Ratings: American Idol down 29% from last season, ties Big Bang Theory

Big Bang Theory and American Idol were the #1 shows last night, tied with a 5.4 rating. However, Big Bang beat Idol head to head in the 8-8:30 half hour as Idol had a 4.8 rating for the half.

Idol was down 4% from last week and down 29% from last season. It had 16.99 million viewers last night. FOX didn't even order a rush adjustment from Nielsen (although it should be the lone #1 show last night after adjustments) -- since it's hard to spin these numbers. I won't try either.

The rest of the numbers:

From TVbytheNumbers:

On a night when ABC was in repeats and CBS was a mixture of new comedies and repeat procedurals, Fox won the night with adults 18-49 and total viewers but CBS's The Big Bang Theory beat American Idol by fairly comfortable margins in the 8-8:30p ET head-to-head half hour. Big Bang Theory's 5.4 adults 18-49 rating was ahead of American Idol's 4.8 adults 18-49 rating for that half hour and Big Bang Theory claimed more viewers for the half hour too (15.96 vs. 15.46). For the full hour, Idol's 5.4 adults 18-49 rating tied with the Big Bang Theory's half-hour and will likely be adjusted up in the finals to win out. Rob was even with last week with another 3.5 adults 18-49 rating.

FOX's The Finder saw a big 32% jump from last week in adults 18-49, rising to a 2.9 rating.

The Idol half hour breakout with adults 18-49 was 4.8 and 6.0. Idol will likely be adjusted up to a 5.5 rating which would only be down 4% from last week, but that will still be down 29% from the equivalent Thursday telecast one year ago.