'V' ratings fall from the sky

UPDATED: After last week's record-setting premiere, ABC's "V" was destined to drop in the ratings for episode two.

Driven by 1980s nostalgia and plenty of marketing, viewer curiosity ran high for the debut -- a pattern we've seen in recent years for network remakes of "Knight Rider," "90210" and "American Gladiators." Tuesday night's decline, therefore, was not exactly surprising ... yet it was pretty steep.

The second "V" hour was seen by 10.7 million viewers and drew a 3.8 rating among adults 18-49, down 27% from last week. That's the largest fall from a premiere we've seen for a scripted show this season.

The rating is still a successful number for a freshman drama. If "V" can remain anywhere close to this neighborhood, the show will be fine. 

The drop put "V" into second place at 8 p.m., with CBS' "NCIS" (21 million, 4.4) resuming control of the time period. The swing is similar to when ABC debuted "FlashForward" against CBS' time-period champion "Survivor" at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, momentarily upsetting the balance, before "Survivor" popped up again ("NCIS" and "Survivor" -- they weeble and they wobble but they don't fall down). 

CBS won the night, with "NCIS," "NCIS: LA" (16.2 million, 3.7) and "Good Wife" (13.4 million, 2.8) all slightly up from last week. 

After "V," second-place ABC aired "Dancing With the Stars" results show (16.2 million, 3.5), up 13% and featured Susan Boyle as a guest, and includes a minute of "V" overrun. At 10 p.m., a special, "In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts: All Access Nashville" (9.3 million, 2.3), improved significantly on last week's performance of "The Forgotten" in the slot. 

NBC was close behind ABC with "Biggest Loser" (9.7 million, 3.8) perking up 9% this week. "The Jay Leno Show" (5.8 million, 1.9) was down a tenth, but continues to deliver its highest rating on Tuesdays despite increased competition from ABC this week. Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.8 million, 2.3) fell 8%.

The CW has been so intent on delivering contemporary girls-texting-each-other soaps, yet what's interesting this season is that it's the network's genre-driven shows -- new series "Vampire Diaries" and ultra-veteran "Smallville" -- that have been delivering the most surprising numbers. Perhaps next year, the CW should develop fewer fashionable socialites and more magic and mythology?

The CW's "90210" (2.1 million, 1.2) was up 20% and matched its season high ... yet "Melrose Place" (1.3 million, 0.7) matched its season low. Heather Locklear shows up on "Melrose" next week.