On a night where Idol faced real competition, FOX bested NBC’s coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Idol averaged a very strong 9.1 (18-49) rating between 8-10pm, beating out NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics, which averaged a 5.4 (18-49) rating and just over 20 million viewers.

ABC took third with a night heavily influenced by LOST, starting with a rerun which pulled a 1.5 (18-49) rating at 8pm. An original episode then pulled a solid (considering the competition) 4.5 (18-49) rating at 9pm leading into a pretty average episode of the forgotten (1.7, 5.05 million viewers)

CBS was in reruns last night, averaging a 1.8 (18-49) rating with episodes of NCIS, NCIS:LA and The Good Wife. The CW was also in reruns, averaging just a 0.4 (18-49) rating and under one million viewers for the night. 

Full Breakdown: 

8:00 – FOX – American Idol (8-10pm) - 9.1 (18-49) rating - 23.6 million viewers
NBC – Vancouver Winter Olympics (8-11pm) - 5.4 - 20.4 million
CBS – NCIS (R) – 2.3 -11.6 million
ABC – Lost (R) – 1.5 - 4.2 million
CW – 90210 (R) – 0.4 - 0.9 million

9:00 – ABC – Lost – 4.5 (18-49) rating - 9.8 million viewers
CBS – NCIS: Los Angeles (R) – 1.8 - 9.1 million
CW – Melrose Place (R) – 0.4 - 0.8 million

10:00 – ABC – The Forgotten – 1.7 - 5.1 million
CBS – The Good Wife (R) – 1.4 - 7.8 million

Find out who’s who in the 16th Edition of The Amazing Race….

via Press Release

CBS ANNOUNCES THE 11 TEAMS RACING IN THE EMMY AWARD-WINNING SERIES, “THE AMAZING RACE,” PREMIERING FEBRUARY 14

Eleven Teams Hit the Road for a 40,000-Mile Sprint around the Globe and Find Themselves in the Midst of a World War I Re-enactment, Retracing the Early Days of The Beatles and Come Face-to-Face with One of the World’s Most Infamous Villains

CBS today announced the 11 Teams set to compete in the 16^th edition of THE AMAZING RACE, premiering Sunday, Feb. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.  Emmy Award nominee Phil Keoghan is the host.

Contestants will travel nearly 40,000 miles across five continents and eight countries.  Eleven Teams start off by navigating through the congested streets of Los Angeles and, for the first time ever, must rely solely on public transportation to make their way to LAX.  The Teams’ first destination lies in Chile where they will encounter one of the most daunting Roadblocks in the history of the series.  In their ongoing battle for the one million dollar prize, Teams will participate in a grueling World War I reenactment in France, retrace the early days of the iconic rock group, The Beatles, and come face-to-face with one of the world’s most infamous villains.

Season 16 features Teams from all walks of life, including couples, parents, siblings, friends, models, lawyers, detectives and even cowboys.

The Emmy Award-Winning THE AMAZING RACE received its seventh consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Reality Competition Program last year.

Following are the 11 teams, listed in no particular order:

Caite Upton

Age: 20

Hometown: Lexington, S.C.

Occupation: Model/Actress

Brent Horne

Age: 28

Hometown: Columbia, S.C.

Occupation: Model/Advertising

Relationship: Dating/Models

Louis Stravato (Left)

Age:  47

Hometown: Providence, R.I.

Occupation: Undercover Detective

Michael Naylor (Right)

Age:  45

Hometown: Providence, R.I.

Occupation: Undercover Detective

Relationship: Detectives

Steve Smith

Age: 57

Hometown: Encinitas, Calif.

Occupation: Professional Baseball Coach/

World Series Champion Coach

Allie Smith

Age: 23

Hometown: Encinitas, Calif.

Occupation: Marketing

Relationship: Father/Daughter

Jeff Schroeder

Age: 31

Hometown: Norridge, Ill

Occupation: Salesman

Jordan Lloyd

Age: 22

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.

Occupation: Receptionist

Relationship: Newly Dating

Monique Pryor (Left)

Age: 39

Hometown: West Orange, N.J.

Occupation: Attorney

Shawne Morgan (Right)

Age: 39

Hometown: Bowie, Md.

Occupation: Attorney

Relationship: Moms/Attorneys

Jet McCoy (Left)

Age: 30

Hometown: Ada, Okla.

Occupation: Cowboy

Cord McCoy (Right)

Age:  29

Hometown: Tupelo, Okla.

Occupation: Pro Bull Rider

Relationship: Brothers/Cowboys

Adrian Davis

Age: 40

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Occupation: Medical Sales

Dana Davis

Age: 39

Hometown:  Arlington, Texas

Occupation: Market Manager

Relationship: High School Sweethearts/Married

Jody Kelly

Age: 71

Hometown: Round Rock, Texas

Occupation: Personal Trainer

Shannon Foster

Age: 22

Hometown: Georgetown, Texas

Occupation: Healthcare Outreach Contract Analyst

Relationship: Grandmother/Granddaughter

Carol Rosenfeld (Left)

Age:  47

Hometown:   Los Angeles, Calif.

Occupation: Consultant

Brandy Snow (Right)
Age: 40

Hometown:  Los Angeles, Calif.

Occupation: Actress and Voice Over Artist

Relationship: Dating

Dan Pious (Left)

Age:  24

Hometown:  Barrington, R.I.

Occupation: Financial Advisor

Jordan Pious (Right)

Age: 22

Hometown: Barrington, R.I.

Occupation: Strategic Consultant

Relationship: Brothers

Joe Wang

Age: 42

Hometown: El Segundo, Calif.

Occupation: Software Salesman

Heidi Wang

Age: 37

Hometown: El Segundo, Calif.

Occupation: Stay-at-Home Mom

Relationship: Married

CLICK HERE TO MEET THE RACERS

On a night with a sure fire American Idol win, ABC’s comedies and Criminal Minds were also strong.

American Idol led FOX to victory last night, posting a 9.8 rating and 26.7 million viewers – still holding very strong vs. last year. At 9, the second episode of Human Target was roughly level with last nights pilot repeat posting a 3.4 (18-49) rating and 10.4 million viewers.

CBS was second for the night, starting off with a weak Old Christine (1.9, 6.5 million) and equally weak Gary Unmarried (1.9, 6.2 million). Criminal Minds was the nights second strongest show, posting a 4.3 (18-49) rating and 15.3 million viewers. At 10, CSI: NY was solid with a 3.7 rating and 13.9 million viewers.

ABC was third with a mixture of reruns and originals. At 8, a Modern Family rerun posted a 1.6 (18-49) rating leading into a rerun of The Middle, which posted a 1.7 rating and 4.7 million viewers. At 9, a new episode of Modern Family posted a very strong 4.1 (18-49) rating and 9.8 million viewers leading into a new Cougar Town, which posted a 3.4 (18-49) rating and 7.6 million viewers – up vs. last weeks 3.1. At 10, Ugly Betty was level with last weeks 1.6 rating and 4.6 million viewers.

Fourth was NBC, which went with a new episode of Mercy at 8, drawing 5.8 million viewers and a 1.4 (18-49) rating. A rerun of Law & Order: SVU was fourth in the 9pm hour, posting a 1.4 rating and 5.6 million viewers – it just can’t wait to get back to 10pm. The Jay Leno Show was poor last night, posting just a 1.2 (18-49) rating and 4.6 million viewers.

The CW was in reruns last night, with a second airing of new show Life UneXpected posting a 0.7 (18-49) rating and 1.7 million viewers (Better than the last original airing of Melrose Place). A Gossip Girl rerun posted a 0.4 rating and 0.8 million viewers at 9pm.

Full Breakdown:

8:00 – FOX – American Idol – 9.8 (18-49) rating - 26.7 million viewers
CBS – New Adventures of Old Christine – 1.9 - 6.5 million
ABC – Modern Family (R) – 1.6 - 5.1 million
NBC – Mercy – 1.4 - 5.8 million
CW – Life Unexpected (R) – 0.7 - 1.7 million

8:30 – CBS – Gary Unmarried – 1.9 (18-49) rating - 6.2 million
ABC – The Middle (R) – 1.7 - 4.7 million

9:00 – CBS – Criminal Minds – 4.3 (18-49) rating - 15.3 million viewers
ABC – Modern Family – 4.1 - 9.8 million
FOX – Human Target – 3.4 - 10.4 million
NBC – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (R) – 1.4 - 5.6 million
CW – Gossip Girl (R) – 0.4 - 0.8 million

9:30 – ABC – Cougar Town – 3.4 (18-49) rating - 7.6 million

10:00 – CBS – CSI: NY – 3.7 (18-49) rating - 13.9 million
ABC – Ugly Betty – 1.6 - 4.6 million
NBC – The Jay Leno Show – 1.2 - 4.6 million

You can keep J-Lo, all Glee wants is a little bit of NPH.

Rumor has it that producers of Golden Globe award-winning Glee have made a move to secure the services of Barney Stinson for an upcoming episode that will reportedly be directed by the one and only Joss Whedon (there’s a Dr. Horrible link between the two).

Will it work out? Well that’ll depend on one thing. CBS. If CBS says yes and it doesn’t interfere with the shooting schedule on How I Met Your Mother then it’s on.

On a night that was sure to be won by American Idol, it was The Biggest Loser that gained the most…

FOX won the night with American Idol at 8, posting a solid 10.0 rating and 26 million viewers – up vs. the same episode last year. A rerun of the Human Target premiere was up vs. the first airing on Sunday, posting a 3.4 (18-49) rating and 9.1 million viewers.

NBC was second for the night with two hours of The Biggest Loser, which posted an average 4.1 (18-49) rating and 10 million viewers. At 10, one of the last episodes of The Jay Leno Show was solid with a 2.0 (18-49) rating and 6.3 million viewers.

CBS took third with reruns of NCIS (2.5, 14 million), NCIS: LA (2.5, 12.3 million) and The Good Wife (2.0, 9.6 million), beating out ABC. The alphabet went with reruns of Scrubs (0.8, 2.7 million) and Better Off Ted (0.6, 2 million) at 8pm – good enough for fourth place. Original episodes of Scrubs and Better Off Ted weren’t much better at 9, although still outdrew a rerun of the forgotten. (1.1, 3.7 million)

The CW was last for the night with a rerun of 90210 at 8, posting a 0.4 (18-49) rating and 0.8 million viewers. At 9, a Melrose Place rerun fell into the ‘was it worth it category, posting just a 0.2 rating and 0.7 million viewers.

Full Breakdown:

8:00 – FOX – American Idol - 10.0 (18-49) rating - 26.0 million viewers
NBC – The Biggest Loser – 3.4 - 8.6 million
CBS – NCIS (repeat) 2.5 - 14.0 million
ABC – Scrubs (repeat) – 0.8 - 2.7 million
CW – 90210 (repeat) - 0.4 - 0.8 million

8:30 – ABC – Better Off Ted (repeat) – 0.6 - 2.0 million

9:00 – NBC – The Biggest Loser – 4.7 (18-49) rating - 11.3 million viewers
FOX – Human Target (repeat) – 3.4 - 9.1 million
CBS – NCIS: LA (repeat) – 2.5 - 12.3 million
ABC – Scrubs – 1.4 - 3.3 million
CW – Melrose Place (repeat) – 0.2 - 0.7 million

9:30 – ABC – Better Off Ted – 1.3 - 3.2 million

10:00 – NBC – The Jay Leno Show – 2.1 (18-49) rating – 6.3 million viewers
CBS – The Good Wife (repeat) – 2.0 - 9.6 million
ABC – the forgotten (repeat) – 1.1 - 3.7 million

On a night with no new House but the return of 24 to Monday nights, it was How I Met Your Mother that took advantage – hitting season highs in the process.

CBS had a solid Monday night (as usual) with How I Met Your Mother (4.0, 10.5 million) and Accidentally on Purpose (3.5, 9.6 million) hitting season and series highs in their respective timeslots. At 9, Two and a Half Men (5.3, 16.2 million) beat The Big Bang Theory (5.2, 15 million) for the first time in quite a while. CSI: Miami was steady with last week with a 3.6 (18-49) rating and 13.2 million viewers.

ABC came second with two episodes of The Bachelor, posting an average 3.8 and 10.6 million viewers – down slightly vs. last weeks premiere. At 10, Castle continued to improve, posting a 2.8 (18-49) rating and 9.4 million viewers.

24 had its timeslot premiere last night, posting a 3.5 (18-49) rating between 8-10 – good enough for third place for FOX.

NBC went with a brand new Chuck at 8, posting a 2.5 rating and 6.7 million viewers – down .2 in the key demos and over half a million viewers from last week. At 9, Heroes continued with their rapid decline, posting just a 1.8 (18-49) rating and just 3.9 million viewers. At 10 – in what’s rumoured to be one of the very last – Jay Leno Show posted just a 1.3 rating and 4.6 million viewers.

The CW was back in originals last night, with One Tree Hill posting a 1.1 (18-49) rating and 2.2 million viewers leading into the premiere of Life UneXpected, which posted a solid 1.2 (18-49) rating and 2.7 million viewers in its first outing.

Full Breakdown:

8:00 – CBS – How I Met Your Mother – 4.0 (18-49) rating - 10.5 million viewers
ABC – The Bachelor: On The Wings of Love – 3.6 - 10.1 million
FOX – 24 – 3.3 - 10.6 million
NBC – Chuck – 2.5 - 6.7 million
CW – One Tree Hill – 1.1 - 2.2 million

8:30 – CBS – Accidentally on Purpose – 3.5 (18-49) rating - 9.6 million

9:00 – CBS – Two and a Half Men – 5.3 (18-49) rating - 16.2 million viewers
ABC – The Bachelor: On The Wings of Love – 4.1 - 11.1 million
FOX – 24 – 3.6 - 11.5 million
NBC – Heroes – 1.8 - 3.9 million
CW – Life Unexpected – 1.2 - 2.7 million

9:30 – CBS – The Big Bang Theory – 5.2 (18-49) rating - 15.0 million viewers

10:00 – CBS – CSI: Miami – 3.6 (18-49) rating - 13.2 million viewers
ABC – Castle – 2.8 - 9.4 million
NBC - The Jay Leno Show – 1.3 - 4.6 million

Apparently not even the failure of two series can stop the eye from chasing you…

CBS have been looking for a star to headline the greenlit remake of the Hawaii Five-O remake, and Alex O’Loughlin is top of the list.

An insider said: “Talks are ongoing. CBS really wants to do another series with him”.

As you may remember, O’Loughlin recently starred in fan favorite Moonlight and the complete and utter failure that was Three Rivers.

On a night with the return of Jack Bauer and the premiere of Human Target, it was CBS’ NFL coverage that led the eye to victory.

CBS’ coverage of the Jets/Chargers game averaged a solid 11.3 (18-49) rating and 34.1 million viewers at 7, beating out NBC’s red carpet coverage of the Golden Globes, which pulled just a 2.4 (18-49) rating and 9.4 million viewers. America’s Funniest Home Videos was fourth wtih a 1.7 (18-49) rating, beating out a rerun of last seasons 24 finale, which drew just 3.7 million viewers and a 1.2 (18-49) rating.

NBC’s Golden Globes coverage then kicked in, dominating the rest of the night for the peacock, averaging a 4.7 (18-49) rating and just under 14 million viewers.

FOX had the series premiere of Human Target last night, pulling a 2.9 (18-49) rating and 10.1 million viewers – a solid start (and it grew over the hour). 24 then returned with a two-hour season premiere, pulling a 3.9 (18-49) rating and 11.4 million viewers – down over 10% from last seasons opener.

ABC went with reruns and then a brand new Desperate Housewives, which fell to just a 3.7 (18-49) rating and 11.2 million viewers – a season low. Brothers and Sisters was also well down, posting a 2.7 rating and 8.1 million viewers.

CBS went with 60 minutes at 8 (which had the NFL lead-in), posting a very solid 4.5 (18-49) rating and 16.5 million viewers. At 9, Cold Case was up vs. its season average, posting a 2.5 (18-49) rating and 10.7 million viewers.

Full Breakdown

7:00 – CBS - NY Jets v. San Diego – 11.3 (18-49) rating - 34.1 million viewers
NBC – 2010 Golden Globe Red Carpet – 2.4 - 9.4 million
ABC – America’s Funniest Home Videos – 1.7 - 7.3 million
FOX – 24 (R) – 1.2 - 3.7 million 

8:00 - NBC – 67th Golden Globe Awards (8-11pm) – 4.7 (18-49) rating – 14 million viewers
CBS – 60 Minutes - 4.5 – 16.5 million
FOX – Human Target (premiere) – 2.9 - 10.1 million
ABC – Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (repeat) – 1.8 – 6.4 million

9:00 – FOX – 24 (premiere) – 3.9 (18-49) rating - 11.5 million viewers
ABC – Desperate Housewives – 3.7 - 11.2 million
CBS – Cold Case - 2.5 - 10.7 million

10:00 - FOX – 24 (premiere) – 3.9 - 11.3 million
ABC – Brothers & Sisters – 2.7 – 8.1 million
CBS – NCIS (repeat) – 2.1 - 9.5 million

Again a slow Saturday night for most networks except CBS – who were airing the highly anticipated Ravens vs. Colts Divisional game.

The Ravens/Colts game won the night easily for CBS, averaging a 9.6  (18-49) rating and 27.5 million viewers. Second best for the night was FOX’s COPS (2.5, 7.1 million) which was helped by a slight NFL overrun. Third was again FOX with America’s Most Wanted, which averaged a 2.2  (18-49) rating and 6.1 million viewers.

Full Breakdown:

8:00pm - CBS – Ravens vs. Colts (8-11pm) – 9.6 (18-49) rating - 27.5 million viewers
FOX – Cops (8-9pm) 2.5 - 7.1 million
ABC – Grey’s Anatomy (R) – 0.6 - 1.9 million
NBC – Mercy (R) – 0.4 - 2.0 million

9:00pm – FOX – America’s Most Wanted – 2.2  (18-49) rating - 6.1 million
NBC – Law & Order (R) – 0.8 - 4 million
ABC – Private Practice (R) – 0.6 – 2.0 million

10:00pm – NBC – Law & Order: SVU (R) – 1.3  (18-49) rating – 5.4 million viewers
ABC – Castle (R) – 0.7 - 3.0 million

CBS has given the freshman shows early fall 2010 pickups.

Both shows have faired relatively well on the eye, with NCIS: LA averaging around 16.5 million viewers and a 3.5 (18-49) rating and The Good Wife averaging around a 2.9 (18-49 rating) and 13.5 million viewers.