TV Ratings: 'Modern Family' premieres big, but 'Criminal Minds' and 'X Factor' lead Wednesday split

'Animal Practice' is in early jeopardy after a weak launch

By Daniel Fienberg Thursday, Sep 27, 2012 12:07 PM

"Modern Family"

Credit: ABC

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Fast National ratings for Wednesday, September 26, 2012.

Another huge premiere for the Emmy-winning "Modern Family" may have been Wednesday night's most notable story, but "The X Factor" and "Criminal Minds" helped FOX and CBS claim the key ratings crowns for the night.

Among notable premieres, ABC got a big post-"Modern Family" sampling for "The Neighbors," NBC's "Animal Practice" and "Guys with Kids" both tanked and "CSI" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" carved out their terrain before ABC's "Nashville" launches.

Finally, FOX and CBS both have to be pleased with the stability of "X Factor" and "Survivor," which came close to copying last week's performances despite added competition.

On to the numbers...

Among adults 18-49, FOX averaged a 3.3 rating for Wednesday night, beating ABC's 2.9 rating in the key demographic. [ABC actually won the two hours the networks went head-to-head.] CBS was a close third with a 2.8 key demo rating, followed by NBC's 1.9 rating and the 0.3 key demo rating for The CW.

Overall, though, CBS averaged an estimated 10.8 million viewers to go with a 6.7 rating/11 share on Wednesday night. FOX was second with a 5.7/9 and 9.45 million viewers, topping ABC's 5.4/9 and 8.7 million viewers. NBC was fourth with 6.39 million viewers and a 4.3/7. The CW drew 825,000 viewers and a 0.5/1.

8 p.m. - CBS started primetime in first with 10.16 million viewers for "Survivor: Philippines," which was second with a 3.0 rating among adults 18-49. ABC's two episodes of "The Middle" finished second with 8.97 million viewers and came in third with a 2.8 key demo rating. FOX's "The X Factor" was first among adults 18-49 with a 3.1 rating and a close second with 8.79 million viewers (beating ABC overall in the 8:30 half-hour). NBC was fourth with "Animal Practice" (5.19 million and a 1.4 key demo rating) and "Guys with Kids" (4.78 million and a 1.6 key demo), which both enter the "First Show Cancelled" derby with "The Mob Doctor" and "Partners." [Remarkably, those "Guys with Kids" numbers are a marked improvement over what NBC aired in that slot for much of last season, so don't count on it getting the axe quickly.] The CW's "Oh Sit!" averaged 929,000 viewers and a 0.4 key demo rating.

9 p.m. - ABC won the 9 p.m. hour thanks to "Modern Family" (14.21 million viewers and a 5.5 key demo rating) and a special airing of "The Neighbors" (9.28 million and a 3.3 key demo rating). CBS' "Criminal Minds" was second overall with 11.59 million viewers (winning the 9:30 half-hour) and third with a 3.1 key demo rating. FOX's "The X Factor" averaged 10.1 million viewers for third and a 3.6 rating among adults 18-49 for second. The first hour of NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" premiere averaged 6.53 million viewers and a 2.0 key demo rating in fourth. The CW's repeat of "Supernatural" averaged 721,000 viewers and a 0.3 key demo rating.

10 p.m. - The premiere of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" averaged 10.66 million viewers and a 2.5 rating among adults 18-49 to win the 10 p.m. hour for CBS. NBC was second with 7.67 million viewers and a 2.2 key demo rating for "SVU." That left ABC in third with 5.385 million viewers and a 1.6 key demo rating for a "Revenge" recap 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.

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.

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mrbilliam

And sadly, even "Guys with Kids" did better than all of NBC's comedies last Thursday, except for the SNL Thursday show. So, is this really disappointing, especially considering they don't have a lead-in?
September 27, 2012 at 1:20PM EST Reply to Comment
- dan MrBilliam - I dunno about "disappointing," because NBC didn't have any real reason for high expectations and, as the parenthetical notes, NBC did SO poorly in this time slot last year. It's just not GOOD. It is, in fact, bad... But not cancelation bad...
  
  -Daniel
  September 27, 2012 at 1:25PM EST
- Jobin00 Dan,
  Wouldn't the numbers for the NBC comedies have to be REALLY awful, for them to be cancelled?
  
  Considering NBC is likely going to be clearing the deck in the comedy dept with Office and 30 Rock for sure gone, Community likely gone too, wouldn't they be VERY forgiving to any new comedy right now?
  
  Would dipping below the 1.0 demo be a breaking point though?
  September 27, 2012 at 1:36PM EST
Hamsterdam

Dan - Regarding Alan's comment a couple of podcasts ago about a returning show being the first to get the axe, could Up All Night possibly be cancelled if it absolutely tanks (like, Free Agents numbers) tonight? Or is NBC going to avoid doing that out of deference to Lorne Michaels?
September 27, 2012 at 1:39PM EST Reply to Comment
- dan Hamsterdam (and Jobin00) - I think NBC just doesn't have the options to pull anything very quickly unless it becomes an absolute imperative. Like we'll see what happens if "Up All Night" drops below a 1.0 tonight. Ditto with "Animal Practice" next week. For *now* I think NBC will keep both shows around... But for how long? That's another NBC MYSTERY!!!
  
  -Daniel
  September 27, 2012 at 2:54PM EST
- Jobin00 Dan,
  When you said "marked improvement over what NBC aired in that slot for much of last season" was that the demo-dominating Whitney / Chelsea combo you are referring to?
  September 27, 2012 at 3:33PM EST
- dan Jobin00 - I believe so... Plus "Free Agents," right?
  
  -Daniel
  September 27, 2012 at 3:45PM EST
- Jobin00 I think so!
  
  Luckily, Dane Cook will come mid-season and cure all...
  September 27, 2012 at 4:03PM EST
Other Scott

I just don't see how Parks and Rec gets cancelled after this year. With 30 Rock and the Office ending, Community probably ending, and Up All Night and Whitney likely in trouble, that would leave Parks and Rec as NBCs only reliably not bad (ratings wise) comedy.

Go On is doing well and the New Normal is doing OK, but they are doing those numbers right after The Voice, and presumably NBC will want to move those, say to Thursday (if they stay good enough to come back next year). Since NBC has no no idea how they are going to do on Thursday, they probably want Parks and Rec just so they can have some comedy they know is going to do about a 2.0.

Maybe I'm looking at things glass (more than) half full though.
September 27, 2012 at 5:49PM EST Reply to Comment

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TV Ratings: 'Modern Family' premieres big, but 'Criminal Minds' and 'X Factor' lead Wednesday split

'Animal Practice' is in early jeopardy after a weak launch