Matthias Clamer/FOXNow we're talking fall TV: Matchups! Rivalries! A model called "Bloody Eyeball!"
True, last night's prime-time lineup was still pretty summery, what with all the crime-show reruns and Wipeout, but we did get three season premieres and a finale-nearing America's Got Talent.
Was Glee anything without American Idol? How did America's Next Top Model look in shorts? And are we feeling So You Think You Can Dance fatigue?
A look at Wednesday night's key ratings:
• America's Got Talent, 9.7 million-ish viewers (The overall No. 1 show, per usual, but way down from last week. Either President Obama's health-care speech, which spilled its time slot, got to it. Or Glee did.)
• Glee, 7.3 million viewers (The No. 1 show among people networks really like. Overall, a big improvement for Fox over last fall's 9-10 p.m. Wednesday occupants, 'Til Death and Do Not Disturb. )
• So You Think You Can Dance, 6.5 million viewers (Not a big improvement for Fox over last September's 8-9 p.m. occupant, Bones. In fact, the show was down substantially from its own summer premiere just three months ago. In this case, Obama definitely got to it—his speech aired opposite SYTYCD on ABC, CBS and NBC. In its defense, it did beat the President among the demographically desirable.)
• America's Next Top Model, 3.2 million viewers (We will not say the franchise's 13th season premiere, introducing its lineup of 5'7" and under catwalkers, came up short of last fall's opener. Besides, it was only off a touch, and remained the model CW show.)
As an FYI, look for Glee's real test to come in a few weeks when the slap-happy high-school musical is asked to maintain its positive attitude against the fall premieres of Criminal Minds and Law & Order: SVU.