The closer Top Model gets to its finale, the bigger the curiosity factor grows. Cycle 12’s audience improved from last week’s numbers and even beat ABC’s 8:00 demos.

8pm

• Lie to Me (7.9 million, 2.3/7 in 18-49) didn’t do as well as last week’s Bones.
• Law & Order* (5.7 million, 1.2/4) did about the same.
• The New Adventures of Old Christine* (5.2 million, 1.4/5) was off by 500,000; Gary Unmarried* (5.5 million, 1.7/5) slipped by 200,000.
• Scrubs (4.7 million, 1.8/6) shrunk by 600,000; Better Off Ted (4.2 million, 1.7/5) was down a 1/2 million.
• America’s Next Top Model (4 million, 1.9/6) raised 200,000.

9pm

• American Idol (23.3 million, 8.1/21 in 18-49) remained steady.
• Criminal Minds* (9.8 million, 2.3/6) dumped 700,000.
• A Lost* clip show (2.9/7) recapped 6.6 million.
• Law & Order: SVU* (5.6 million, 1.5/4) was up a notch.
• 90210* (1.2 million, 0.6/1) improved by 240,000.

10pm

• Criminal Minds (13.6 million, 3.5/9 in 18-49) added on 1.5 million.
• A second Law & Order* (6.1 million, 1.8/5) was on par with last Wednesday.
• The Unusuals (5 million, 1.6/4) plunged by 1.2 million.

*denotes repeat

(You can review last Wednesday’s ratings here.)