Primetime Ratings: 'Idol' Rebounds Slightly as Fox Wins

'Rock Center' up 38% in new timeslot

By Tim Baysinger -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/9/2012 11:57:02 AM

For the first time this season, Fox's American Idol grew week-to-week, even if only by a tenth, to a 6.0 rating in the 18-49 demo Wednesday, according to Nielsen overnight numbers. That was followed by another episode of Mobbed, which was up 7% to a 3.0. The network won the night with an overall 4.5 rating/12 share.

ABC came in second with a 3.1/8, returning its lineup from three weeks off. The Middle was up 4% to a 2.6, Modern Family rose 8% to a 5.5 and Happy Endings improved by 3% to a 3.0. Suburgatory and Revenge were both even at 2.5 each.

CBS was in third at 2.4/6. The network returned the Edward R. Murrow interview program Person to Person which drew a 1.1 at 8 p.m. Criminal Minds was down 8% to a 3.4 and CSI -- sans Marg Helgenberger -- dropped 21% to a 2.7.

NBC was in fourth at 1.6/4. Whitney and Are You There, Chelsea? were both down 12% to a 1.5 each. Rock Center improved 38% in its new timeslot to a 1.1 and Law & Order: SVU bumped up 22% from its last original three weeks ago to a 2.2.

The CW rounded out the night with an overall 0.5/1. One Tree Hill was flat with another 0.7 and ReModeled was up a tenth to a 0.4.