Ratings: NCIS Tops Idol Head-to-Head; Smash Hits New Low
Tenna Torres
Fox topped Tuesday with a special American Idol, while Smash continued its precipitous slide.
Idol's two-hour episode averaged 11.5 million viewers and a 3.4 in the adults 18-to-49 demographic. NCIS did, however, edge it out by a tenth in the 8 o'clock hour (20.3 million, 3.3 vs. 10.9 million, 3.2).
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NCIS: Los Angeles (15.9 million, 2.8) and Golden Boy (9.3 million, 1.6), in its last Tuesday tryout spot, both slipped.
After holding steady last week, Smash (2.6 million, 0.7) slumped 22 percent to a new series low. Even worse? The CW's Hart of Dixie (1.4 million, 0.6) nearly tied it in the demo. Smash's lead-ins Go On (3.04 million, 1.1) and The New Normal (2.4 million, 0.9) were flat and down, respectively.
Smash did not suffer the biggest decline though. That dubious honor went to Celebrity Wife Swap (4.1 million, 1.5), which fell 38 percent without Kate Gosselin. The Taste (3.2 million, 1.2) was down two-tenths and Body of Proof (6.5 million, 1.2) was even.
8 p.m.
CBS: NCIS 20.3 million viewers (3.3 demo rating)
ABC: Celebrity Wife Swap 4.1 million (1.5)
Fox: American Idol 11.5 million (3.4) [8-10 p.m.]
NBC: Betty White's Off Their Rockers (R) 3.6 million (1.0); Betty White's Off Their Rockers 3.6 million (1.1)
CW: Hart of Dixie 1.4 million (0.6)
9 p.m.
CBS: NCIS: Los Angeles 15.9 million (2.8)
ABC: The Taste 3.2 million (1.2)
NBC: Go On 3.04 million (1.1); The New Normal 2.4 million (0.9)
CW: Beauty and the Beast (R) 750,000 (0.3)
10 p.m.
CBS: Golden Boy 9.3 million (1.6)
ABC: Body of Proof 6.5 million (1.2)
NBC: Smash 2.6 million (0.7)