TV Ratings Thursday: Parks and Rec returns to huge numbers, Idol sees steep fall

In its second night of the tenth season, “American Idol” fell steeply to a 7.7 from a 9.2 Wednesday, a steep 16 percent decline. Since the show usually loses viewers as the season progresses, its a very real possibility it will settle into a demo range of the high 5/low 6s by the end of the season–putting it back around the hit shows on other networks. Has the “American Idol” Beast died? “Bones” benefitted greatly from the “Idol” leadin, delivering a 3.6 demo, by far its highest rating of the season.

But the biggest surprise of the night was over on NBC where “Parks and Recreation” returned after a 9 month hiatus to a 3.2 demo rating. That’s a solid hit show score right there, and for NBC, that is its second highest rated program on television, behind “The Office,” which it aired right after. Now that is influenced by its retention from “The Office” and was affected by the  repeats on ABC (“Grey’s Anatomy” was in repeats), but that is an astounding number. “Parks and Rec” was averaging less than a 2.0 in the demo last season, so this bounce is huge and should give many a soon-to-be-cancelled-show fan some hope of a similar rebound. If “Parks” can hold somewhat relative to those numbers (down to a 2.2 likely) it’s a shoe-in for a fourth season.

“Community” also had its best rating of the season, and “30 Rock” had its second best outing, giving a great night for NBC.

CBS was typically strong, but couldn’t defeat Fox’s one-two punch. ABC was in repeats.

8 pm

American Idol: 7.7 demo, 22.5 million viewers

The Big Bang Theory: 4.2 demo , 13.5 million viewers

Wipeout: 2.6 demo, 8.6 million viewers

Community: 2.2 demo, 4.7 million viewers

8:30

$#!* My Dad Says: 2.7 demo, 10.2 million viewers

Perfect Couples: 2.1 demo, 4.1 million viewers

9 pm

The Office: 4.5 demo, 8.3 million viewers

Bones: 3.6 demo, 11 million viewers

CSI: 3.1 demo, 14.3 million viewers

Grey’s Anatomy (Repeat): 1.6 demo, 4.8 million viewers

9:30 pm

Parks and Recreation: 3.2 demo, 6.2 million viewers

10 pm

The Mentalist: 2.8 demo, 14.6 million viewers

30 Rock: 2.7 demo, 5.2 million viewers

Private Practice (Repeat): 1.0 demo, 3.3 million viewers

10:30 pm

Outsourced: 1.8 demo, 4 million viewers