Nielsen fast overnight ratings from Marc Berman:
American Idol opened the evening for Fox with a healthy 21.99 million viewers and a 7.8 rating/22 share among adults 18-49 from 8-9 p.m. But as good as that is, last year it averaged a beefier 22.67 million viewers and a 9.2/14 in the demo (on Tuesday, April 8, 2008). Since about eight additional minutes of American Idol bled into the 9 p.m. half-hour, results for the return of Fringe at 9 p.m. (Viewers: #3, 11.48 million; A18-49: #1, 4.5/11) are approximate.
The ratings are down from last Tuesday: 23.67 million; A18-49: #1, 9.0/22, which included the first few minutes of The Osbournes.
