Earlier this season “Modern Family” was the highest-rated comedy on TV. But CBS’ Thursday king The Big Bang Theory has since climbed to top the weekly chart hitting recent season highs, and Modern Family has slipped to No. 2 and relinquished its crown.

What’s behind the slippage? EW thinks it might be the lead-in show Neighbors , the competition with Fox’s American Idol, and Modern Family’s rather ambitious and creatively complex with a large cast.
What do you think?

Wednesday’s dominant #1 scripted show in Adults 18-49, ABC’s Modern Family beat out Idol for the 2nd week in a row with Men 18-34 to stand as the night’s #1 show in the hard-to-reach male demo.

Full story on TV by the Numbers

At 9pm, ABC’s repeat Modern Family won its half-hour by 17% in Adults 18-49, dominating Fox’s original Idol-fueled Human Target.  In factABC’s encore Modern Family stood as the #1 scripted television program on Wednesday in the key young adult sales demo, finishing as the #2 TV show overall on the night to Idol.

• For the 2nd week running, Modern Family put up the series’ best-ever repeat numbers, eclipsing the prior week’s results by 26% in Total Viewers and by 35% in Adults 18-49.

Source: TV by the numbers

Against Idol at 9pm, ABC’s Modern Family jumped from its lead-in (+2.6 million viewers/+75% in AD18-49) to rank as the #1 scripted show in its time slot among Adults 18-49, outdelivering originals of CBS’ Criminal Minds by 27% and NBC’s Mercy by 282%.  After running neck-and-neck with Idol with young men for past month, Modern Family beat American Idol for the first-time-ever among Men 18-34 (+3%) .  The hit ABC comedy qualified as Wednesday’s #1 scripted TV show for its 11th straight original telecast in young adults.

Against “Idol” and all-original programming on CBS and NBC at 9:00 p.m., ABC’s “Modern Family” jumped from its lead-in (+2.6 million viewers/+75% in AD18-49) to rank as the No. 1 scripted show in its time slot among Adults 18-49 (4.2/11), outdelivering CBS’ “Criminal Minds” by 27% (3.3/9) and NBC’s “Mercy” by 282% (1.1/3).  After running neck-and-neck with “Idol” in young men for the past month, “Modern Family” beat “American Idol” for the first time ever among Men 18-34 (+3% – 3.2/11 vs. 3.1/10).  The hit ABC comedy qualified as Wednesday’s No. 1 scripted TV show for its 11th straight original telecast in young adults.

“Modern Family” marked its most-watched telecast (10.1 million) in over 4 months (since 1/6/10) and hit a series high in Adults 18-49 (4.2/11-tie), representing the series’ best-ever performance against “American Idol” on both counts.  It was “Modern’s” 2nd time in 3 weeks to hit a series high in the key young adult sales demo.

Source: RBR

The annual March for Babies is now a 2-week long series of events with celebrities, sports stars and politicians all participating in the fight against preterm births. According to their website, “Preterm birth is the number one killer of newborns in the United States, and babies who survive often face lifelong health problems.”

This weekend, stars from all entertainment arenas came out to show their support and walk for the cause. Modern Family star Julie Bowen, Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Harry Douglas, Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller and Biggest Loser winner Ali Vincent all participated in walks in their communities on April 24. Actress Melissa Joan Hart, American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith and sports legend Darryl Strawberry all walked on April 25.

Source: Tonic

Building Sharply Opposite “Idol,” ABC’s “Modern Family” is Wednesday’s No. 1 Scripted TV Show for its 8th Straight Original Telecast in Adults 1849

“Modern Family” (9:00-9:30 p.m.)

Opposite Fox’s “American Idol” at 9:00 p.m., ABC’s “Modern Family” built on its lead-in by 64% to finish as the No. 1 scripted show in its time slot among Adults 18-49, beating CBS’ “Criminal Minds” by 13% (3.6/10 vs. 3.2/9). For its 2nd straight original telecast, ABC freshman finished in a virtual tie with “American Idol” as the No. 1 program in the half-hour with Men 18-34 (2.7/10 vs. 2.9/10).

Source: The Futon Critic

Fox dominated a mostly low-key holiday-week Wednesday behind “American Idol” and rookie drama “Human Target,” which was on the rise, while ABC’s “Modern Family” continues to hold up nicely opposite the music megahit.
ABC, which edged NBC for second place on the night, was paced as usual by “Modern Family” (3.8/11 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall), which was up week to week and pulled to within 5 shares of “Idol” for the 9 o’clock lead in 18-49 and to within 3 shares in adults 18-34. “Modern” doubled its lead-in from “The Middle” (1.9/6 in 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall), which was lower than usual and seemed to be affected by its special lead-in from “It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown” (1.4/5 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall).

Source: Variety

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• ABC Sitcom “Modern Family” Gives iPad A Serious Product Placement Slot (AAPL) (businessinsider.com)

Of course FOX easily won another Wednesday night  as American Idol cruised at 9pm.  Still  with a 7.5 adults 18-49 rating, Idol was down 12% versus last Wednesday, but FOX notes Idol retained 96% of the adults 18-49 audience from the comparable night in 2009.

Even against Idol, ABC’s comedy block held up.  Modern Family was up 9% versus last week to a 3.7 adults 18-49 rating and with a 2.6 rating in adults 18-49, Cougar Town was up 13%.

Source: TV by the Numbers

ABC’s Replay “Modern Family” is the No. 1 Scripted Show at 8pm In Adults 18-49, Finishing 13% Ahead of NBC’s Original “Mercy”.

Surging 66% in Adults 18-49 from its Lead-in Against Fox’s 2-Hour “Idol,” ABC’s “Modern Family” is the No. 1 Scripted Show in its Slot for its 4th Straight Original

“Modern Family – WED 8PM” (8:00-8:30 p.m.)
Opposite the opening half-hour of Fox’s 2-hour “American Idol” (Top 10 female performances), ABC’s rebroadcast airing of “Modern Family” finished as the No. 1 scripted show at 8:00 p.m. in Adults 18-49 (1.7/5), beating NBC’s original “Mercy” by 13% (1.5/4) and tying CBS’ original “Old Christine” (1.7/5).

“Modern Family” (9:00-9:30 p.m.)
On its first original airing in 3 weeks, ABC’s “Modern Family” surged from its lead-in by 67% in Adults 18-49 at 9:00 p.m. against the third half-hour of Fox’s 2-hour “Idol.” Beating out CBS’ “Criminal Minds” in Adults 18-49 (3.5/9 vs. 3.4/9), ABC’s “Modern Family” registered as the No. 1 scripted program in its time period for its 4th straight original telecast.

The ABC freshman comedy stood as Wednesday’s No. 1 scripted TV show in Adults 18-34 (3.1/9) for its 4th first-run telecast in a row.

Source: RBR

Eric Stonestreet from “Modern Family” was a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show: