Though down slightly from last week’s season high, Wednesday’s fall finale of “Glee” remained strong in the face of heightened network competition and thus ended its fall term as a legitimate hit for FOX.
The show averaged 8.1 million viewers with a 3.6 adults 18-49 rating, among its highest figures of the season and certainly at a level that will bring smiles to the faces of FOX executives. Lead-in “So You Think You Can Dance” delivered a 2.3 rating with 6.7 million viewers for its results show.
The night’s big winners, however, aired on CBS and ABC. CBS’ “Criminal Minds” was the night’s most-watched program with 14.3 million viewers and a 3.8 demo number; “Family” posted a 3.8 rating with 9.6 million viewers. “Modern Family” leadout “Cougar Town,” however, slid to a 2.8 rating with 6.9 million viewers.
“The Middle” scored a 2.5 with 7.7 million viewers at 8:30PM. The “Barbara Walters Special: Ten Most Fascinating People of 2009” ended ABC’s night with a 3.1 and 10.5 million viewers, doing remarkably better than “Eastwick” did in the slot.
Elsewhere, NBC’s “Mercy” opened things with a 1.8 rating and 7.1 million viewers. “Law & Order: SVU” followed with a 2.3 and 8 million, while “The Jay Leno Show” closed things with an uninspiring 1.3 rating and 4.5 million.
On CBS, comedies “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (7.7 million, 2.2) and “Gary Unmarried” (7.2 million, 2.4) opened the night, while “CSI: NY” closed things with a 3.2 rating and 13 million watchers.
