The 12th season of America’s Next Top Model premiered on a healthy note last night. (That’s good news for the show’s 13th and 14th installments.) Even though it faced direct competition from American Idol, the CW program was up 11% from its fall debut.

8pm

• American Idol (22.5 million, 7.7/21 in 18-49) was down 1.8 million from last Wednesday.
• The finale of Knight Rider (5.8 million, 1.8/5) lost 21% of its premiere audience.
• The New Adventures of Old Christine* (5.5 million, 1.5/4) gave up 300,000; Gary Unmarried* (5.4 million, 1.6/4) fell by 600,000.
• Lost* (4.8 million, 1.7/5) slipped by 200,000.
• America’s Next Top Model (1.8/5) attracted 3.9 million.

9pm

• Lost (10.6 million, 4.8/12 in 18-49) added on 800,000.
• Criminal Minds* (10.3 million, 2.4/6) subtracted 3.7 million.
• Lie to Me (3.6/9) nailed down 10.2 million.
• Life* (4.6 million, 1.3/3) shaved off 300,000.

10pm

• CSI: NY* (10.9 million, 2.7/8 in 18-49) slid by 1.8 million.
• Law & Order (5.8 million, 1.6/4) and Life on Mars (5.7 million, 2.1/6) were both up 100,000.

*denotes repeat

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