RATINGS RAT RACE: 'Touch' OK In Official Debut, 'Missing', 'Idol' & NBC Lineup Drop

Following a January preview, Fox’s new series Touch had its official premiere last night after American Idol. The drama starring Kiefer Sutherland logged a 3.2/9 in adults 18-49 and 11.7 million viewers in the fast nationals. (UPDATE: Fox just released time zone-adjusted ratings for Touch, and it climbed to a 3.3.) That was down 18% in the demo and 3% in total viewers from the preview, also behind American Idol. For comparison, Idol last night (4.0/13, 15 million) was down 38% in the demo and 23% in total viewers from the night of the Touch preview. All and all, it was a solid launch for Touch though the series had atypical competition at 9 PM, a Grey’s Anatomy rerun on ABC and NCAA basketball on CBS. But the downtrend for Idol is alarming as its erosion continues, down another 13% from last week. Fox still won the night in 18-49 and total viewers.

Speaking of erosion, NBC’s entire lineup posted across-the-board double-digit declines from last week. Community (1.7/6) was down 23% from its promising return to the schedule last Thursday and yet ranked as NBC’s highest-rated program of the night. 30 Rock (1.5/4) was down 25%, while a second original 30 Rock (1.5/5) at 9 PM was down 38% from The Office‘s demo rating in the time period last week. With a weaker lead-in, Up All Night (1.4/4) was down 18%. It was followed by Awake (1.2/3), which dropped 25%.

ABC’s new drama Missing (1.6/5, 8.7 million) was down a steep 24% in the demo from its premiere last week. In total viewers, which continues to be the series’ stronger suit, it was down 18%. Missing was followed by repeats. The CW’s The Vampire Diaries (1.3/4) was up a tenth in 18-49, and The Secret Circle (0.7/2) was flat.