Michael Jackson Homage Earns 'Glee' Ratings Crown

Tuesday's prime-time ratings, whether creator Ryan Murphy and company may like it or not, sent "Glee" a clear messge: "You do episodes like this well. We like it when you do this well. Keep doing this well, and we'll keep your ranking right where it is."

"Glee" trotted out its anticipated Michael Jackson tribute episode, which featured some of its most inspired musical numbers from the season so far, and 9 million viewers came a-running, delivering the FOX hit a 3.6 18-49 adult demographic rating. That topped the show's previous season-high number from October by a solid 16 percent. That rating was barely enough to edge a win over fellow FOX favorite "New Girl," whose new episode pulled 7.2 million viewers for a 3.5 rating, a three-percent rise. "Raising Hope" rounded out FOX's night with 4.7 million viewers and a 2.1 rating, which unfortunately marked a nine-percent slip.

Elsewhere, CBS and ABC stuck mostly with repeates. ABC's "Celebrity Wife Swap" finale slipped 10 percent and his a series low with 5.6 million viewers and a 1.9 number. On NBC, "The Biggest Loser" stayed strong with 6.1 million viewers for a 2.1, and The CW's "90210" pulled 1.4 million viewers for a 0.7 while "Ringer" pulled the same number of viewers but earned a 0.6 rating.

"Glee" has been accused of falling off noticeably in quality in both seasons since its breakthrough freshman year, but Murphy and the cast deserve ample credit. The musical numbers were neither kitschy stylistic mash-ups nor played entirely for yuks, but instead loving, respectful tributes to one of pop music's most lasting legacies.