'American Idol' Rating Takes Troubling Drop

In legendary professional wrestling announcer Jim Ross' words, business has picked up.

For the first time this season, NBC's "The Voice" has popped a bigger rating FOX's "American Idol" after "Idol" watched its Wednesday-night rating sink 16 percent. The hit prime-time talent search, well into its 13th season, drew in 15.9 million viewers and garnered a 5.1 adults 18-49 demographic rating. Entertainment Weekly speculates that it may gain one-tenth of a rating point when the national ratings arrive this afternoon, but even that little bump won't slide it above the 16 million viewers that earned "The Voice" a 6.0 rating Monday night.

On the bright side, "Idol" still has the advantage of the week's second episode airing tonight, giving it a fighting chance at the weekly series ratings crown. It should go without saying, but no weekly mainstay is probably topping Sunday's 84th Annual Academy Awards telecast on ABC.

The remaining bad news for "Idol": producers had better hope that ratings improve tonight. Every week but last, CBS' Emmy-winning comedy "The Big Bang Theory" has inched ever closer toward overtaking "Idol" during the half-hour the two butt heads.

Sure, "Idol" slipped and slipped severely, but FOX still notched one in the "Win" column Wednesday. CBS' "Survivor" came in a distant second following up last week's premiere, winning 10.3 million viewers and a 2.8 rating - a 10-percent decrease. "Criminal Minds" remained steady with 12.7 million viewers and a 3.1 number, while "CSI" put together a two-week streak of rising ratings with its 11.8 million viewers and a 2.8 rating.

Speaking of, ABC didn't run its soapy prime-time hit "Revenge" against "CSI" this week, but its lineup held strong. "The Middle" had 7.5 million viewers and a 2.3 rating, "Suburgatory" posted the same rating but with 6.8 million watching, "Modern Family" and its 11.5 million viewers put up a network-best 4.7, "Happy Endings" was watched by 5.7 million and earned a 2.5, and "20/20" had 4.8 million viewers that popped a 1.4 mark.

"The Voice" topping "Idol" might represent a moral NBC victory and something outspoken mentor/judge Adam Levine could certainly lord over rival "Idol" judge Randy Jackson. That being said, Wednesday night otherwise sucked for NBC. "Whitney" remains like a face-hugger-impregnated victim in "Aliens" begging "Kill meeeee!" The anemic-rated sitcom was watched by 4.1 million viewers and sank 12 percent to a 1.5 rating. It's not like "Are You There, Chelsea??" was better, posting 1.3 rating on the back of 3.4 million viewers. "Rock Center" was watched by 2.7 million and got a 0.6 rating. "Law & Order: SVU" had 5.9 million viewers and fell 6 percent to a 1.6 rating.

Yeah, about that "Rock Center" rating: congratulations, team! You're the only network show of the night to be beaten by something on The CW. "One Tree Hill" was watched by 1.4 million people, good enough for a 0.7 number.