Source: http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/ratin ... =wednesday

1. "American Idol" (FOX) 17.7/27
2. "Lost" (ABC) 11.5/17
3. "Skating With Celebrities" (FOX) 11.2/17
4. "CSI: NY" (CBS) 10.3/17
5. "Criminal Minds" (CBS) 9.2/14
6. "Law & Order" (NBC) 8.3/14
7. "Invasion" (ABC) 6.0/10
8. "E-Ring" (NBC) 5.2/8
9. "Still Standing" (CBS) 5.1/8
10. "Yes, Dear" (CBS) 5.0/8
11. "The Biggest Loser: Special Edition" (NBC) 4.9/8
12. "Lost" (R, ABC) 4.9/8
13. "One Tree Hill" (WB) 2.0/3
14. "Beauty and the Geek" (R, WB) 1.9/3
15. "Veronica Mars" (R, UPN) 1.4/2
16. "South Beach" (UPN) 1.3/2

Skating With Celebrities will likely sink when it moves to Mondays, into Trading Spouses territory. If it succeeds, it'll only be a one-season wonder.

Aww...IwantLostontop.

did idol take some viewers away from lost?

They were on at different times so I guess not. I assume some people (not smart people) abandoned Lost to watch Skating With Celebrities.

Hmm, for the futoncritic/Fast Nationals, that's way above average for OTH. I had a feeling that Chad doing Regis and Kelly this past week would help at least a little. I can't wait for the real mediaweek numbers, it could reach a season-high. I mean look at the way it destroyed it's "equal" Veronica Mars.

What's with you and Veronica Mars? They're two different shows altogether. And I doubt the Regis and Kelly appearance helped a lot.

How do you figure out what the numbers mean?

For example : 1. "American Idol" (FOX) 17.7/27

Anyone care to explain? Is 17.7 the number of people (in millions) watching?

Oh I have nothing against Veronica Mars, I was just using it as a comparison. Usually they're neck-and-neck together, this week was not.

...And I just realized VM was a rerun. So ignore my reaction.

No worries, I just thought you hated the show or something without watching it. But... then I realized I do the same thing with One Tree Hill, so I shouldn't be complaining.

I think that might be Lost's lowest rated episode this season or second lowest since I remember the Thanksgiving one was under 20 million as well. sucks Cuz it was a pretty pivotal episode. Then again, not the kind that you need to see to catch up.

First number is the percentage of all households (regardless if they have TV or not) watching American Idol. 17.7% of all American households are watching this.

Second number is percentage of all households, who happen to be watching TV, that are watching American Idol. 27% of all TV-watching households that night are watching American Idol.

The actual number of viewers... I don't know. I think Nielsens practice witchcraft. But on average, if a show gets a 27 share, it could end up with 25 to 30 million viewers.

Wow. According to zap2it, Idol Night 2 got about 32 million viewers. Last year, it was 29 million.

Skating got around 19 million. We'll see how it does on Monday at 8. With 24 as lead-out, it could make about 10 or so million, a little bit higher than Trading.

That damn Berman. He actually wrote an article today, but he didn't bother with the ratings?

I think he's at the press tour stuff for the networks. He probably could update ratings if he really wanted to, but he doesn't.

Yeah he's in Pasadena at the moment, 15 minutes away from me. What would you like me to do to him guys? lol

Go Tonya Harding on his ass and crowbar him!

I think the ratings system is pretty stupid. I would much rather just know the numbers of people in millions, hehe.