ABC's Wednesday Comedy Finales Score Best Wednesday in 3 Months

Some early info on ABC's Wednesday, ahead of the regular press release.

Wednesday Night (8-11pm)

Growing for the 2nd consecutive week, ABC marked its strongest Wednesday in more than 3 months with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 - since 2/10/10.

The Middle (8:30-9pm)

Surging over its lead-in by 2.2 million viewers and by 79% with young adults at 8:30pm, The Middle won half-hour in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, winning its slot for the 4th time in its final 5 original telecasts of its freshman season. Outdelivering nearest competitor in the half-hour by 14% in Adults 18-49 (CBS' special I Get That A Lot) and Fox's series debut of The Good Guys by 67%, The Middle stood as the #1 scripted TV show in its slot for the 7th time in its past 8 first-run telecasts.

· Building its numbers for the 2nd week running, the freshman-season finale of The Middle achieved 3-month highs among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 (tie) - since 2/10/10.

Modern Family (9-9:30pm)

Against Idol at 9pm, ABC's Modern Family first-season finale built sharply on its lead-in (+2.5 million viewers/+68% in AD18-49) to once again finish as the definitive #1 scripted show in its time slot in Adults 18-49, pacing 31% ahead of CBS' Criminal Minds. In fact, the hit ABC comedy qualified as Wednesday's #1 scripted TV program for its 12th consecutive original telecast in the key young adult sales demo. Also worth noting, for the 2nd week in a row against Idol, Modern Family registered as the #1 TV series in its time period with Men 18-34.

· Nearly matching its record-setting young adult number from prior week, Modern Family generated the series' second-largest audience since January (slightly behind only last week, best since 1/6/10) and posted its second-highest-ever rating among Adults 18-49 (pacing within one-tenth of a rating point of the prior week's series-best).

Cougar Town (9:30-10pm)

Opposite the second half-hour of a surging Idol at 9:30pm, Cougar Town continued to outdeliver CBS' veteran Criminal Minds with Adults 18-34 to qualify as the #1 scripted show against its network rivals in the half-hour for its 7th consecutive original airing.

· Gaining young adults for the 2nd week in a row, the freshman-season closer of Cougar Town equaled its highest Adult 18-49 number in well over 3 months - since 2/3/10 .

Primetime: What Would You Do (10-11pm)

In the 10 o'clock hour, ABC News' Primetime: What Would You Do? pulled in the Network's strongest numbers in the time period in more than 5 months with Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 - since 12/9/09.

Quick Take for Wednesday, May 19, 2010 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Hits 3-Month Highs on Wednesday in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49

Winning its Slot for the 4th Time in the Final 5 Telecasts of its Freshman Season, ABC's "The Middle" Generates its Top Numbers Since the Beginning of February

Nearly Tying the Prior Week's Series High, "Modern Family" Finishes Out its First Season as the Night's No. 1 Scripted TV Show on Each of its Last 12 Originals

Up for the 2nd Consecutive Week in Adults 18-49, "Cougar Town" Season Finale Hits the Series' Best Adult 18-49 Number in Well Over 3 Months

"Primetime: What Would You Do?" Generates the Network's Strongest Viewer and Young Adults Numbers in the Time Slot in More Than 5 Months

Wednesday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

Growing its numbers on the night for the 2nd consecutive week, ABC marked its strongest Wednesday in more than 3 months with Total Viewers (6.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.5/7) - since 2/10/10.

"The Middle" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

Surging over its lead-in by 2.2 million viewers and by 79% with young adults at 8:30pm, "The Middle" took first place in its half-hour in Total Viewers (7.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.5/8), winning its slot for the 4th time in its final 5 original telecasts of its freshman season. Outdelivering its nearest competitor in the half-hour among Adults 18-49 by 14% (CBS' special "I Get That A Lot" = 2.2/7) and Fox's series debut of "The Good Guys" by 67% (1.5/5), "The Middle" stood as the highest-rated scripted TV show in its slot for the 7th time in its past 8 first-run telecasts.

· Building its numbers for the 2nd week running, the freshman-season finale of "The Middle" achieved 3-month highs among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 (tie) - since 2/10/10.

"Modern Family" (9:00-9:30 p.m.)

Against "Idol" at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "Modern Family" first-season finale built sharply on its lead-in (+2.5 million viewers/+68% in AD18-49) to once again finish as the definitive No. 1 scripted show in its time slot in Adults 18-49, pacing 31% ahead of CBS' "Criminal Minds" (4.2/12 vs. 3.2/9). In fact, the hit ABC comedy qualified as Wednesday's No. 1 scripted TV program for its 12th consecutive original telecast in the key young adult sales demo. Also worth noting, for the 2nd week in a row against "Idol," "Modern Family" registered as the No. 1 TV series in its time period with Men 18-34 (2.8/9-tie).

· Nearly matching its record-setting young adult number from prior week, "Modern Family" generated the series' second-largest audience (10.0 million) since January (slightly behind only last week, best since 1/6/10) and posted its second-highest-ever rating among Adults 18-49 (pacing within one-tenth of a rating point of the prior week's series-best).

"Cougar Town" (9:30-10:00 p.m.)

Opposite the second half-hour of a surging "Idol" at 9:30 p.m., ABC's "Cougar Town" continued to outdeliver CBS' veteran "Criminal Minds" with Adults 18-34 (2.3/7 vs. 2.2/7) to qualify as the No. 1 scripted show against its network rivals in the half-hour for its 7th consecutive original airing.

· Gaining young adults for the 2nd week in a row, the freshman-season closer of "Cougar Town" equaled the series' highest Adult 18-49 number (2.8/8) in well over 3 months - since 2/3/10.

"Primetime: What Would You Do?" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

In the 10 o'clock hour, ABC News' "Primetime: What Would You Do?" pulled in the Network's strongest numbers in the time period in more than 5 months with Total Viewers (5.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.0/6) - since 12/9/09.

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 36% currently, from 31% at the same point in 2009. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 5/19/10.