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February 10, 2012
 

The Sked: THURSDAY RATINGS February 9

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Written by: Mitch Metcalf
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>American Idol is stabilizing in the high-5 rating area on Thursday and a 6 rating on Wednesday, while Grey’s Anatomy had a good night on ABC and The Office hits a new low on NBC (though still the network’s highest-rated comedy at a 2.5).  

             Nightly Adult 18-49 Rating
Thursday     FOX    CBS    ABC    NBC    
02.09.2012   4.0    3.6    2.6    1.8   
02.10.2011   5.3    3.0    2.9    2.2    

American Idol scored a 5.7 in the preliminary Adult 18-49 fast nationals Thursday, which should go up to a 5.8 in the official nationals later today (making it the best Thursday rating for the show).   The Wednesday edition has settled into around a 6 rating and Thursday is now consistently in the high-5 rating range.  Nevertheless, The  Voice‘s Monday rating in its regular time period was higher-rated than either Idol this week and NBC is trumpeting in promos that The Voice is the #1 singing show, boasting 70 million viewers (almost certainly the cumulative audience that see all or part of the post-Super Bowl telecast or the Monday time period premiere).  More on those promos later today in Promo Watch.  This night last year: American Idol (7.3) and Bones (3.2).     

                Season        Past  Six  Weeks

FOX Thu        High Low  01.5 1.12 1.19 1.26 2.02 2.09
X Factor       4.3  2.8  —
American Idol  5.7  5.5            5.7  5.5  5.5  5.7*
Bones          3.3  2.4  1.1R 2.4
The Finder     2.8  1.7       1.7  2.2  2.8  2.4  2.3*

On CBS, Big Bang Theory won the 8:00 half hour again (a preliminary 5.5 rating to a 5.2 for the first half of American Idol).  At 8:30, Rob again declined to its fairly reliable level (a 3.4 rating last night to a 6.2 for the second half of Idol).  At 9 pm, Person of Interest matched its season high level and might round up to a new high (3.4) in the official nationals.  The Mentalist also matched its season high at 10 pm.  On the same night last year: Big Bang Theory (3.9), $#*! My Dad Says (2.7), CSI (2.8) and The Mentalist (2.9).

                 Season        Past  Six  Weeks

CBS Thu         High Low  01.5 1.12 1.19 1.26 2.02 2.09
Big Bang Theory 5.5  4.5  3.5R 5.3  5.3  5.5  5.5  5.5*
Rules Engagment 3.7  2.7  2.5R 
Rob             4.1  3.3       4.1  3.5  3.5  3.3  3.4*
Person Interest 3.3  2.6  1.8R 3.2  3.2  2.1R 3.3  3.3*
Mentalist       2.9  2.5  1.9R 2.7  3.0  1.9R 2.9  2.9*

ABC finished in third place with a 2.6 rating from 8-11 pm, with another season low at 8 pm for Wipeout, a fairly high 3.9 from Grey’s Anatomy at 9 pm (the “HEART STOPPING DRAMA!” line in this week’s promos seemed to work), and another fairly low 2.3 for Private Practice at 10 pm.  On this night last year: Wipeout (2.2), Grey’s Anatomy (3.9) and Private Practice (2.6). 

                Season        Past  Six  Weeks

ABC Thu        High Low  01.5 1.12 1.19 1.26 2.02 2.09
Charlie’s Ang  2.1  1.1  —  
Wipeout        2.7  1.8  2.7  2.2  1.8  1.5R 1.8  1.5*
Grey’s Anatomy 4.5  3.1  4.5  3.8  3.5  1.3R 3.6  3.9*
Private Prac   2.8  2.1  2.7  2.3  2.1  0.8R 2.3  2.3*

NBC’s fourth-place 1.8 rating from 8-11 pm beat last week’s 1.5, thanks to 30 Rock being correctly listed as an original episode this week (unlike last week) and thanks to a repeat Voice getting the 10 pm hour to a 1.5 rating after weeks of sub-1 ratings from The Firm.  However, The Office set a new series low and Up All Night tied a series low.  Last year on this night NBC managed a 2.0 rating from 8-11 pm: Community (1.8), Perfect Couples (1.5), The Office (3.5), Parks & Recreation (2.5), 30 Rock (2.3) and Outsourced (1.7).

                Season        Past  Six  Weeks

NBC Thu        High Low  01.5 1.12 1.19 1.26 2.02 2.09
Community      1.8  1.4  0.8R  
30 Rock        1.8  1.3       1.8  1.6  1.6  1.3  1.6*
Parks & Rec    2.1  1.7  0.9R 1.9  1.9  1.7  1.7  —
The Office     3.9  2.8  1.1R 2.9  3.0  —   2.8  2.5*
Whitney        3.3  1.9  0.8R  
Up All Night   2.0  1.8       2.0  1.9  1.4R 1.8  1.8*
Prime Suspect  1.8  0.8  — 
The Firm       1.0  0.8       1.0  0.9  1.0  0.8  —

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About the Author

Mitch Metcalf
MITCH METCALF has been tracking every US film release of over 500 screens (over 2300 movies and counting) since the storied weekend of May 20, 1994, when Maverick and Beverly Hills Cop 3 inspired countless aficionados to devote their lives to the art of cinema. Prior to that, he studied Politics and Economics at Princeton in order to prepare for his dream of working in television. He has been Head of West Coast Research at ABC, then moved to NBC in 2000 and became Head of Scheduling for 11 years.