The Sked: WEDNESDAY RATINGS February 15

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>American Idol expanded to two hours last night, and the show did its now reliable 6.0 rating.  Survivor premiered its latest cycle on CBS with a 3.0 rating, down from a 3.2 rating for last year’s winter/spring cycle premiere.

             Nightly Adult 18-49 Rating
Wednesday    FOX    CBS    ABC    NBC
02.15.2012   6.0    2.9    2.8    1.3
02.16.2011   8.2    3.2    2.3    1.4

FOX’s American Idol has locked in on a 6.0 rating on Wednesday nights.  Last night Idol expanded to two hours, building each half hour: 5.1… 6.0… 6.2… 6.6.  Last year on this night, FOX also expanded American Idol to two hours (8.2), starting at a 6.7 in the 8:00 half hour and peaking at a 9.7 in the 9:30 half hour.        

The return of Survivor pushed CBS into second place for the night, although the premiere of Survivor at 8 (3.0 rating) was the lowest yet.  Recent Survivor premieres: 9.14.2011 8:00-9:30 (3.4), 2.16.2011 8:00-9:00 (3.2), 9.22.2010 8:00-9:00 (4.0).  Criminal Minds turned in a season low, failing to build off the improved lead in (compared to the specials that have filled in at 8 pm for several weeks).  CSI welcomed Elisabeth Shue (replacing Marg Helgenberger), and the episode did a rating only slightly better than the season low for the aging series.  Last year on this night: Survivor premiere (3.2), Criminal Minds (3.2) and Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (3.3).  

The two-hour American Idol competition pulled ABC down three tenths of a rating point from last week, moving the network into third place.  The comedies were roughed up, with The Middle, Suburgatory and Happy Endings setting or tying season lows.  Modern Family was only a few tenths above its season low.  Revenge continues to stay in the mid-2 rating range, unable to tick up despite heavy promotion the last few weeks.  Last year on this night, ABC averaged a 2.3 rating: The Middle (2.3), Better with You (1.8), Modern Family (4.4), Mr Sunshine (2.6) and Off the Map (1.5).   

A distant fourth place for NBC, and down a tick from last year’s already low level.  Whitney and Are You There Chelsea? remain stuck in the mid-1s, and Rock Center fell back under a 1 rating (without a high profile story like last week’s JFK intern, who pushed it all the way up to a 1.1).  SVU is a very weak last place in the 10 pm hour and getting worse — on track to set a series low last night for an original episode.  Last year on this night: Minute to Win It (1.0) from 8-10 pm and Law & Order SVU (2.2).         

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