Grey's Anatomy has done what few other programs have been able to accomplish, it has tamed ratings lion American Idol to emerge as the number one show for Thursday February 22nd.  What better way for Grey's Anatomy to end February sweeps than by felling Fox's reality Goliath?  Read on for the spectacular details of this ratings showdown.

In the 8:00pm est slot, American Idol easily won the hour with twenty one million viewers.  Nothing to sneeze at for sure, but this number was far less than the twenty-seven million Idol peaked at this weak.  After two rounds of critically pummeled live performance sets, why didn't American Idol viewers tune in en masse to see which of the twenty four contestants would be sent home?  Besides issuing results, the hour also promised a visit from Fantasia Barrino, season three winner, who promised a major American Idol bombshell, which wound up being more like a firecracker. 

The repeat of Grey's Anatomy which ran during this same hour managed to hold an impressive ten-million viewer ante against American Idol.  Grey's Anatomy is the first big network show to achieve double digits this season against Idol.   Last week, this same episode of Grey's Anatomy premiered to a whopping twenty three million viewers and caused buzz that coursed across the internet for days to follow.

In the second hour, Grey's Anatomy shot ahead of American Idol with a startling twenty five million viewers, numbers that execs at ABC were probably not expecting.   The second part of Grey's Anatomy's cliffhanger was considered by fans and critics to be sorely foreshadowed.  Speculation was the obvious twist of having lead character Meredith brought back to life would keep viewers from tuning in.  Instead,  Grey's Anatomy built on its cliff hanger first half and secured a big win for ABC.

A shocking day for FOX execs for sure.  With the seas of the big three parting to make way for this 'ratings juggernaut'  it was shocking for many to see American Idol in such a vulnerable position.  Is it possible that we will see American Idol bested again this season,  or will Idol's ratings begin to pick up when the talent pool becomes more pasteurized? Only time will tell.