Ratings: ‘American Idol’ Finale, ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Rise; ‘CSI: Cyber’ Steady in Season Ender

ABC scores key demo win with top-rated “Modern Family”

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The season finale of Fox’s “American Idol” and NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU” saw significant gains on Wednesday night, while CBS’s freshman drama “CSI: Cyber” closed out its maiden season on a steady note.

Meanwhile, ABC won the night in the key demographic thanks largely to “Modern Family,” which scored the night’s highest rating, according to preliminary numbers.

While “American Idol,” which will end after its next season, was down from last season’s finale — as has been the case for a while for the veteran competition — Wednesday’s season capper scored a 1.6 rating/5 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic — a 23 boost from Tuesday’s performance finale and a 14 percent gain over last Wednesday’s episode.

The “Idol” finale drew 7.7 million total viewers, a 41 percent over Tuesday’s episode.

It should be noted, however, that the numbers for the “Idol” finale are approximate due to the episode’s running time of 8 to 10:06 p.m.

With the “Idol” finale filling its primetime slate, Fox was second in the demo and first in total viewers.

ABC took top honors in the demo, averaging a 1.8/6, but was fourth in total viewers with 6.2 million. Its slate, which featured the season finales of “The Middle,” “The Goldbergs” and “Nashville,” held mostly steady versus last week, with a couple of modest declines. “The Middle” at 8 scored a 1.7/7 with 7 million total viewers, while “The Goldbergs” at 8:30 posted a 2.0/7 with 6.7 million total viewers. At 9, “Modern Family” was the key demo winner for the night, drawing a 2.7/9 with 8 million total viewers. “Black-ish” at 9:30 posted a 2.1/6 with 6.2 million total viewers, while “Nashville” closed the night, and its season, with a 1.3/4 and 4.7 million total viewers.

CBS was third in ratings and second in total viewers, averaging a 1.5/5 with 7.7 million. “Survivor” at 8 inched up from last week to a 2.2/8 and was the most-watched show of the night with 9.4 million total viewers. A special airing of ‘CSI: Cyber” the following hour posted a 1.2/4, even with last week but tying a series low, and drew 6.9 million total viewers. The “Cyber” finale at 10 also posted a 1.2/4, but did slightly worse with total viewers, bringing in 6.7 million.

NBC took fourth place in the demo and third in total viewers with a 1.4/5 and 6.6 million, respectively. The good news for the network? Its primetime slate was up across the board, starting with “Mysteries of Laura” at 8, which grew 11 percent to a 1.0/4 with 6.1 million total viewers. “Law & Order: SVU” at 9 jumped 25 percent from last week, drawing a 1.5/5 with 6.8 million total viewers. “Chicago P.D.” was also up, climbing 14 percent to a 1.6/5 with 6.8 million total viewers.

The CW, which was sixth place in ratings and total viewers with a 0.9/3 and 2.5 million, the season finale of “Arrow” at 8 held steady with last week for a 1.0/3 with 2.8 million total viewers. “Supernatural” the following hour jumped 33 percent for a 0.8/2 and took 2.1 million total viewers.

Telemundo was seventh in ratings and total viewers, averaging a 0.6/2 and 1.4 million.

Note: An earlier version of this story stated that Wednesday’s episode of “Law & Order: SVU” was its season finale. TheWrap regrets the error.

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