THE SKED: WEDNESDAY NETWORK SCORECARD – 10/10/12

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A superhero comes to the rescue.

CW:  ARROW gave the beleagurered little network the best news it’s had literally in years, with a colossal (for CW) 1.3 rating that beat NBC in its first half-hour and was only narrowly behind in its second.  That also lifted SUPERNATURAL to a snappy 1.0 at 9PM.

ABC:  You couldn’t call NASHVILLE a flop (not yet, anyway), considering that it won the 10PM hour with a solid 2.8.  But that was down more than 2 full ratings points from its special MODERN FAMILY lead-in, and  it’s far from the commanding hit ABC had to be looking for after months of A-level promotion.  Even worse, the Nashville number declined during the course of the hour, which doesn’t bode well for next week (when it will also have a much lower Suburgatory lead-in).  Earlier in the evening, the two Modern Family half-hours were the highest rated shows of the night, and at 8:30PM, NBC’s failure in the slot is making THE NEIGHBORS look passable at 2.0.

NBC:  CHICAGO FIRE wasn’t expected to do much, and it didn’t, with a 1.9 premiere that was third place in its hour.  It did manage to build slightly on its anemic 1.8 SVU lead-in, but that may not last long.  If Chicago could stay at its current level, NBC might consider that acceptable–because it’s, you know, NBC–but the show will likely fall at least a few ticks from its debut.  In the 8PM hour, ANIMAL PRACTICE is begging to be canceled at 1.1, but despite all the speculation that Whitney will move into that slot, Guys With Kids is showing little promise at 1.4 and might well be doomed in any case.

CBS:  SURVIVOR had a subpar 2.8, and CRIMINAL MINDS was down a bit at 3.0.  Despite new, heavily hyped competition on both of the other networks, the you-can’t-kill-it-with-a-stick original CSI was actually up for the week at 2.6, just slightly below Nashville and handily ahead of Chicago Fire.  

FOX:  X FACTOR was even with last week at 3.5, and despite all the night’s big premieres, that was enough to give FOX the evening.

All the networks except CW will only be airing an hour of programming tonight before the VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.  CW, after the season premiere of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, will take the opportunity to launch BEAUTY AND THE BEAST with no network competition at 9PM.  Also arriving:  the season premiere of THE LEAGUE on FX.