American Idol is still referred to as the Death Star in Hollywood, but it’s not entirely immune from the charms of Mark Harmon: last night’s original episode of NCIS attracted 20.15 million viewers — the drama’s closest competitive position ever to the Fox talent show in the demographic (24.19 million). In fact, NCIS doesn’t appear to be impacted at all by Simon Cowell and Co.; the drama, now in its seventh season, is actually up 12 percent in viewers and 16 percent in adults 18-49. At the same time, Idol doesn’t seem to be affected by the presence of Harmon and Michael Weatherly, either; though its ratings aren’t nearly as stratospheric as they were in the early years, Idol is still up 3 percent in viewers and 4 percent among adults 18-49 versus last year (a side note, however: last night’s episode was actually down versus last Tuesday by 8 percent in viewers and 12 percent in adults 18-49). In the end, Idol (naturally) won the timeslot while NCIS was second.
For the season, Fox is still down on Tuesdays by 23% in viewers while CBS is actually up by 10%. No one else has anything to brag about for the night: ABC is down by 13%, NBC, 11%, and CW, 21%.
For more about Tuesday night programming:
Tuesday ratings: ‘Idol’ wins again
‘American Idol’: Team Kara or Team Katy?
Exclusive: ‘NCIS: LA’ star goes AWOL
I love the fact that NCIS is gaining on Idol. NCIS is the best show on TV. It is hard to understand why people are still watching that freak show, American Idol. I’m not talking about the contestents, I’m talking about the judges.
American Idol is doomed to start falling soon, Paula is gone, Ellen is coming and Simon is leaving. NCIS, the show that was quietly in the shadows for six seasons suddenly showed up last year as a big hit and this year it has had a VERY steady fanbase of 21 million. I don’t think NCIS is going to go anywhere soon unless the writers decide to take a nosedive and tick off viewers but American Idol is going to lose a LOT of the fanbase soon. More than that people are very tired of reality shows but dramas have always been interesting.
Well, I’m not going anywhere. I love Idol!
Idol lost me last year when the judges/producers relentlessly pimped their favorites (Adam/Gokey) and tried to spoon-feed America their winner of choice. (Luckily, America is not stupid and they got it right.) It’s all NCIS from now on, baby! BEST show on TV.
A lot of people watch the first one or two episodes of the season then don’t watch again until the top 12. It has been this way for years, don’t know why this is being made a big deal. Talk to me when the top 12 happens and let me know if these same stats happen.
NCIS is fantastic. American Idol will be in trouble when Simon leaves. It is bad enough they put Ellen on in place of Paula. They should have left it with Kara. I vote for Ringo Starr to replace Simon.
If you look at the Adult 18-49 numbers, Idol has more than double the NCIS rating. Who cares what grandma and grandpa are watching anyway.
Not a grandma and under 49, LOVE GIBBS
I’m 20 and I watch NCIS over American Idol! The best thing about NCIS is it appeals to everyone, I watch it, my 48 year old Mom and 49 year old father watch it, and my 72 year old grandmother watches it. American Idol mostly appeals to 12-18 year olds or those who only like braindead TV
I guess NCIS is making you brain dead because Idol is the most watched entertainment by Adults 18-49 and not just teens.
That doesn’t make it better, Anne. It just means that people are too braindead to watch something that doesn’t give out recording contracts at the end of it.
Im glad too see ncis is gettin some well deserved respect finally and the ratings showing it.I dont undertsand how idol ets all these followers in the early shows with all the faked and stupid attempts to be on it. ill watch idol when its down to the final 16 or maybe 24
If you have TiVO – then you can have both! Watch NCIS while AI records.
Then can zip through as I see fit. I don’t care to watch the audition stages and ratings will get better for AI as it gets to the top 24.
I find it funny that it is only this year that a big deal has been made about the Idol v. NCIS ratings. NCIS has always performed well against Idol. I guess that since the show has been the #1 rated show most of this year, it can no longer be ignored.
What I find really interesting is the amount of people who aren’t watching the networks on nights that these two shows aren’t on – or that turn away from the nets in the next hour.
I’m sure that Idol will continue to beat NCIS while the two go head to head, but while they each put up the numbers they’re getting, they both win.
Gibbs vs, Simon ??
No contest GIBBS!!!
Now I would PAY to see that match up!!! Of course Gibbs would win though
Watching Gibbs slapping the back of Simon’s head could be the best thing ever on TV.
Agreed. Canwecanwecanwe?
Oh. My. Heck. I love you people for even suggesting this. Gibbs FTW.
that is so right i would so root for giibs if there even was a fight. i <3 gibbs he rules i m only 12 4 the record i been wtaching ncis 4 8 yrs !!) i tried to watch American idol once fell asleep in 30 seconds soooooo borig NCIS 4ever whos with me?
reply plz
It’s really sad that some people think that anyone over 35 shouldn’t watch TV and what they watch isn’t important. Sad that so much emphasis is put on the 18 year olds. They should be doing better thins than watching TV all the time.
They can watch TV all they want, I just don’t care what they watch and neither do advertisers. Outside of sixty minutes, the older generations taste is no where near what I consider good tv. I am capable of following a plot for more than one episode so our criteria for what shows to watch is different.
Generalize much?
If advertisers don’t care about older people then why the hell do we see so many Viagra and Cialis ads?
Yes. If only people who watch NCIS had the intelligence and fortitude to follow the complex and deep plot that is American Idol. We may never reach that pinnacle of comprehension, but we may still hold hope of being able to follow the Bachelor some day.
Get off your high horse, Anne. Just because a show has a continuing plot line doesn’t automatically make it superior to shows that are mostly episodic.
18-49 is advertising gold. We buy more frivolous crap than any other age group, so the networks charge the advertisers more to run their ads when the TV show has a high 18-49 rating. You see car and Coke commercials during Idol, and Viagra commercials during Wheel of Fortune.
Now is the time for the NCIS cast to ask for a Friendslike raise. Even though they pull in relatively weak demographics in the thought after younger age bracket, the 20+M viewers each week plus fantastic repeat ratings deserve it
Has it EVER happened before that a series that’s been around for as long as NCIS would actually INCREASE in the ratings…and so dramatically? Good for them. I’ve always been a fan of the Harmon family, so it’s great that this show is thriving.
I didn’t start watching it until recently. With all of the (constant) reruns on USA, I managed to catch a few episodes and liked it.
I didn’t start watching it until Christmas break last year when my parents bought all the seasons on DVDs. We all got addicted and haven’t looked back since!!
Here is what matters, American Idol’s numbers have slipped over the years and are certain to fall BADLY next year after Simon leaves. After 7 years NCIS is pulling it’s highest ratings and is still climbing. As one goes up another goes down.
I’m glad ncis is finally getting the fans it deserves.Ii’ve watched the show from the 3rd season to nowand it’s always been very entertaining.American idol is pretty boring, it’s the same thing over and over.And i can’t believe NCIS appeals mostly to adults. I’m 13 and I’m addicted.
So if Mark Harmon replaced Simon on American Idol would that create an Ubershow?
No, it would create a crappy singing show that’s only worth watching for Mark.
LOL! You are so right!