ABC's "Happy Endings" enjoyed an 18 percent growth spurt Wednesday night, while the new NBC series "Up All Night" slipped 13 percent to a series low, according to preliminary numbers.
ABC began its evening with "The Middle" at 8 p.m., which was flat compared to last week's airing with a 2.8 rating/9 share in the adults 18-49 demographic and 8.8 million total viewers. "Suburgatory" followed at 8:30 with a 3.0/8 in the demo and 8.7 million total viewers. "Modern Family" at 9 was the evening's top-rated program, pulling a 5.7/14 in the demo and 13.4 million total viewers, which also made it the most-watched show of the night. "Happy Endings" at 9:30, growing 18 percent versus last week, landed a 3.3/8 in the demo and 7.5 million total viewers. The network closed the night with "Revenge," which increased 13 percent for a 2.7/7 in the demo and 7.9 million total viewers.
The strong performances gave ABC an overall win for the evening, with an average 3.4/9 in the demo and 9 million total viewers.
On NBC, "Up All Night" at 8 slipped 13 percent for a 2.0/6 in the demo and 5.2 million total viewers, a series low since its Sept. 14 premiere. A "Whitney" rerun aired at 8:30, followed by "Harry's Law" at 9, which was flat with last week, taking a 1.2/3 in the demo and 7.6 million total viewers. "Law & Order: SVU" was also flat with last week, grabbing a 2.1/5 in the demo and 7.1 million total viewers.
CBS's night began with "Survivor: South Pacific" at 8, which was on par with last week for a 3.2/9 in the demo and 10.5 million total viewers. "Criminal Minds" the following hour was also on track with last week, receiving a 3.7/9 in the demo and 12.6 million total viewers. "CSI" closed the night on a down note at 10, slipping 10 percent to a 2.6/7 in the demo — making it the lowest-rated fall telecast ever for the series — and 10.7 million total viewers. (The good news for the network? It was the most-watched network of the night, with an average 11.3 million total viewers.
Fox ratings weren't immediately available. A rain delay pushed back Major League Baseball's American League Champsionship Series between the Texas Ranger and Detroit Tigers into prime time.
CW"s primetime roster consisted of a "Ringer" rerun at 8, followed by "America's Next Top Model" at 9, which posted a 0.8/2 in the demo with 1.8 million total viewers.
Univision started the night with "Una Familia Con Suerte" at 8, which drew a 1.7/5 in the demo and 3.8 million total viewers, followed by "La Fuerza del Destino" at 9, which received a 1.7/4 in the demo and 4.1 million total viewers. "Protaganistas" at 10 drew a 1.0/3 in the demo and 2.3 million total viewers.
