The 2011-12 season officially came to an end on Wednesday, May 23rd. As per usual, the season brought a number of surprises and the final data is very interesting to dissect.
American Idol is still the highest-rated show on network television but The Voice came very close to beating it. It’s worth mentioning that Idol aired twice a week for the entire season while Voice only had a handful of Tuesday airings so FOX made essentially double the moolah. It’ll be interesting to see if NBC kills their “golden goose” by putting it on this fall’s schedule.
Modern Family is the highest-rated scripted show on television and isn’t too far behind Idol, at least in the all-important demo. CBS sitcoms aren’t far behind either. NCIS, which is the most-watched show on network TV, ranks ninth when it comes to the demo.
The highest-rated show that was cancelled this season was ¡ROB! on CBS. The Tiffany network has several high-rated sitcoms (five of the top 10 shows) so they can afford to be picky. A number of low-rated shows were renewed but that mostly has to do with outside deals and finances, beyond advertising revenue.
The list below represents the TV shows that aired during the season. I haven’t included sport events and specials. Idol, Dancing with the Stars, and Dateline are listed twice because they had entire seasons on two separate nights. Shows that switched nights aren’t listed separately.
Series like The Amazing Race, Survivor, The Biggest Loser had two cycles within the same season and those are listed separately as well.
The ratings information is based on the final ratings for each show, not the fast affiliate approximations that are most commonly reported.
Demo rank
(Viewer rank) | Net | TV shows | 18-49 demo
rating (actual) | Viewers
in millions | |
| 1 (2) | FOX | American Idol (Weds.) (renewed) | 5.3 (5.34) | 17.66 | ratings |
| 2 (16) | ABC | Modern Family (renewed) | 5.1 (5.05) | 12.09 | ratings |
| 3 (12) | NBC | The Voice (renewed) | 5.0 (4.99) | 13.14 | ratings |
| 4 (8) | CBS | The Big Bang Theory (renewed) | 5.0 (4.97) | 14.88 | ratings |
| 5 (10) | CBS | Two and a Half Men (renewed) | 5.0 (4.96) | 14.62 | ratings |
| 6 (5) | FOX | American Idol (Thurs.) (renewed) | 4.8 (4.77) | 16.59 | ratings |
| 7 (21) | CBS | 2 Broke Girls (renewed) | 4.3 (4.25) | 11.29 | ratings |
| 8 (35) | CBS | How I Met Your Mother (renewed) | 4.1 (4.06) | 9.66 | ratings |
| 9 (1) | CBS | NCIS (renewed) | 3.8 (3.75) | 19.22 | ratings |
| 10 (17) | CBS | Mike & Molly (renewed) | 3.7 (3.72) | 11.46 | ratings |
| 11 (25) | FOX | The X Factor (Weds.) (renewed) | 3.7 (3.71) | 10.85 | ratings |
| 12 (34) | ABC | Grey's Anatomy (renewed) | 3.6 (3.56) | 9.83 | ratings |
| 13 (22) | FOX | The X Factor (Thurs.) (renewed) | 3.5 (3.52) | 11.06 | ratings |
| 14 (15) | CBS | Criminal Minds (renewed) | 3.4 (3.39) | 12.63 | ratings |
| 15 (23) | CBS | ¡ROB! (cancelled) | 3.3 (3.30) | 11.02 | ratings |
| 16 (3) | ABC | Dancing with the Stars (fall, perf.) (renewed) | 3.3 (3.28) | 17.56 | ratings |
| 17 (32) | ABC | Once Upon a Time (renewed) | 3.3 (3.27) | 9.92 | ratings |
| 18 (61) | FOX | New Girl (renewed) | 3.2 (3.23) | 6.52 | ratings |
| 19 (24) | CBS | Survivor: South Pacific (fall, renewed) | 3.2 (3.22) | 10.95 | ratings |
| 20 (6) | CBS | NCIS: Los Angeles (renewed) | 3.2 (3.18) | 15.53 | ratings |
| 21 (73) | FOX | Family Guy (renewed) | 3.1 (3.05) | 5.98 | ratings |
| 22 (53) | FOX | Glee (renewed) | 3.0 (3.02) | 7.31 | ratings |
| 23 (4) | ABC | Dancing with the Stars (spring, perf.) (cancelled) | 3.0 (2.97) | 16.95 | ratings |
| 24 (7) | ABC | Dancing with the Stars (fall, results) (renewed) | 3.0 (2.96) | 15.44 | ratings |
| 25 (36) | CBS | Rules of Engagement (renewed) | 2.9 (2.91) | 9.47 | ratings |
| 26 (29) | CBS | The Amazing Race (fall, renewed) | 2.9 (2.88) | 10.18 | ratings |
| 27 (27) | CBS | Hawaii Five-0 (renewed) | 2.9 (2.87) | 10.67 | ratings |
| 27 (11) | CBS | Person of Interest (renewed) | 2.9 (2.87) | 13.31 | ratings |
| 29 (69) | FOX | The Simpsons (renewed) | 2.9 (2.86) | 6.15 | ratings |
| 30 (30) | CBS | Survivor: One World (spring, renewed) | 2.8 (2.82) | 10.07 | ratings |
| 31 (85) | NBC | The Office (renewed) | 2.8 (2.77) | 5.39 | ratings |
| 32 (39) | ABC | Desperate Housewives (ended) | 2.7 (2.74) | 8.76 | ratings |
| 33 (18) | CBS | CSI (renewed) | 2.7 (2.72) | 11.37 | ratings |
| 34 (68) | ABC | Happy Endings (renewed) | 2.7 (2.71) | 6.18 | ratings |
| 35 (37) | CBS | The Amazing Race (spring, likely renewed) | 2.6 (2.62) | 9.31 | ratings |
| 36 (13) | CBS | The Mentalist (renewed) | 2.6 (2.61) | 13.12 | ratings |
| 37 (9) | ABC | Dancing with the Stars (spring, results) (cancelled) | 2.6 (2.60) | 14.67 | ratings |
| 37 (43) | ABC | The Middle (renewed) | 2.6 (2.60) | 8.41 | ratings |
| 37 (87) | FOX | Napoleon Dynamite (cancelled) | 2.6 (2.60) | 5.31 | ratings |
| 37 (51) | ABC | Suburgatory (renewed) | 2.6 (2.60) | 7.58 | ratings |
| 37 (44) | ABC | The Bachelor (renewed) | 2.6 (2.60) | 8.25 | ratings |
| 42 (54) | FOX | House (ended) | 2.5 (2.52) | 7.14 | ratings |
| 43 (52) | FOX | Terra Nova (cancelled) | 2.5 (2.49) | 7.52 | ratings |
| 44 (48) | ABC | Revenge (renewed) | 2.5 (2.46) | 7.82 | ratings |
| 45 (40) | ABC | Last Man Standing (renewed) | 2.4 (2.43) | 8.61 | ratings |
| 46 (72) | NBC | Fear Factor (cancelled) | 2.4 (2.41) | 6.08 | ratings |
| 46 (45) | FOX | Touch (renewed) | 2.4 (2.41) | 8.14 | ratings |
| 48 (46) | FOX | Bones (renewed) | 2.4 (2.39) | 8.07 | ratings |
| 49 (78) | ABC | Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23 (renewed) | 2.3 (2.34) | 5.71 | ratings |
| 50 (26) | ABC | Castle (renewed) | 2.3 (2.33) | 10.71 | ratings |
| 51 (14) | CBS | 60 Minutes (renewed) | 2.3 (2.29) | 12.72 | ratings |
| 52 (97) | FOX | American Dad (renewed) | 2.3 (2.28) | 4.68 | ratings |
| 52 (57) | ABC | Private Practice (renewed) | 2.3 (2.28) | 6.81 | ratings |
| 54 (58) | NBC | Smash (renewed) | 2.3 (2.27) | 6.74 | ratings |
| 55 (20) | CBS | Unforgettable (cancelled) | 2.3 (2.26) | 11.30 | ratings |
| 56 (67) | NBC | The Biggest Loser (fall, cancelled) | 2.2 (2.21) | 6.21 | ratings |
| 57 (58) | FOX | Alcatraz (cancelled) | 2.2 (2.18) | 6.74 | ratings |
| 57 (62) | NBC | The Biggest Loser (spring, renewed) | 2.2 (2.18) | 6.44 | ratings |
| 59 (93) | FOX | Raising Hope (renewed) | 2.2 (2.16) | 4.83 | ratings |
| 60 (33) | CBS | CSI: Miami (cancelled) | 2.1 (2.14) | 9.85 | ratings |
| 61 (77) | ABC | Celebrity Wife Swap (renewed) | 2.1 (2.10) | 5.74 | ratings |
| 62 (65) | NBC | Celebrity Apprentice (renewed) | 2.0 (2.03) | 6.30 | ratings |
| 63 (28) | CBS | The Good Wife (renewed) | 2.0 (2.01) | 10.22 | ratings |
| 63 (38) | CBS | Undercover Boss (renewed) | 2.0 (2.01) | 8.87 | ratings |
| 63 (55) | ABC | Scandal (renewed) | 2.0 (2.01) | 7.02 | ratings |
| 66 (105) | FOX | Allen Gregory (cancelled) | 2.0 (1.97) | 4.16 | ratings |
| 66 (64) | CBS | How to be a Gentleman (cancelled) | 2.0 (1.97) | 6.32 | ratings |
| 68 (81) | FOX | Mobbed (returning) | 2.0 (1.96) | 5.49 | ratings |
| 69 (89) | NBC | Parenthood (renewed) | 1.9 (1.93) | 5.13 | ratings |
| 70 (75) | ABC | GCB (cancelled) | 1.9 (1.92) | 5.87 | ratings |
| 71 (56) | NBC | Law & Order: SVU (renewed) | 1.9 (1.91) | 6.87 | ratings |
| 72 (101) | NBC | Whitney (renewed) | 1.9 (1.87) | 4.45 | ratings |
| 72 (108) | FOX | Bob's Burgers (renewed) | 1.9 (1.87) | 3.87 | ratings |
| 74 (101) | NBC | Up All Night (renewed) | 1.9 (1.86) | 4.45 | ratings |
| 74 (71) | ABC | Wipeout (returning) | 1.9 (1.86) | 6.10 | ratings |
| 76 (62) | ABC | Man Up! (cancelled) | 1.9 (1.85) | 6.44 | ratings |
| 77 (112) | NBC | Parks and Recreation (renewed) | 1.8 (1.84) | 3.73 | ratings |
| 77 (95) | FOX | I Hate My Teenage Daughter (cancelled) | 1.8 (1.84) | 4.75 | ratings |
| 79 (80) | ABC | Work It (cancelled) | 1.8 (1.80) | 5.63 | ratings |
| 80 (109) | FOX | The Cleveland Show (renewed) | 1.8 (1.78) | 3.78 | ratings |
| 81 (41) | ABC | Body of Proof (renewed) | 1.7 (1.74) | 8.60 | ratings |
| 82 (19) | CBS | Blue Bloods (renewed) | 1.7 (1.72) | 11.32 | ratings |
| 83 (85) | ABC | Pan Am (cancelled) | 1.7 (1.69) | 5.39 | ratings |
| 83 (82) | FOX | The Finder (cancelled) | 1.7 (1.69) | 5.45 | ratings |
| 85 (96) | ABC | The River (cancelled) | 1.6 (1.63) | 4.70 | ratings |
| 86 (73) | NBC | Who's Still Standing? (cancelled) | 1.6 (1.62) | 5.98 | ratings |
| 87 (70) | NBC | Betty White's Off Their Rockers (renewed) | 1.6 (1.62) | 6.14 | ratings |
| 87 (31) | CBS | CSI: NY (renewed) | 1.6 (1.62) | 9.94 | ratings |
| 89 (79) | ABC | Shark Tank (renewed) | 1.6 (1.61) | 5.68 | ratings |
| 90 (60) | ABC | America's Funniest Home Videos (renewed) | 1.6 (1.58) | 6.59 | ratings |
| 91 (101) | NBC | Fashion Star (renewed) | 1.6 (1.56) | 4.45 | ratings |
| 92 (117) | NBC | Community (renewed) | 1.5 (1.54) | 3.42 | ratings |
| 92 (115) | NBC | 30 Rock (renewed) | 1.5 (1.54) | 3.49 | ratings |
| 94 (90) | NBC | Grimm (renewed) | 1.5 (1.53) | 5.02 | ratings |
| 95 (100) | NBC | The Sing-Off (cancelled) | 1.5 (1.52) | 4.56 | ratings |
| 95 (76) | ABC | Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (cancelled) | 1.5 (1.52) | 5.77 | ratings |
| 97 (110) | NBC | Are You There, Chelsea? (cancelled) | 1.5 (1.48) | 3.76 | ratings |
| 97 (113) | FOX | Kitchen Nightmares (renewed) | 1.5 (1.48) | 3.58 | ratings |
| 99 (104) | ABC | Cougar Town (moving to TBS) | 1.5 (1.45) | 4.36 | ratings |
| 99 (50) | ABC | Missing (cancelled) | 1.5 (1.45) | 7.59 | ratings |
| 101 (121) | FOX | Breaking In (cancelled) | 1.4 (1.44) | 3.01 | ratings |
| 102 (93) | ABC | Primetime: What Would You Do? (renewed) | 1.4 (1.43) | 4.83 | ratings |
| 103 (88) | ABC | 20/20 (renewed) | 1.4 (1.39) | 5.27 | ratings |
| 104 (106) | NBC | The Playboy Club (cancelled) | 1.4 (1.37) | 4.15 | ratings |
| 104 (66) | ABC | Charlie's Angels (cancelled) | 1.4 (1.37) | 6.24 | ratings |
| 106 (107) | NBC | Free Agents (cancelled) | 1.4 (1.35) | 4.08 | ratings |
| 107 (49) | CBS | NYC 22 (cancelled) | 1.3 (1.33) | 7.67 | ratings |
| 108 (42) | CBS | A Gifted Man (cancelled) | 1.3 (1.31) | 8.57 | ratings |
| 109 (122) | CW | The Vampire Diaries (renewed) | 1.3 (1.29) | 2.81 | ratings |
| 110 (110) | FOX | Cops (renewed) | 1.3 (1.28) | 3.76 | ratings |
| 111 (91) | NBC | Dateline (Fridays, renewed) | 1.3 (1.27) | 4.98 | ratings |
| 112 (98) | NBC | Prime Suspect (cancelled) | 1.2 (1.19) | 4.61 | ratings |
| 113 (83) | CBS | 48 Hours Mystery (renewed) | 1.2 (1.16) | 5.41 | ratings |
| 114 (98) | ABC | You Deserve It (cancelled) | 1.2 (1.15) | 4.61 | ratings |
| 115 (120) | FOX | Fringe (renewed) | 1.1 (1.12) | 3.07 | ratings |
| 116 (118) | NBC | Awake (cancelled) | 1.1 (1.10) | 3.38 | ratings |
| 117 (47) | NBC | Harry's Law (cancelled) | 1.1 (1.08) | 7.88 | ratings |
| 118 (92) | NBC | Dateline (Sundays, unknown) | 1.0 (1.04) | 4.87 | ratings |
| 119 (83) | NBC | Who Do You Think You Are? (cancelled) | 1.0 (1.03) | 5.41 | ratings |
| 120 (116) | NBC | Chuck (ended) | 1.0 (0.98) | 3.44 | ratings |
| 121 (114) | NBC | Rock Center with Brian Williams (renewed) | 0.9 (0.88) | 3.54 | ratings |
| 122 (123) | NBC | Bent (cancelled) | 0.8 (0.83) | 2.37 | ratings |
| 123 (124) | CW | America's Next Top Model (fall) (renewed) | 0.8 (0.81) | 1.84 | ratings |
| 124 (125) | CW | The Secret Circle (cancelled) | 0.8 (0.77) | 1.83 | ratings |
| 125 (131) | CW | One Tree Hill (ended) | 0.8 (0.75) | 1.46 | ratings |
| 126 (127) | CW | Supernatural (renewed) | 0.7 (0.73) | 1.73 | ratings |
| 127 (132) | CW | 90210 (renewed) | 0.7 (0.70) | 1.34 | ratings |
| 128 (119) | NBC | The Firm (cancelled) | 0.7 (0.65) | 3.11 | ratings |
| 129 (128) | CW | Hart of Dixie (renewed) | 0.6 (0.64) | 1.57 | ratings |
| 130 (130) | CW | Ringer (cancelled) | 0.6 (0.61) | 1.49 | ratings |
| 131 (134) | CW | Gossip Girl (renewed) | 0.6 (0.59) | 1.18 | ratings |
| 132 (126) | FOX | Q'Viva! The Chosen (cancelled) | 0.6 (0.57) | 1.80 | ratings |
| 133 (135) | CW | America's Next Top Model (spring) (unknown) | 0.5 (0.53) | 1.14 | ratings |
| 134 (133) | CW | H8R (cancelled) | 0.5 (0.50) | 1.19 | ratings |
| 134 (129) | CW | Nikita (renewed) | 0.5 (0.50) | 1.54 | ratings |
| 136 (137) | CW | Re-Modeled (cancelled) | 0.3 (0.30) | 0.67 | ratings |
| 137 (136) | NBC | Escape Routes (cancelled) | 0.3 (0.26) | 1.08 | ratings |
| 138 (138) | CW | The LA Complex (renewed) | 0.3 (0.25) | 0.57 | ratings |
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What do you think? See any surprises? Did you think your favorites performed better or worse than they did?
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