CBS's "CSI" and ABC's "Nashville" slid to series lows on Thursday night, while "American Idol" had its smallest audience in more than a decade but still propelled Fox to an overall win for the night, according to preliminary numbers.
Fox, which ran "American Idol" for the entirety of its primetime slate, was down slightly from last week, posting a 3.8 rating/11 share in the key 18-49 demo and had 13.1 million total viewers. It was the lowest demo performance for the series since July 2003 and the smallest audience since August 2002 — but it fared well enough to to put the network in first place in both categories.
CBS took second place in the demo and in total viewers with a 2.4/6 and 9.8 million. "Survivor" at 8 p.m. ticked up 8 percent to a 2.6/8 and drew 9.4 million total viewers, while "Criminal Minds" the following hour drew even with last week, tying a series low of 2.6/7 and taking 10.6 million total viewers. "CSI" at 10 slid 22 percent from last week to a series low of 1.8/5 and had 9.3 million.
ABC came in third in ratings and total viewers with a 2.2/6 and 6.9 million. "The Middle" at 8 dipped to a 2.1/6 and had 8 million total viewers, while "The Neighbors" at 8:30 slid 11 percent to a 1.7/5 with 6.1 million. "Modern Family" at 9 posted a 3.9/10 — the night's best individual performance — and had 10.6 million total viewers. "Suburgatory" at 9:30 jumped 15 percent for a 2.3/6 and grabbed 6.3 million, while "Nashville" at 10 dropped off 11 percent from its last original two weeks ago, hitting a series low of 1.6/4 and taking 5.2 million.
NBC came in fourth in ratings and total viewers with a 1.6/4 and 5.2 million. "Whitney" at 8 ticked up to a 1.2/4 and had 3.5 million, while "Guys With Kids" at 8:30 grew 10 percent for a 1.1/3 and drew 3.1 million. "Law & Order: SVU" at 9 ran even with last week with 1.6/4 and took 5.6 million, while "Chicago Fire" the following hour also held steady with a 1.9/5 and drew 6.5 million.
