p.m. with an 8.6/13 for "Criminal Minds," which also won the hour in the 18-49 demo with a 3.6 rating. NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" was second overall with a 6.1/9, building again. ABC's "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town" had a 5.1/8, down from last week. FOX's "Glee" had a 4.4/7 and tied with the ABC comedies for second in the demo with a 3.2 rating. The CW's "Melrose Place" repeat was fifth.

"CSI: NY" closed the night in first for CBS with an 8.2/14 overall and a 3.0 rating in the demo. ABC's "Eastwick" and NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" both posted a 3.5/6, though NBC had the advantage in viewers and "Eastwick" had the advantage in the 18-49 demo.

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