Competition hits lowest Tuesday ratings of season

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Even though "American Idol" had its smallest Tuesday audience of the season, FOX still coasted to a ratings win.

FOX led the night with a 9.6 rating/15 share, holding off ABC's 8.4/13 for the top spot. CBS finished third at 6.9/11. NBC, 4.2/7, came in fourth, and The CW trailed with a 1.4/2.

Among adults 18-49, FOX's 6.7 rating ruled the night, more than doubling second-place ABC's 3.0. CBS, 2.3, finished third, followed by NBC, 2.1, and The CW, 0.9.

"American Idol" posted a 12.5/20 at 8 p.m.; its 21.25 million viewers were the smallest for a Tuesday installment of the show this season. CBS took second for the hour with "NCIS," 8.8/14. A "Dancing with the Stars" special marking the 100th episode drew a 7.2/11 for ABC. "Most Outrageous Moments," 2.7/4, put NBC in fourth, ahead of "Beauty and the Geek" on The CW.

ABC took the overall lead at 9 p.m. with the "Dancing with the Stars" results show, 12.0/18. CBS' "Shark" was second in households at 6.8/10, but "Hell's Kitchen," 6.7/10, brought more viewers to FOX (and led the hour in adults 18-49). A "Law & Order: SVU" rerun on NBC came in fourth. "Reaper" scored a 1.6/2 for The CW.

A new "Law & Order: SVU" delivered a 7.0/12 for NBC at 10 p.m., good enough to win the hour over "Women's Murder Club," 6.1/10, on ABC. A "CSI: Miami" rerun posted a 5.2/9 for CBS.

Ratings information is taken from fast national data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.