‘American Idol’ Swan Song Starts Steady (and Low) for Fox

Former Fox Broadcasting entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly believes that the network made the right decision by ending “American Idol” this season.

Idol featured the return of judges Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban, the usual batch of singing hopefuls good and bad, and an audition from Kanye West himself.

Wednesday’s other ratings standouts were NBC’s “Chicago P.D.” with 8.7 million and ABC’s “Modern Family” with 8.3 million. Reality still trails scripted significantly with the DVR and streaming set.

Elsewhere last night, ABC had a solid night with its comedy block, starting with “The Middle” (2.1/7 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) and “The Goldbergs” (2.1/7 in 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall), which were about average opposite new laffer competition from CBS.

As for his Fox tenure, “I really loved my Fox experience, but it certainly wasn’t fun the last two seasons”.

Last year’s premiere, which only occupied the 8PM hour, posted a 3.2 and reached 11.20 million total viewers. The People’s Choice Awards averaged almost 6 million for CBS. ABC, with American Crime returning, put up a 1.9/6. In the 18-to-49 age group, Fox was comfortably ahead of ABC, NBC and CBS.

CW aired repeats of Wednesday regulars “Arrow” (0.3/1 in 18-49, 1.1 million viewers overall) and “Supernatural” (0.3/1 in 18-49, 0.9 million viewers overall).