‘American Idol’ Season 10’s First Hour-Long Results Show Drops in Key Demo, FOX Holds Off CBS for Thursday Night Ratings Victory

Fast National Nielsen ratings for Thursday, March 10, 2011 reveal that FOX held off CBS with new episodes of American Idol and Bones.

Season 10’s first hour-long results show was down 21 percent compared to last Thursday’s two-hour episode, but the ratings data does not come as a surprise since the show announcing the finalists is usually one of the most-watched episodes of Idol each season, according to TV by the Numbers.

Last night’s episode of Idol drew 21.73 million viewers and a 6.5 rating in the coveted 18-to-49 adult demographic. Compared to season nine’s equivalent telecast, the reality singing competition series was down just four percent in the key demo.

CBS’ The Big Bang Theory drew 12.13 million viewers and a 3.8 demo rating, while Rules of Engagement attracted 9.48 million and a 2.8 demo, HitFix reports.

While Bones finished second overall in total viewership at 9:00 p.m. ET, FOX’s crime drama series came in first among young viewers with a 3.8 demo rating. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation won the hour with 13.58 million viewers, but finished second in the demo with a 3.1 rating.

A two-hour repeat episode of ABC’s Wipeout finished ahead of reruns of NBC’s Community, Perfect Couples, The Office, and Parks and Recreation in overall viewership and demo rating from 8:00 p.m. ET to 10:00 p.m. ET.