Overnight ratings breakdown via Marc Berman of Mediaweek:
American Idol is alive and still very well on Fox, with the 8-9 p.m. Thursday telecast at 22.63 million viewers and a 7.7 rating/21 share among adults 18-49. While this was more than enough to lift Fox to Thursday victory, one day earlier season 10 of the veteran music competition opened with 26.23 million viewers and a 9.7/26 in the demo. And retention for relocated Bones at 9 p.m. (Viewers: #2. 10.95 million; A18-49: #2, 3.6/ 9) out of the 8:30 p.m. portion of Idol (Viewers: 24.67 million; A18-49: #1, 8.4/22) was only 44 percent in total viewers and 43 percent among adults 18-49. But, let’s be honest, American Idol is still a total standout.
As expected, Thursday’s numbers were lower than Wednesday’s premiere.
Over at NBC Must See Comedy TV, The Big Bang Theory held its own against Idol at 8 pm.
Despite facing American Idol, CBS’ The Big Bang Theory was on the map with 13.58 million viewers and a 4.2/12 among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m. And lead-out $#*! My Dad Says (Viewers: #2, 10.29 million; A18-49: #3, 2.7/ 7 at 8:30 p.m.) was at typical levels at well.
UPDATE: Now with Updated numbers
