Primetime Ratings: Fox and ABC Tie Thursday as 'Idol' Keeps Falling

'Wife Swap' premieres below celeb version; 'Scandal' returns even

By Tim Baysinger -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/22/2013 11:43:49 AM

Fox's American Idol results show on Thursday fell to a new series low for a regularly scheduled edition, dropping two tenths from last week to a 2.9 rating with adults 18-49, according to Nielsen overnight numbers. Glee followed with a 2.0, which was even with last week. Fox and ABC split for first in the demo with a 2.4 rating/7 share, though Fox had more overall viewers.

ABC premiered its regular version of Wife Swap at 8 p.m. to a 1.7, which was down 29% from the premiere of Celebrity Wife Swap last month but up 42% over its previous season. Grey's Anatomy rose 12% to a 2.9 and Scandal returned from a month off even at 2.7.

NBC aired a mix of repeats and originals to finish behind CBS' NCAA coverage for fourth place at 1.0/3. Community stayed at last week's series-low 1.1 and 1600 Penn fell 20% to a 0.8. A special 8:30 p.m. episode of 1600 Penn drew a 0.9.

The CW rounded out the evening with a 0.9/3. The Vampire Diaries was up a tenth in both the net's targeted 18-34 demo and 18-49s with a 1.2 in both. Beauty and the Beast was even with 18-34s at a 0.5 and up two tenths with 18-49s to a 0.7.

CBS aired coverage of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.