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

Golden Globe Winners 2010:

There were some big winners and losers on the night which included Glee winning Best Comedy or Musical, Dexter winning Best Supporting Actor (John Lithgow) and Best Drama Actor (Michael C. Hall). Another  shock – Julianna Marguiles winning the Best Drama Actress for her role on The Good Wife at the 7th time of asking.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

* BIG LOVE (HBO)
* DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
* HOUSE (FOX)
* MAD MEN (AMC)
* TRUE BLOOD (HBO)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

* GLENN CLOSE, “DAMAGES”
* JANUARY JONES, “MAD MEN”
* JULIANNA MARGULIES, “THE GOOD WIFE”
* ANNA PAQUIN, “TRUE BLOOD”
* KYRA SEDGWICK, “THE CLOSER”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

* SIMON BAKER, “THE MENTALIST”
* MICHAEL C. HALL, “DEXTER”
* JON HAMM, “MAD MEN”
* HUGH LAURIE, “HOUSE”
* BILL PAXTON, “BIG LOVE”

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

* 30 ROCK (NBC)
* ENTOURAGE (HBO)
* GLEE (FOX)
* MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
* THE OFFICE (NBC)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

* TONI COLLETTE, “UNITED STATES OF TARA”
* COURTENEY COX, “COUGAR TOWN”
* EDIE FALCO, “NURSE JACKIE”
* TINA FEY, “30 ROCK”
* LEA MICHELE, “GLEE”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

* ALEC BALDWIN, “30 ROCK”
* STEVE CARELL, “THE OFFICE”
* DAVID DUCHOVNY, “CALIFORNICATION”
* THOMAS JANE, “HUNG”
* MATTHEW MORRISON, “GLEE”

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

* GEORGIA O’KEEFFE (LIFETIME TELEVISION)
* GREY GARDENS (HBO)
* INTO THE STORM (HBO)
* LITTLE DORRIT (PBS)
* TAKING CHANCE (HBO)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

* JOAN ALLEN, “GEORGIA O’KEEFFE”
* DREW BARRYMORE, “GREY GARDENS”
* JESSICA LANGE, “GREY GARDENS”
* ANNA PAQUIN, “THE COURAGEOUS HEART OF IRENA SENDLER”
* SIGOURNEY WEAVER, “PRAYERS FOR BOBBY”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

* KEVIN BACON, “TAKING CHANCE”
* KENNETH BRANAGH, “WALLANDER: ONE STEP BEHIND”
* CHIWETEL EJIOFOR, “ENDGAME”
* BRENDAN GLEESON, “INTO THE STORM”
* JEREMY IRONS, “GEORGIA O’KEEFFE”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

* JANE ADAMS, “HUNG”
* ROSE BYRNE, “DAMAGES
* JANE LYNCH, “GLEE”
* JANET McTEER, “INTO THE STORM”
* CHLOË SEVIGNY, “BIG LOVE”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

* MICHAEL EMERSON, “LOST”
* NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, “HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER”
* WILLIAM HURT, “DAMAGES”
* JOHN LITHGOW, “DEXTER”
* JEREMY PIVEN, “ENTOURAGE”

Well played, ABC, well played.

The National Lampoon star has been tapped to appear in an upcoming episode of my favorite new show as Laurie’s (Busy Phillips) mom.

D’Angelo has recently been seen stretching her chops as battleaxe Barbara Miller on Entourage.

The episode is set to air in late February/Early March.

American Idol won the night for FOX last night and in doing so forced all other shows to slip except – unexpectedly – Cougar Town, which was at its season-to-date average.

Idol posted a 10.1 (18-49) rating last night between 8-9.30, down almost 15% from yesterdays 11.7. The show also lost 3 million viewers, taking its total to 26.4 million. At 9.30, a rerun of The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special was shown, pulling a 3.6 rating and 8.1 million viewers.

CBS took a hit in the 8pm timeslot last night, with Gary Unmarried and The New Adventures of Old Christine averaging just a 1.9 rating and 6 million viewers – well down from the last new episode. At 9, Criminal Minds continued to perform well with a 3.9 (18-49) rating and 14 million viewers. CSI:NY performed better than its season-to-date average, posting a 3.6 (18-49) rating and 14.1 million viewers.

ABC was another network that was affected heavily by Idol, with The Middle posting just a 2.1 (18-49) rating and 6.1 million viewers. Modern Family was probably the most affected though, losing almost 25% in the key demo with just a 3.2 (18-49) rating and almost 20% in viewers, where it drew 7.6 million. Cougar Town was reasonably unaffected though, staying with its season average – a 3.1 (18-49) rating and 7.4 million viewers. Ugly Betty was steady with last weeks Wednesday night premiere, pulling a 1.6 (18-49) rating and 4.5 million viewers.

NBC has a less than stellar night too, with Mercy pulling just a 1.5 (18-49) rating and 5.9 million viewers (why did they pick up extra episodes of this again?). Law & Order: SVU posted a miserable 2.0 (18-49) rating and 7.7 million viewers – I think this will be the show that’ll improve most when moved back to 10pm. The Jay Leno Show was average – posting a 1.6 rating and 5.4 million viewers.

The CW went with something, I don’t really care though.

Full Breakdown:

8.00pm – FOX – American Idol (8-9.30pm) – 10.1 (18-49) rating – 26.4 million viewers
ABC – The Middle – 2.1 – 6.1 million
CBS – The New Adventures of Old Christine – 1.9 – 6.2 million
NBC – Mercy – 1.5 – 5.9 million

8.30pm – CBS – Gary Unmarried – 1.9 (18-49 rating) – 5.8 million viewers

9.00pm – CBS – Criminal Minds – 3.9 (18-49 rating) – 14 million viewers
ABC – Modern Family – 3.2 – 7.6 million
NBC – Law & Order: SVU – 2.0 – 7.7 million

9.30pm - FOX – The Simpsons – 3.6 (18-49 rating) – 8.1 million viewers
ABC – Cougar Town – 3.1 – 7.4 million viewers

10 pm – CBS – CSI: NY – 3.6 (18-49 rating) – 14.1 million viewers
NBC – The Jay Leno Show - 1.6 – 5.4 million
ABC – Ugly Betty – 1.6 – 4.5 million

ABC president, Steve McPherson has just confirmed that….

…all three of the shows have performed well in their freshman years and will all be given a second chance at mega success next year.

The comedies – all of which air on Wednesday nights – have posted solid ratings, with Modern Family leading the way with an average 3.7 (18-49) rating ahead of Cougar Town (3.2) and the rapidly improving The Middle (2.3).

It’s a Wonderful Life won the night (which should explain how dull these numbers are…!)

via Mediaweek:

8:00 p.m – ABC – Disney’s Prep & Landing (R)

Viewers: 3.33 million (#4), A18-49: 0.9 rating/4 share (#3t)

CBS – CSI: NY (R)

Viewers: 4.98 million (#1), A18-49: 1.0/ 4 (#2)

NBC – Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life (R)

Viewers: 4.25 (#2) million (#4), A18-49: 1.1/ 5 (#1)

Fox – Bones (R)

Viewers: 3.44 million (#3), A18-49: 0.9/ 4 (#3t)

CW – The Vampire Diaries (R)

Viewers: 1.03 million (#5), A18-49: 0.4/ 1 (#5)

—————

8:30 p.m.

ABC – The Middle (R)

Viewers: 2.72 million (#4), A18-49: 0.8/ 3 (#4)

CBS – CSI: NY (R)

Viewers: 5.37 million (#1), A18-49: 0.9/ 4 (#3)

NBC – Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life (R)

Viewers: 4.67 million (#2), A18-49: 1.4/ 5 (#1)

Fox – Bones (R)

Viewers: 3.69 million (#3), A18-49: 1.0/ 4 (#2)

CW – The Vampire Diaries (R)

Viewers: 884,000 (#5), A18-49: 0.3/ 1 (#5)

—————

9:00 p.m.

ABC – Modern Family (R)

Viewers: 3.36 million (#3), A18-49: 0.8/ 3 (#3)

CBS – CSI (R)

Viewers: 6.92 million (#1), A18-49: 1.4/ 5 (#2)

NBC – Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life (R)

Viewers: 5.38 million (#2), A18-49: 1.4/ 5 (#1)

Fox – Fringe (R)

Viewers: 2.51 million (#4), A18-49: 0.7/ 3 (#4)

CW – Supernatural (R)

Viewers: 982,000 (#5), A18-49: 0.3/ 1 (#5)

—————

9:30 p.m.

ABC – Cougar Town (R)

Viewers: 2.67 million (#3), A18-49: 0.8/ 3 (#3)

CBS – CSI (R)

Viewers: 7.41 million (#1), A18-49: 1.4/ 5 (#2)

NBC – Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life (R)

Viewers: 5.28 million (#2), A18-49: 1.6/ 6 (#1)

Fox – Fringe (R)

Viewers: 2.36 million (#4), A18-49: 0.7/ 2 (#4)

CW – Supernatural (R)

Viewers: 909,000 (#5), A18-49: 0.3/ 1 (#5)

—————

10:00 p.m.

ABC – Grey’s Anatomy (R)

Viewers: 2.11 million (#3), A18-49: 0.7/ 2 (#3)

CBS – The Mentalist (R)

Viewers: 7.96 million (#1), A18-49: 1.6/ 6 (#2)

NBC – Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life (R)

Viewers: 5.82 million (#2), A18-49: 1.8/ 7 (#1)

—————

10:30 p.m.

ABC – Grey’s Anatomy (R)

Viewers: 2.25 million (#3), A18-49: 0.7/ 2 (#3)

CBS – The Mentalist (R)

Viewers: 8.40 million (#1), A18-49: 1.7/ 6 (#2)

NBC – Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life (R)

Viewers: 6.46 million (#2), A18-49: 2.1/ 7 (31)

It’s the holidays, peeps. What else did you expect?

The two leading shows for the night were ABC’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas and CBS’ CSI: NY. Criminal Minds was a close third, just ahead of Modern Family and The Middle reruns on ABC.

As always, the nights losers were One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl and The Jay Leno Show (which was an original).
Full Breakdown:

8:00 – ABC – How The Grinch Stole Christmas (R) – 2.1 (18-49) rating - 6.8 million
FOX – Glee (R) - 1.2 - 3.6 million
CBS – A Home For The Holidays With Faith Hill – 1.1 - 6.4 million
NBC – Mercy (R) – 0.8 - 3.7 million
CW – One Tree Hill (R) – 0.3 - 0.9 million

8:30 – ABC – The Middle (R) – 1.8 - 5.5 million viewers

9:00 – CBS – Criminal Minds (R) – 2.0 (18-49) rating - 10.2 million viewers
ABC – Modern Family (R) - 1.9 - 5.6 million
FOX – Glee (R) – 1.4 - 3.9 million
NBC – Mercy (R) – 0.7 - 2.7 million
CW – Gossip Girl (R) – 0.2 - 0.5 million

9:30 – ABC – The Middle (R) – 1.5 - 4.3 million viewers

10:00 – CBS – CSI: NY (R) – 2.1 (18-49) rating - 10.2 million viewers
ABC – Cougar Town - 1.2 - 3.6 million
NBC – The Jay Leno Show – 1.1 - 4.6 million

Even though it was the So You Think You Can Dance finale last night, it was CBS that took the ratings crown.

In Brief:

So You Think You Can Dance drove FOX to second with it’s highest (18-49) rating in some time with a 2.6.

Criminal Minds took the nights top (18-49) rating with a 3.7, beating CSI: NY (3.1) into second.

New Adventures Of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried posted their highest numbers in a while with a 2.4 and 2.5 (18-49) rating respectively.

Winners:
Criminal Minds (CBS)
So You Think You Can Dance (FOX)
CSI: NY (CBS)

Losers:
ABC Reruns
CW Reruns
The Sing-Off

8:00 – FOX – So You Think You Can Dance – 2.5 (18-49) rating – 6.7 million viewers
CBS – New Adventures of Old Christine – 2.4 - 7.8 million
NBC – The Sing-Off – 2.1 - 6.9 million
ABC – Disney Prep & Landing (R) – 2.0 - 6.8 million
CW – Vampire Diaries (R) - 0.5 - 1.3 million

8:30 – CBS – Gary Unmarried – 2.5 (18-49) rating - 7.9 million
ABC – The Middle (R) - 1.7 - 5.5 million

9:00 – CBS – Criminal Minds – 3.7 (18-49) rating - 14.6 million viewers
FOX – So You Think You Can Dance – 2.7 - 7.3 million
NBC – The Sing-Off – 2.2 - 6.4 million
ABC – Modern Family (R) - 1.9 - 5.2 million
CW – Vampire Diaries (R) - 0.6 - 1.4 million

9:30 – ABC – Cougar Town (R) - 1.8 - 4.6 million

10:00 – CBS – CSI: NY – 3.1 (18-49) rating - 13.5 million viewers
NBC – The Jay Leno Show – 1.6 - 5.5 million
ABC – Eastwick – 1.3 - 3.7 million

Last night saw Glee end on a high note and a Modern Family Christmas but it was CBS who took the ratings crown.

CBS started the night with a combination of The New Adventures of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried, which averaged a 2.3 rating and 7.5 million viewers. At 9pm, Criminal Minds was strong with a 3.8 (18-49 rating), up a couple of ticks vs. last original airing. CSI: NY ended the night roughly level with last week with a 3.2 rating and 13 million viewers.

FOX was second with the combination of So You Think You Can Dance (2.3, 6.7 million) and Glee, which averaged a stellar 3.6 rating (A18-49) and a whopping 5.4 in Adults 18-34, which was still down 10% vs. last week.

ABC was third with Shrek The Halls (R)/ The Middle at 8pm which averaged 2.6 (18-49) rating and 8.1 million viewers. Modern Family had a strong night, averaging a 3.8 rating and 9.6 million viewers. At 9.30, Cougar Town was down from the lead in to a pretty poor 2.8 rating. At 10, the Barbara Walters Special averaged a solid 3.1 rating and 10.5 million viewers.

NBC had a very quiet night last night with Mercy at 8 (1.8, 7.1 million) and Law & Order: SVU, which was below its season-to-date average with a 2.3 rating and 8 million viewers. The CW was last with a rerun of Gossip Girl (0.3, 0.9 million) and a rerun of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (0.7, 1.7 million).

Full Breakdown:

8:00 – ABC – Shrek The Halls (R) - 2.6 - 8.5 million
FOX – So You Think You Can Dance – 2.3 - 6.7 million
CBS – New Adventures of Old Christine – 2.2 (A18-49) - 7.7 million viewers
NBC – Mercy – 1.8 - 7.1 million
CW – Gossip Girl (R) – 0.3 - 0.9 million

8:30 – ABC – The Middle – 2.5 (A18-49) - 7.7 million viewers
CBS – Gary Unmarried – 2.4 – 7.2 million

9:00 – CBS – Criminal Minds – 3.8 (A18-49) - 14.3 million viewers
FOX – Glee – 3.6 (A18-49) - 8.1 million
ABC – Modern Family – 3.8 - 9.6 million
NBC – Law & Order: SVU – 2.3 - 8 million
CW – Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (R) – 0.7 - 1.7 million

9:30 – ABC – Cougar Town – 2.8 - 6.9 million

10:00 – CBS – CSI: NY – 3.2 (A18-49) - 13 million viewers
ABC – Barbara Walters Special – 3.1 - 10.5 million
NBC – The Jay Leno Show – 1.3 - 4.5 million

Here is the picture that Friends fans have been looking forward to since Cougar Town began – Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow together again.

via EW.com

“They didn’t want to play friends,” says executive producer Bill Lawrence, who quickly came up with a different role for Kudrow. “She plays a dermatologist who is a horrible, horrible person, but [Cox] goes to her because she’s the best. The [sight] of them playing people who dislike each other intensely was very funny for me to watch.”