Primetime Ratings: CBS, CSI Narrow Gap on Fox, Idol

Fox Airs Third American Idol Incarnation of the Week

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 4/11/2008 12:30:00 PM

Fox won Thursday night with yet another American Idol incarnation, the third of the week due to the special "Give Back" episode Wednesday night that pushed the vote-off episode to Thursday.

But Fox had one of its narrower victories on an Idol night thanks to a strong showing from a new episode of CSI on CBS, with solid support from Survivor and Without a Trace.

Fox averaged a 5.4 rating/14 share in the 18-49 demo thanks to a 6.8/19 for Idol from 8 p.m.-9 p.m. and a 4/10 for lead-out Don't Forget the Lyrics.

CBS was second with a 4.5/12, led by a 5.7/14 for CSI from 9 p.m.-10 p.m.

NBC was third with a 3.4/9, topped by The Office (4.8/12).

ABC was a distant fourth with a 1.6/4 for back-to-back repeats of Desperate Housewives, which returns with new episodes Sunday night, and new drama Eli Stone.

The CW averaged a 0.7/2 for repeats of Smallville and Supernatural.