ABC/Florian Schneider; Michael Becker / FOXAmerican Idol Ratings Watch: Last night's show averaged 25.4 million viewers, Nielsen estimates showed. That's up from Obama Night's 22.4 million. That's down from last Wednesday's 30.3 million. So bottom line, if anyone asks, it's still No. 1.
Least Interesting Thing About Wednesday's Results: Lost's two-hour, fifth-season premiere (11.4 million) was its least-watched season premiere yet. In other nonbreaking news, Locke is dead.
More Interesting Thing About Wednesday's Results: Fox's dirty trick—the one where it gives the great Tim Roth a series and the time slot after Idol, plus three minutes of Idol spillover—didn't entirely work. Yes, in the 9 p.m. hour Lie to Me (12.4 million) killed in the 18-49 demo, but Lost won the 18-49 demo with a rating that ABC said was up from its season four finale.
FYI: Lost won the demo at 10 p.m., too. It got beat in total viewers in both hours by the CBS shows Criminal Minds (13.9 million) and CSI: NY (11.8 million). (At 9 p.m. Lost actually ran third in viewers.)
Who Seems Less Confused by Lost: Women 25-54. The show scored its best rating with that group, whose members continue to be Idol's biggest fans too. Apparently if you can follow Paula Abdul, you can handle any convoluted storyline.