CBS won the ratings race Wednesday. Criminal Minds was the night’s most-watched program, followed by CSI: NY, which topped Barbara Walters’ annual countdown of the year’s most fascinating people in the 10 p.m. hour. Up against Fox’s fall finale of Glee, ABC’s Modern Family drew its biggest audience and top Adults 18-49 number since September. Its Christmas episode tied Criminal Minds as Wednesday’s top-rated show in the 18-49 demo.
| Time | Show | Viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 p.m. | Shrek the Halls (ABC) The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS) Mercy (NBC) So You Think You Can Dance (Fox) Gossip Girl (The CW) |
8.5 (repeat) 7.7 7.1 6.7 .9 (repeat) |
| 8:30 p.m. | The Middle (ABC) Gary Unmarried (CBS) |
7.7 7.2 |
| 9 p.m. | Criminal Minds (CBS) Modern Family (ABC) Glee (Fox) Law & Order: SVU (NBC) The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (The CW) |
14.3 9.7 8.1 8.0 1.7 (repeat) |
| 9:30 p.m. | Cougar Town (ABC) | 6.9 |
| 10 p.m. | CSI: NY (CBS) Barbara Walters Presents The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009 (ABC) The Jay Leno Show (NBC) |
13.0 10.5 4.5 |
Read more:
Glee recap
Barbara Walters and her ’10 Most Fascinating People’ bored the pants us off
Barbara Walters’ ’10 Most Fascinating People’: Who was left off?
So You Think You Can Dance recap
SYTYCD male dancer exit interview
SYTYCD female dancer exit interview
Modern Family recap
Cougar Town recap
Source: Nielsen Media
Glad Modern Family is holding up over time and showing even stronger numbers. Also glad to see The Middle’s numbers up.
I am surprised that the ratings for “The Middle” were better than for “Cougar Town”.
True, Cougar Town’s numbers dont look so good. The lowest by ABC on the night.
Have you watched it? It’s really, really funny.
Criminal Minds just gets better and better! Wow, this season is going great!
Definitely agree.
LOL Gossip Girl .9!!!!
I mean, I know it is a repeat, but that has got to make the CW execs feel warm and fuzzy.
ABC’s entire comedy block was phenomenal last night. Modern Family drew the biggest audience but it won’t be long before either The Middle or Cougar Town overtake it if they continue to be as hilarious as last night. That was a really, really special episode of The Middle. I believe it will eventually come to be known as a Christmas classic. I hope ABC shows it again Christmas night or Christmas eve like TBS does every Christmas with A Christmas Story.