TV Ratings: American Idol Dominates Tuesday Line-Up

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Fast National ratings for Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005.
Until some point at the end of May, all Tuesday ratings stories are likely to begin the same way: Led by the powerhouse talent show “American Idol,” FOX grabbed the ratings lead early and wouldn’t let go, eating into the audiences on all the other networks.

Overall, FOX averaged a 12.0 rating/18 share. CBS was a distant second on the night with a 7.7/12, followed by ABC’s 5.9/9 and the 5.8/9 for NBC. The WB had a 3.1/5 for the night, leaving UPN in a distant sixth with a 1.7/3.

FOX also easily won the 18-49 demographic that the advertisers dream about at night, doing an 8.5 rating. CBS led a tight race for second with a 3.4 rating, nipping NBC’s 3.3 and the 3.2 rating for ABC. The WB was an acceptable third with a 2.1 rating, keeping UPN in last with a 1.0 rating.
At 8 p.m., FOX started things off right with the 16.0/24 for the “American Idol” audition episode, right in line with the show’s averages to start this new season. CBS’ “NCIS” was second with a 7.7/12. NBC was third with some canned special about outrageous things happening on live TV, just better than the 4.4/7 averaged by “My Wife and Kids” and “George Lopez.” On The WB, “Gilmore Girls” had a 3.2/5, doubling up UPN’s “All of Us” and “Eve.”

FOX stayed on top for the 9 p.m. hour as the freshman medical drama “House” did an 8.0/12. CBS moved closer to second with the 7.5/11 for “Amazing Race.” ABC’s “According to Jim” and “Rodney” was a close third. On NBC, “Scrubs” (5.5/8) and “Committed” (4.9/7) were fourth. The WB’s “One Tree Hill” was fifth with a 2.9/4, beating the 1.7/3 for UPN’s “Veronica Mars.”

CBS finally grabbed first for the night’s final hour with the 8.0/13 for “Judging Amy.” A repeat of NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” was second, leaving ABC in third with the 7.0/12 for “NYPD Blue.”

Credit: Zap2It

Murtz Jaffer is the world's foremost reality television expert and was the host of Reality Obsessed which aired on the TVTropolis and Global Reality Channels in Canada. He has professional writing experience at the Toronto Sun, National Post, TV Guide Canada, TOROMagazine.com and was a former producer at Entertainment Tonight Canada. He was also the editor at Weekendtrips.com.