ABC didn’t win the night, but it had what the 18-49s wanted to watch: Modern Family. The Emmy-award winning comedy returned last night to its best demos to date. Unfortunately, that half hour wasn’t enough for the network. CBS wound up taking wins in both the viewers and the demos.

8pm

• Survivor: Nicaragua (12.5 million, 4.0/12 in 18-49) easily won its hour.
• The Middle (2.6/8) had 8.8 million laughing.
• Approximately 8.6 million (2.0/6) checked out the debut of Undercovers.
• Better with You (8 million, 2.5/7) retained most Middle‘s numbers.
• A new installment of Hell’s Kitchen (2.9/8) fired up 6.6 million.
• America’s Next Top Model (1.3/4) turned in 2.8 million.

9pm

• Criminal Minds (14.1 million, 4.0/11 in 18-49) had the most viewers of the evening.
• Modern Family (12.6 million, 5.0/14) topped in the demos.
• The two-hour debut of Law & Order: SVU (3.2/9) raked in 10.1 million.
• Despite Jennifer Aniston’s presence, Cougar Town (8.3 million, 3.3/9) lost 25% of last year’s audience.
• Hellcats (1.0/3) rallied 2.3 million.

10pm

• The Defenders (12.1 million, 2.9/8 in 18-49) got a nice assist from its lead-in.
• The Whole Truth (4.9 million 1.5/4) started off on a disappointing note.