'Lost' edges 'Lie to Me' in tight premiere race
UPDATED: Wednesday night pitted the fifth season premiere of ABC's "Lost" against Fox's new Tim Roth procedural "Lie to Me" in a very tight match. The outcome demonstrates that a trio of networks will have competitive programming running on Wednesdays during midseason.
“Lost” topped "Lie" by one-tenth of a rating point during the 9 p.m. hour. The "Lie" numbers (12.4 million viewers and a 4.9 national adults 18-49 rating and 12 share) mark the highest-rated series debut this season, though that claim comes with some caveats.
"Lie" drained about 13% of its rating during its hour (a wholly expected and mild decline due to its enormous lead-in) and didn't come close to the premiere of "Moment of Truth" in the slot last year. If "Lie" settles close to the 4.6 rating that concluded its hour in the weeks to come, Fox will be very pleased. Plus, "Lie" beat "Lost" among total viewers.
The two-hour “Lost” debut (11.4 million, 5.0/12) was down 25% from last year in the adult demo. The heavily serialized and increasingly complex drama was expected to drop, though this is a steeper percentage than one would have liked (if only the show's ratings could time-travel back to 2004). Also, last year the series debuted in a superior Thursdays-at-9 p.m. spot while taking advantage of reduced competition because of the writers strike. The show drained a couple tenths throughout its two hours. Its lead-in, a “Lost” recap show (8.5 million, 3.3/9), did really well, actually placing second at 8 p.m. after “Idol.”
Fox is enjoying a tentative sigh over “Idol” (25.9 million, 9.8/25), which partly bounced back from Tuesday’s Inauguration Day plummet. Wednesday's one-hour “Idol” was down 17% from premiere week's two-hour edition -- less than Tuesday's 24% drop, yet more than last year's second-week decline. "Idol" was only down about 10% from last year, however, which is considered a meager annual drop compared to most broadcast shows.
CBS took third with its comedies performing steadily yet modestly; “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (7.3 million, 2.1/6) and “Gary Unmarried” (7.0 million, 2.2/5). At 9 p.m., “Criminal Minds” (13.8 million, 3.4/8) came in a firm third place in the competitive hour in the adult demo, though won 9 p.m. among total viewers. “CSI: NY” (2.9/7) placed second at 10 p.m., behind the second hour of “Lost.”
NBC was fourth with anemic “Knight Rider” (5.0 million, 1.5/4), a “Law & Order: SVU” repeat surrendering 9 p.m. and “Law & Order” (8.3 million, 2.4/6) placing last at 10 p.m. On the CW, the network’s fears continue to be all too real as “13: Fear Is Real” (1.4 million, 0.5/1) approaches the network's Sunday night repeat-block numbers.
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RELATED: "Lost" producers at TCA: Time-travel will rock season five
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