Part one of ABC’s two-part special “Madoff” started off strong with 7 million viewers on Wednesday night.
The special, which stars Richard Dreyfuss as Ponzi scheme perpetrator Bernie Madoff, skewed older as it pulled in only a 1.2 rating in the advertiser coveted adults 18-49 demographic.
“American Idol” was again the top rated program of Wednesday night, attracting 9.1 million viewers and a 2.3 rating. That is consistent with its performance last week, when it pulled in 9.6 million viewers and a 2.5 rating.
Fox won the night in the key demo with a 1.9 rating but finished second in total viewers with 6.9 million. “American Idol” aired at 8 p.m. “Hell’s Kitchen” followed at 9, which cooked up 4.7 million viewers and a 1.5 rating.
NBC finished second in the key demo with a 1.5 rating but first in total viewers with 7.1 million. “The Mysteries of Laura” nabbed 6.8 million viewers and a 1.1 rating at 8. “Law & Order: SVU” got 7.2 million viewers and a 1.8 rating at 9. “Chicago PD” got 7.2 million viewers and a 1.7 rating at 9.
CBS finished in third place with a 1.3 rating and 6.4 million viewers. “2 Broke Girls” raked in 6.4 million viewers and a 1.5 rating at 8. “Mike & Molly” followed at 8:30, attracting 6.9 million viewers and a 1.6 rating. A repeat of “Criminal Minds” aired at 9, followed by “Code Black” at 10, which got 6.8 million viewers and a 1.2 rating.
ABC came in fourth with a 1.1 rating and just under 6 million viewers. “Madoff” aired from 8-10, followed by “American Crime,” which got a 0.8 rating and 3.8 million viewers.
The CW came in fifth with a 0.8 rating and 2.2 million viewers. “Arrow” managed a 0.9 rating and 2.5 million viewers at 8. “Supernatural” got 0.7 rating and 1.9 million viewers at 9.
Univision finished sixth with a 0.7 rating and 1.8 million viewers.
Telemundo finished seventh with a 0.5 rating and 1.5 million viewers.