TV ratings: ‘America’s Got Talent’ steady; ‘Idol’-less Fox crashes

NBC easily won in Tuesday night ratings with the mostly steady return of “America’s Got Talent,” while Fox’s lineup cratered without “American Idol.”

“Talent” was the top show in both total viewership and among key 18- to-49-year-olds, according to early numbers from Nielsen.

The Season 9 premiere of the unscripted show — featuring judges Heidi Klum, Howard Stern, Howie Mandel and Mel B. — averaged 11.9-million viewers overall and earned a 3.0 in 18-to-49, where a ratings point equals about 1.3-million viewers.

In 18-to-49, that’s down a tenth of a point from last summer’s season debut, which had ratings juggernaut “The Voice” as a lead-in.

NBC also premiered the new hospital series “The Night Shift,” which averaged 7.8-million viewers and a 1.6 in 18-to-49 behind “Talent.”

In prime time, NBC averaged a 2.5 in 18-to-49, more than double second-place ABC (1.2).

Meanwhile, Fox’s new shows struggled Tuesday.

The improv series “Riot” improved from its minuscule showing two weeks ago but still managed only a 0.6 in 18-to-49. Also, the critically panned reality show “I Wanna Marry ‘Harry’” is getting few suitors, falling 43% from its “American Idol”-boosted premiere a week ago to a 0.4.

Though headlines have long focused on declines for the veteran singing contest, it’s clear “AI’s” absence leaves a big hole in Fox’s lineup.

On ABC, “Extreme Weight Loss” returned with its new season, rising 8% from a year ago to a 1.3 in 18-to-49. After that, “Celebrity Wife Swap” switched higher from last week, earning a 1.2 in the key demographic for a weekly improvement of 33%.

CBS was all in repeats.