• by Wayne Friedman , March 17, 2010

Daylight savings time has put a few more chinks in the armor of network programming. On Tuesday, ratings were down across the board with big shows, like "American Idol," and even newbies such as "Parenthood" took a hit.

Historically, more light in the evenings gives viewers a chance to be outside, avoiding television. All this change comes against some typical overall broadcast ratings erosion this season.

Good news for Fox's still-big variety competition show -- "Idol" only dropped one-tenth of rating point to a Nielsen 8.1 rating/22 share among 18-49 viewers from the week before.

At the other end of the spectrum, NBC's "Parenthood" lost three-tenths of a rating point, now settling in at 2.3/7 -- somewhat less competitive against time-period leader, CBS' "The Good Wife," which also gave up a bit of ground, now at a 2.6/8.

The new NBC drama was helped less from its "Biggest Loser" lead-in, down two-tenths of a rating point to a 2.8/8.

Both CBS' "NCIS" lost three-tenths of a rating point each versus the week before, with "NCIS" now at a 3.5/10 and "NCIS: Los Angeles" at 3.2/8.

ABC's "Lost" also dropped three-tenths to a season-low 3.9/10.

Perhaps in a effort to show how its audience moves to the beat of a different drummer, the CW posted gains for its young viewers -- and middle-aged viewers as well, albeit from small ratings bases. "90210" was up 12% to a 0.9/3 among 18-49 viewers, while "Melrose Place" fared a little better -- up 20%, at a 0.6/1 for 18-49 viewers.

Fox ended the night well ahead of everyone else in all major categories: a 8.0/22 in 18-49 viewers and a 6.1/19 for 18-34 viewers.

CBS earned a 3.1/9 in 18-49 viewers and a 1.9/6 among 18-34; NBC scored a 2.6/7 among 18-49 and a 2.1/7 for 18-34; ABC took a 2.2/6 (18-49) and a 2.0/6 (18-34); Univision earned a 1.4/2 (18-49) and a 1.5/5 (18-34); and CW finished with a 0.7/2 (18-49) and a 0.9/3 (18-34).