• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, March 2, 2007

Until it leaves its "Idol" security blanket, the fate of Fox reality show "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" is very much in doubt. But so far it's performing well enough to merit more than a gold star.

The series posted a 9.4 "live" rating in the 18-to-49 demo Wednesday--down from a 10.8 for its premiere a night earlier, but still well above numbers delivered by ABC smash "Grey's Anatomy."

"Smarter" sure is getting considerable sampling leading up to March 15, when it won't have titan "American Idol" as a lead-in--which it had for its first two nights and will again next Thursday.

Then the question becomes whether viewers will follow it to its "own" Thursday at 8 p.m. slot where there's potentially stiff competition from ABC's "Ugly Betty," CBS' "Survivor," and NBC comedies. "Idol" has served as a launching pad for shows before that have started strongly, then petered out.

On Wednesday, "Smarter" retained 92% of its "Idol" lead-in, down slightly from 95% on premiere night. "Idol" came through with an 11.1 in "live" 18-to-49 ratings Wednesday, also down from an 11.4 the night before.

"Smarter" so far has been a half-hour show, but will move to a full hour.

Fox said the Tuesday premiere of "Smarter" marked the higher-rated series premiere in the 18-to-49 demo on any network in five-and-a-half years, since NBC's "Inside Schwartz" in September 2001.