Overnights
Fox bumps up its lead in May sweeps
By Toni Fitzgerald
May 15, 2008 - 11:22:50 AM

The final two for “American Idol” have been set, and the show is getting a ratings bump heading into next week’s two-hour season ender.

Last night “Idol’s” 9 p.m. results show averaged a 9.0 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen overnights, up 13 percent over the previous week’s 8.0 as David Archuleta and David Cook moved into the final round.

That helped Fox build on its May sweeps lead with one week left to go in the period. “Idol” outdrew the Big Five competition in its hour by 11 percent, with ABC, CBS, NBC and the CW combining for an 8.1 rating.

But the CW did have a strong start to the night. The season finale of “America’s Next Top Model” won the 8 p.m. hour easily among the network’s target adults 18-34, averaging a 2.5 rating, 19 percent ahead of second-place Univision’s 2.1.

Fox finished first for the night among viewers 18-49 with a 5.6 average overnight rating and a 15 share. CBS was second at 2.5/7, ABC third at 2.4/6, NBC fourth at 2.1/6, Univision fifth at 1.7/4 and CW sixth at 1.6/4.
 
At 8 p.m. ABC was first with a 2.5 for “Wife Swap,” while Fox and CW tied for second at 2.3, Fox for the season finales of “'Til Death” (2.2) and “Back to You” (2.5) and CW for “Model.” NBC was fourth with a 1.9 for “Deal or No Deal,” Univision fifth with a 1.8 for “Al Diablo con los Guapos” and CBS sixth with a 1.4 for “Price is Right Million Dollar Spectacular.”
 
Fox took the lead at 9 p.m. with a 9.0 rating for “Idol,” followed by CBS with a 3.0 for “Criminal Minds.” ABC was third with a 2.4 for “Supernanny,” Univision fourth with a 1.9 for “Fuego en la Sangre,” NBC fifth with a 1.8 for another hour of “Deal” and CW sixth with a 0.9 for “Farmer Wants a Wife.”
 
At 10 p.m. CBS took over first place with a 3.1 for “CSI: NY,” with NBC second with a 2.7 for “Law & Order.” ABC was third with a 2.3 for “Boston Legal” and Univision fourth with a 1.4 for “Don Francisco Presenta.”
 
Fox also finished first for the night among households with a 9.3 average overnight rating and a 15 share. CBS was second at 6.9/11, NBC third at 5.1/8, ABC fourth at 4.2/7, CW fifth at 2.2/4 and Univision sixth at 2.0/3.