'American Idol' and 'Survivor' clash and drop

For all the hand-wringing headlines, Fox's "American Idol" has held up strong this season. The reality sensation has been down about 8% in viewers compared with last year, and little more in the adult demo, which are head-held-high drops considering the show's total dominance of primetime, its age and how well many other shows are performing.

But Thursday night's results show was rough sledding.

"Idol" (20.7 million viewers, 7.0 preliminary adults 18-49 rating and 19 share) hit a season low, and not by a little. Stacked against CBS' "Survivor" (12.3 million, 3.9/11) for the first time this year, "Idol" fell 21% from its previous preliminary-rating low. "Idol" was also down 18% from last year's first "Idol" vs. "Survivor" fight.

An "Idol" drop of some degree was guaranteed. Wading into the most competitive night of the week, with a typically lesser-rated results show episode and the addition "Survivor" ensured a new drop. But the numbers are a bit wince-inducing, especially for this early in the season. "Idol" won the battle, but "Survivor" was less bloodied percentage-wise, down by 13% from last week. 

Let's not even talk about how the other 8 p.m. shows performed ...

... OK, let's talk about how the other 8 p.m. shows performed, because it's a wreck you can't turn away from: "Ugly Betty" (6.8 million, 1.9/5) hit a series low. NBC's special "Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five" special (4.0 million, 1.4/4) did meager number, followed by a series low for "Kath & Kim" (3.4 million, 1.5/4).

Perhaps "Idol" should just stay out of this time period. It doesn't seem to be good for anybody.

Except Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" (9.9 million, 4.3/11). The cooking competition jumped 34% this week at 9 p.m. thanks to its "Idol" lead in.

So Fox won the night, followed by CBS, whose "CSI" (17.8 million, 4.3/11) dipped a tenth this week to another series low -- despite ABC airing a repeat of "Grey's Anatomy." Yet with "Private Practice" airing a repeat too, "Eleventh Hour" (11.7 million, 2.9/8) climbed a few notches.

NBC had a mix of repeats and originals, including "30 Rock" (6.3 million, 2.9/7) and a surging "ER" (8.7 million, 3.3/9), which won the 10 p.m. hour. The CW aired repeats.

Comments

[Rocco]

How bad do the ratings need to be before it goes away?

[john smith]

idol sucks

[jake]

I think that part of the problem has to be that the last batch of singers were not that great, so i'm not sure that many people cared about the results show. I'm surprised that they didn't have it on at 9P like most idol results air.

brothers and sisters -- 2 hour movie this sunday at 9 -- they are really advertising it a lot.

[Lisa]

I forgot that Idol had a results show on Thursday this past week. I missed it. :(

[MA]

COME ON USA, WHY THE BETTY DROP?