LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Despite mixed reviews from the critics, the new ratings indicate Matthew Perry has made "Mr. Sunshine" ABC's most-popular new series.
Entertainment Weekly said Saturday that "Mr. Sunshine" pulled a preliminary 3.7 rating among the 18-49 age group Wednesday night, which translates to 10.6 million viewers.
Perry topped the competing premier of "Cougar Town," starring fellow "Friends" alumna Courtney Cox, by 9 percent, although Fox's "American Idol" was tops on Wednesday with an 8.3 rating and 23.7 million viewers.
ABC also seemed to enjoy some spillover from Perry's heroics as "The Middle" earned a 2.6 rating and "Modern Family" tallied a 5.0.
CBS saw gains for its Wednesday lineup of "Criminal Minds" and "Blue Bloods," Entertainment Weekly said. NBC was disappointed by the performance of "Law and Order: SVU" and the two-hour "Deal or No Deal Minute to Win it" special.
