Overnights
Fox boosts its sweeps lead with 'Idol'
By Toni Fitzgerald
May 8, 2008 - 2:34:23 PM

Last night wasn’t Fox’s strongest Wednesday outing, but it was more than enough for the network to stomp the competition and pad its May sweeps lead.

Fox averaged a 5.0 adults 18-49 rating and a 14 share last night, according to Nielsen overnights, 85 percent ahead of second-place CBS’s 2.7/7.

“American Idol” was the night’s highest-rated show by a large margin, averaging an 8.0 rating. That was about even to last week and well ahead of the night’s second-highest-rated program, a 3.3 for CBS’s “CSI: NY.”

Fox’s 8 p.m. sitcom block did decline from last week. “’Til Death” averaged a 1.9 rating, down 5 percent from the previous week’s 2.0, while 8:30 p.m. lead-out “Back to You” slipped 20 percent, from a 2.5 to a 2.0. Neither show has been renewed for next season yet.

Fox leads the May sweeps in all the major adult demographics with the first two weeks finishing up last night. Sweeps ends on May 21.

Meanwhile, NBC finished third on the night at 2.2/6, ABC fourth at 2.1/6, Univision fifth at 1.8/5 and CW sixth at 1.5/4.
 
ABC finished first during the 8 p.m. hour with a 2.5 for “Wife Swap,” while Univision, CW and Fox all tied for second at 2.0, Univision for “Al Diablo con los Guapos,” CW for “America’s Next Top Model” and Fox for “Death” (1.9) and “You” (2.0). That left NBC fifth with a 1.9 for “Deal or No Deal” and CBS sixth with a 1.7 for “Price is Right Million Dollar Spectacular.”
 
At 9 p.m. Fox took the lead with an 8.0 for “American Idol,” followed by CBS with a 3.1 for “Criminal Minds.” Univision was third with a 2.0 for “Fuego en la Sangre,” ABC fourth with a 1.9 for “Supernanny,” NBC fifth with a 1.8 for another hour of “Deal” and CW sixth with a 1.0 for “Farmer Wants a Wife.”
 
CBS led during the 10 p.m. hour with a 3.3 for “CSI: NY,” with NBC second with a 2.8 for “Law & Order.” ABC was third with a 2.0 for an ABC News special on Barbara Walters and Univision fourth with a 1.4 for “Don Francisco Presenta.”
 
Fox was also first for the night among households with a 9.0 average overnight rating and a 14 share. CBS was second at 7.1/12, NBC third at 5.1/8, ABC fourth at 4.4/7 and CW and Univision tied for fifth at 2.1/3.