Ratings: Modern Family Returns Strong; Animal Practice, Guys with Kids Flop

Fresh off its third straight Emmy win for comedy series, Modern Family ruled Wednesday night, posting the best premiere rating of the season.
The ABC comedy drew 14.2 million viewers and a 5.5 in the adults 18-to-49 demographic, down only 8 percent from last season's premiere.
New series lead-out The Neighbors couldn't hang on to Modern Family's numbers though, dropping to a still-respectable 9.3 million and a 3.3. An hour-long The Middle kicked off the night to 9 million viewers and a 2.8, down slightly from last year.

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Fox won the evening, with The X Factor averaging 9.4 million viewers and a 3.3, down three-tenths from last week. CBS topped the night in viewership, thanks to Survivor (10.1 million, 3.0), and the season premieres of Criminal Minds (11.6 million, 3.1) and CSI (10.6 million, 2.5). Minds was down a full rating point from last season's opener, while CSI dipped seven-tenths. On NBC, Animal Practice (5.2 million, 1.4) and Guys with Kids (4.8 million, 1.6) made their timeslot debuts, falling significantly from their special previews. Practice, in particular, scored a 4.1 rating when it aired after the Olympic closing ceremony. Law & Order: SVU returned to 7.1 million viewers and a 2.1 for its two-hour premiere — its lowest-rated opener ever.On The CW, Oh Sit! (0.9 million, 0.4) was even.

8 p.m.
CBS: Survivor 10.1 million viewers (3.0 demo rating)
ABC: The Middle 9 million (2.8)
Fox: The X Factor9.4 million (3.3) [8-10 p.m.]
NBC: Animal Practice 5.2 million (1.4); Guys with Kids 4.8 million (1.6)
CW: Oh Sit!0.9million (0.4)
9 p.m.
CBS: Criminal Minds 11.6 million (3.1)
ABC: Modern Family 14.2 million (5.5); The Neighbors9.3 million (3.3)
NBC: Law & Order: SVU 7.1 million (2.1) [9-11 p.m.]
CW: Supernatural (R) 0.7 million (0.3)
10 p.m.
CBS: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation10.6 million (2.5)
ABC: Revenge recap 5.3 million (1.6)