FOX’s “American Idol-Wednesday” was the number one-ranked primetime telecast on broadcast
TV for Wednesday, April 22, 2009 with approximately 23.9 million average viewers.
CBS’s “Criminal Minds 10PM Special” and “Criminal Minds” rounded out the top three ranked programs with approximately 13.7 and 9.8 million average viewers.

FOX’s “American Idol-Wednesday” claimed the top slot in Nielsen’s ranking of the top primetime telecasts on broadcast TV for April 8, 2009. The show drew just over 23.0 million average viewers Wednesday evening.
CBS’s “Criminal Minds” and “CSI: NY” ranked second and third with 13.6 and 12.5 million average viewers respectively.

Rank
Program
Network
Viewers (P2+)

1
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
FOX
22,976,000

2
CRIMINAL MINDS
CBS
13,606,000

3
CSI: NY
CBS
12,504,000

4
LOST
ABC
8,565,000

5
LIE TO ME
FOX
8,563,000

6
GARY UNMARRIED
CBS
7,242,000

7
OLD CHRISTINE
CBS
7,172,000

8
UNUSUALS, THE
ABC
6,825,000

9
MANANA PARA SIEMPRE WED
UNI
5,621,000

10
LAW & ORDER-WED 8PM
NBC
5,439,000

Source: The Nielsen Company (April 8, 2009).

Overall, FOX won the night with an average audience of almost 15.8 million viewers, while CBS took second place with …