TV Ratings: Steady 'Idol' Tops Wednesday, ABC Comedies Boosted in Returns

Michael Becker / FOX

A repeat-free Wednesday gave an easy win to Fox, with a steady American Idol an improved episode out of Mobbed.

The network averaged a 4.5 among adults 18-49 for the night, according to fast affiliate ratings, drawing a crowd of 13.9 million. At 8:00 p.m., Idol nabbed a 6.0 in the demo, even with last week's final number. With time zone adjustments, the first outing from "Hollywood Week" could see the the episode rise -- especially with total viewers up by 2 percent. Mobbed notched a two tenths of a point growth among 18-49-ers, pulling in a 3.0 rating.

ABC placed second for the night with a 3.1 adults rating and 8.4 million viewers. Its Wednesday block returned after two weeks of repeats to steady scores and a few gains. The Middle grew 4 percent for a 2.6 in adults 18-49, with Suburgatory even with a 2.5. Modern Family climbed 8 percent for a 5.5 in the demo, while Happy Endings also grew 3 percent for a 3.0. Revenge returned even with its last showing of a 2.5 rating.

CBS saw dips in Criminal Minds and CSI after the CBS News special Person to Person. The net averaged a 2.4 in the demo and 10.4 million viewers, with Person to Person's soft lead of a 2.4 in adults 18-49. Criminal Minds dropped 8 percent from its last original to a 3.4, and CSI fell 21 percent to a 2.7 in the demo.

Rock Center With Brian Williams entered its new Wednesday time period on ABC up from its Monday average, grabbing a 1.1 in adults 18-49. It followed dipping episodes of Whitney and Are You There, Chelsea?, both down 12 percent, both scoring a 1.5 rating among adults. Law & Order: SVU jumped 22 percent from its last original, clocking in a 2.2 in adults. The net averaged a 1.6 rating in 18-49-ers with 5.3 million viewers.

On the CW, One Tree Hill held onto its 0.7 among adults 18-49, while Remodeled climbed a notch for a 0.4 rating.

Wednesday, Feb. 8, Overnight Ratings:

8 p.m.
Fox: American Idol (18.9 million viewers, 6.0 rating among adults 18-49)
ABC: The Middle (8.5 million, 2.6)
NBC: Whitney (4.1 million, 1.5)
CBS: Person to Person (6.0 million, 1.1)
The CW: One Tree Hill (1.3 million, 0.7)

8:30 p.m.
ABC: Suburgatory (7.3 million, 2.5)
NBC: Are You There Chelsea? (3.7 million, 1.5)

9 p.m.
ABC: Modern Family (12.9 million, 5.5)
CBS: Criminal Minds (13.6 million, 3.4)
FOX: Mobbed (8.8 million, 3.0)
NBC: Rock Center With Brian Williams (5.3 million, 1.1)
The CW: Remodeled (713,000, 0.4)

9:30 p.m.
ABC: Happy Endings (6.9 million, 3.0)

10 p.m.
CBS: CSI (11.4 million, 2.7)
ABC: Revenge (7.6 million, 2.5)
NBC: Law & Order: SVU (6.7 million, 2.2)