HDTV Ratings: March 21

Last night's Criminal Minds turned heads

The ratings gloss went off TV2’s Desperate Housewives last night, when the HD hit slipped several ratings points in the major demographics and for the first time lost a key contest to TV One’s Criminal Minds.

The crime drama was watched by 13.2% of 25-54 year-olds compared to Housewives’ 11.9%, which was virtually a reversal of the previous week’s results.

Minds also gained with 18-49 year-olds, again at Housewives’ expense, while TV3’s CSI was steady in both demos, with 7.4%-7.9%.

With TV2’s target audience, 18-39 year-olds, the Wisteria Lane soap plummeted nearly four rating points to 12.3%.

All three HD flagships drew fewer household shoppers with kids, as did The Almighty Johnsons.

But like Criminal Minds, it was up with the viewers TV3 covets most: 18-49 year-olds (9.8%) and 25-54 (9.2%).

With the former, it narrowly out-rated TV2’s Brothers & Sisters and in both demos was well ahead of TV One’s Castle.

TV3’s other local show of the night, Bigger Better Faster Stronger, also vaguely flexed its ratings muscle at last.

It still finished way behind the competition but improved in the major demos.