Wednesday TV's Shocker, After Rose Flack's Dismissal: American Idol was up from the same night last year (26.3 million viewers, per Nielsen estimates, versus 24.8 million), but down from last week (27.4 million). Typically, if a show is lucky, it's the other way around.
Wednesday TV's Non-Shocker, After Bikini Girl's Path of Destruction: Idol was No. 1 for the night in total viewers and the 18-49 demo.
Biggest Battle, Outside of Hollywood Week: In the 9 p.m. hour, Lie to Me (13 million) led in viewers; Lost (11 million) tied Lie to Me for No. 1 in the demo.
It's a Hard-Knock Life: Considering it had no lead-in (i.e., Knight Rider), the returning Life (6.8 million) acquitted itself OK, provided you can get past the fact it ran fourth at 9 p.m. in viewers and the demo, behind Lie to Me, Lost—and a Grammys special hosted by musicologist Katie Couric (6.8 million).