CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- Donald Trump's claim on "Saturday Night Live" this past weekend that NBC's "The Apprentice" was the top show on television met with harsh criticism this week from competitors CBS and FOX.

Both networks served up press releases pointing out just how wrong Trump is, making note of the numbers for both CBS' "C.S.I." and "Survivor: All-Stars" and of course, FOX's "American Idol."

FORGET WHAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD� "AMERICAN IDOL" IS THE NO. 1 SHOW ON TELEVISION

Tuesday's IDOL Performance Show Ranks First in Adults 18-49, Wednesday's IDOL Results Show is Second And "The Apprentice" Ranks a Distant Third In Total Viewers, Tuesday's IDOL Performance Show Ranks First, "CSI" is No. 2, IDOL Results Show is Third And "The Apprentice" Ranks a Very (Very) Distant�Seventh IDOL Leads Virtually Every Demo� Except Perhaps Among Certain Real Estate Moguls Aged 50+

Contrary to reports coming out of competing networks today, AMERICAN IDOL is clearly the No. 1 show on television in just about every demo ... and by a wide margin. The talent contest, designed to find the finest young singers in America, leads its nearest competitor by an enormous +20% in Adults 18-49. The series' Tuesday night performance show also holds a commanding lead in virtually every other demo.

Rankings and ratings/shares in Adults 18-49 (the demographic most desirable to advertisers) and Total Viewers are as follows:

ADULTS 18-49
#1 American Idol (T) 11.4/30
#2 American Idol (W) 10.7/28
#3 The Apprentice 9.5/23

TOTAL VIEWERS
#1 American Idol (T) 26,540
#2 CSI 26,480
#3 American Idol (W) 24,650
...
#7 The Apprentice 19,450

So despite any erroneous claims to the contrary, and no matter how fired-up they may be, AMERICAN IDOL trumps the competition.

TIME FOR A REALITY CHECK

"CSI" Continues To Trump "The Apprentice"

"CSI" Has a Commanding Six Million Viewer Advantage, Leads In Adults 25-54�and Is Ahead in Adults 18-49 With First-Run Episodes

"Survivor: All-Stars" Also Delivers More Viewers Than "The Apprentice"

CBS's CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION continues to trump "The Apprentice"� in viewers, adults 25-54 and in adults 18-49 with first-run episodes.

Through Thursday (April 1), CSI has a commanding 6 million viewer season-to-date advantage over "The Apprentice" (26.5m vs. 19.5m) and is ahead in adults 25-54 (11.4/25 vs. 10.2/22). CSI also outpaces "The Apprentice" in adults 18-49 with first-run broadcasts (9.9/24 vs. 9.5/23).

CSI ranks ahead of "The Apprentice" in viewers (No. 2 vs. No. 7) and in adults 25-54 (No. 2 vs. No. 4). With first-run broadcasts, CSI outranks "The Apprentice" in adults 18-49 (No. 4T vs. No. 6).

(Editors Note: "American Idol Tuesday" is the #1 program in viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54).

In Thursday's battle of reality titans, SURVIVOR: ALL-STARS also ranks ahead of "The Apprentice" in viewers (22.6m vs. 19.5m) and is tied in adults 25-54 (10.2/24 vs. 10.2/22).