Ratings: American Idol Cues Up 33.24 Million

• Jan 16, 2008 04:42 PM ET
• by TV Guide News

The two-hour season premiere of American Idol delivered 33.24 million total viewers - trouncing the combined audiences of all network competition - and serving up a melodious 13.78 rating in key demos. That said, Idol was down 11 percent from Season 6's premiere night.

Among the casualties of the crooning Cain Marko:

" NCIS put up a respectful 15.9 mil, but was down 1.16 mil from its last new episode (Nov. 27).

" Biggest Loser (7.2 mil) was down 29 percent.

" Comanche Moon (12.34 mil) dropped 20 percent from its first night.

" One Tree Hill (2.74 mil) was off 21 percent.

Come 10 pm, the back end of CBS' Moon edged out SVU (12.14 mil) in total viewers, though (of course) not in the demos. And Boston Legal (7.9 mil) was in fact up a quarter-mil from its last fresh eppy (Dec. 18).

Related:
" NFL Playoffs Score Monster Ratings

More Idol coverage (because there always will be):
" Read Nina's recap of the first auditions.
" See what Matt Roush and Cheers & Jeers have to say about the debut.
" Idol Advertisers Pay Much More Dough-Re-Mi