AMERICAN IDOL - LOST MAKES INAUSPICIOUS RETURN

American Idol's ratings descended from the stratosphere for the final audition show, but Idol nevertheless beat everything else in sight Wednesday night. The show scored a 15.8 rating and a 23 share (27.59 million viewers) in the 9:00 p.m. hour. On CBS, a new episode of Criminal Minds drew a solid 11.0/16 (17.23 million viewers) for second place, but its numbers did not represent a significant improvement over its previous average, despite the fact that it had received the post-Super Bowl time slot on Sunday. Meanwhile, at 10:00 the return of ABC's Lost turned out to be a disappointment for the network as it drew an 8.5/14, which may have been its lowest ratings ever for a new episode. It was beaten handily by CBS's CSI: NY, which recorded a 10.2/16. Earlier in the evening Idol lead-in Bones topped the competition.

08/02/2007