CBS earned a victory in total viewers and adults 18-49 due to reality, crime and law. ABC finished second, outperforming NBC while FOX came in fourth followed by last and very least The CW.

Operation comedy hour at 10pm was a success for ABC. Repeats of Modern Family (4.62 million viewers; A18-49: 1.9/5) and Cougar Town (3.40 million viewers; A18-49: 1.3/4) beat an all-new episode of The Whole Truth from December 1, 2010 by 360,000 viewers and 78 percent in the demo.

Earlier in the evening, ABC aired original installments of The Middle (8.82 million viewers; A18-49: 2.5/7), Better With You (7.33 million viewers; A18-49: 2.2/6), Modern Family (10.98 million viewers; A18-49: 4.1/11), which was the highest rated show in the demo on Wednesday, and Cougar Town (6.53 million viewers; A18-49: 2.5/7). The Middle rose by 14 percent, Better With You by 16 percent and Modern Family by 11 percent in adults 18-49. Only Cougar Town stepped out of the line, hitting a season low in total viewers.

Over at CBS, Survivor: Nicaragua averaged 12.17 million viewers and a 3.6/11 among adults 18-49 at 8pm. Criminal Minds drew the highest viewership on Wednesday with 14.22 million viewers but dipped a tenth in the demo to a 3.5/9, compared to its lead-in. The Defenders capped off the evening with 10.50 million viewers and 2.1/6 in adults 18-49. In comparison to last week, this was an increase of 1.07 million viewers and 11 percent among adults 18-49 for The Defenders.

After an impressive season two premiere on Monday, The Sing-Off (7.59 million viewers; A18-49: 2.6/7) delivered a solid performance on its second night and came in third at 8 and 9pm. A repeat of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit reached 6.22 million viewers and a 1.8/5 among adults 18-49 and finished last at 10pm.

Fourth-placed FOX disappointed with all-new episodes of Human Target (5.69 million viewers; A18-49: 1.6/5), which is more likely to be canceled in May 2011, and Hell’s Kitchen (5.32 million viewers; A18-49: 2.3/6).

The CW’s primetime ratings were a veritable disaster, at least at 9pm. A repeat of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show opened the evening at a competent 2.43 million viewers and a 1.0/3 among adults 18-49. Following a repeat of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was Fashion Forward: Making It, which closed the evening at a horrible 0.86 million viewers and a 0.4/1 in the demo.