Blogs:
Follow Us:
Get Instant Alerts

All More Options
Boards
TV Predictions Game

Film Festival

Full Coverage

TV Ratings: 'Big Bang,' 'Person of Interest' lead easy CBS Thursday win

'Community' and 'Parks & Recreation' dip in fall finales

Friday, Dec 9, 2011 12:03 PM

Dan-feinberg-sm
Daniel Fienberg
Read more from Daniel Fienberg
TV Ratings: 'Big Bang,' 'Person of Interest' lead easy CBS Thursday win

"The Big Bang Theory"

Credit: CBS

Are you a fan of TCA Press Tour?

Sign up to get the latest updates instantly.
Fast National ratings for Thursday, December 8, 2011.
 
Led by "The Big Bang Theory," "Person of Interest" and "The Mentalist," CBS swept the primetime hours both overall and in the all-important demographic. The only half-hour CBS didn't control was 8:30, when FOX's "X Factor" results snuck in to nip "Rules of Engagement."
 
The returns were less impressive for a slew of winter-themed offerings on ABC, nor for NBC's Thursday night test for "Grimm" and the last new episode of "Community" for the foreseeable future.
 
[Note: Both FOX and CBS had NFL preemptions due to the Cleveland-Pittsburgh  Thursday night game. Expect numbers for both networks to tick down slightly when final figures come in, though it's unlikely the changes will be enough to impact positions for the night.]
 
Among adults 18-49, CBS averaged a 3.3 rating in primetime, beating out FOX's 2.8 rating for first in the key demographic. NBC averaged a 1.9 rating for third, beating ABC's 1.7 rating. The CW's repeats averaged a 0.4 key demo rating.
 
Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 13.29 million viewers for the night along with an 8.3 rating/13 share. FOX was second with a 5.7/9 and 9.47 million viewers, far ahead of the 3.5/6 and 5.965 million viewers for ABC. With a 2.6/4 and 4.23 million viewers, NBC was fourth overall. The CW averaged 1.06 million viewers and a 0.7/1.
 
[Univision averaged 3.245 million viewers and a 1.4 rating among adults 18-49 for Thursday night.]
 
8 p.m. - CBS started primetime in first with "The Big Bang Theory" (14.42 million viewers and a 4.7 key demo rating) and "Rules of Engagement" (10.96 million viewers and a 3.2 key demo rating). Another chaotic results episode for "The X Factor" averaged 9.94 million viewers and a 3.0 rating among adults 18-49 for FOX, with numbers predictably taking a big jump at the half-hour. ABC's "Winter Wipeout: Deck the Balls" special averaged 6.63 million viewers and a 1.9 key demo rating in third. On NBC, "Community" (3.62 million and a 1.5 key demo rating) and "Parks & Recreation" (3.66 million and a 1.7 key demo), were both down a hair from last week, when they faced CBS repeats. The CW's "Vampire Diaries" repeat averaged 1.245 million viewers.
 
9 p.m. - "Person of Interest" had a strong night (remember the football warning) with 13.43 million viewers and a 3.0 rating among adults 18-49 for CBS. FOX's "Bones" averaged 9.005 million viewers and a 2.7 key demo rating in second. ABC's Christmas-tinted "America's Funniest Home Videos" averaged 6.485 million viewers and a 1.9 key demo rating for third overall and fourth in the demo. NBC's "The Office" (5.8 million viewers and a 2.9 key demo) and "Whitney" (4.14 million viewers and a 1.9 key demo) were flat from last week. On The CW, a "Secret Circle" repeat drew 873,000 viewers.
 
10 p.m. - CBS' "The Mentalist" closed primetime in first with 13.75 million viewers and a 3.0 rating among adults 18-49. ABC's "The Great Big American Auction" averaged 4.78 million viewers and a 1.4 key demo rating. NBC's special Thursday airing of "Grimm" averaged 4.095 million viewers and a 1.6 key demo rating, down in viewers, but up in the key demo from last week's new "Prime Suspect."
 
 
All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change, particularly in the case of live events.
Related Searches: Nielsen ratings, TV Ratings, ratings, Thursday, Community, Parks and Recreation, Bones, The X Factor, The Office, Whitney, The Big Bang Theory, Person of Interest, The Menalist

Comments

  • Option 1

    Comment instantly as a guest Guest

  • Option 2

    Connect

  • Option 3

    Login or create a HitFix account Login Signup
  • Default-avatar

    Keeping It Real

    ABC really pulled a Millionaire with Wipeout. They made a gutsy move, in Wipeout's case it was being scheduled opposite American Idol, and it didn't end out well. They went from a 3.8 in the 18-49 demo all the way to a 1.4 in May last season. It didn't help that ABC hardly promoted this Wipeout special, unlike last year where Wipeout's winter season was extremely heavily promoted. On the positive side, this is better than Charlie's Angels and that has to mean something to them.

    I love The Big Bang Theory and Parks & Recreation in the 8-9pm hour but I wish P&R would go back to a 2.0 in the 18-49 demo like it had been earlier this year. Syndication for TBBT is likely helping it out overall this season, though I can find no evidence to support that.

    X Factor was like a telenovela version of its self in the last part. There was so much buzz on Twitter about Rachel Crow. I'm curious to see how the ratings turn out for Wednesday's show. Bones is holding up very nicely at 9 this season, though it helps that Grey's Anatomy isn't competing with it due to the holidays.

    December 9, 2011 at 1:59PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Alex R.

    I cannot for the life of me understand why NBC insist on putting Community against Big Bang Theory. It is so obvious both shows have the same audience, just placing the show at 8:30 would make a huge difference!

    December 9, 2011 at 4:33PM EST Reply to Comment
    • Zoidberg_talkback_profile

      mrbilliam I think whichever comedy goes against BBT is going to get creamed, though Community's tiny little audience is at least fiercely loyal.
      Actually, though... is there are reason why NBC has never puts its heaviest hitter, The Office, at the beginning of the night. Everything after it would theoretically benefit, though I could understand that NBC might be scared of ratings drop-off (it has already dropped darn low).

      December 9, 2011 at 4:42PM EST
    • Zoidberg_talkback_profile

      mrbilliam And I know that it's influenced by its lead-in, and the fact that nobody is apparently ever willing to watch NBC, but it's really said that "Rules of Engagement" gets three times the ratings of "Parks and Recreation." Are there people who love "Engagement"?

      December 9, 2011 at 4:48PM EST
    • Zoidberg_talkback_profile

      mrbilliam *sad (not said) I obviously meant. I wish we could edit.

      December 9, 2011 at 4:48PM EST
    • Default-avatar

      Keeping It Real I think it was a bit unfair of NBC to never give Community a real lead-in for most of its run. Yeah it had The Office for its first two-three weeks at 9:30 in its first year and a Shrek special last year at 8:30, but it's almost always been on at 8. If 30 Rock and Parks could get the Office lead-in for an extended period of time, I think Community was deserving of it too. But isn't it a serialized comedy nowadays?

      December 9, 2011 at 5:09PM EST
  • Default-avatar

    leah

    I love Rules of Engagement! I think it's very underrated and just as funny as Big Bang

    December 9, 2011 at 8:54PM EST Reply to Comment

News From Our Partners

Recent Activity on Facebook
Most Popular on Facebook
About HitFix

HitFix provides breaking news and insider analysis on what's next in Movies, Music, TV and Local Events. Our localized event calendar lets you personalize and plan your entertainment life, while our instant alerts and mobile apps make sure you never miss out on your favorite entertainment.

Advertise on HitFix
Subscribe to HitFix

Get the latest headlines & updates in your inbox

Popular Topics

© Copyright HitFix.com. All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy