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TV Ratings: 'Big Bang Theory' lifts CBS to Thursday wins

NBC is the only network up on a slow Thursday

By Daniel Fienberg Friday, Nov 12, 2010 11:45 AM

<p>Wil Wheaton returned to 'The Big Bang Theory' to taunt Sheldon (Jim Parsons)</p>

Wil Wheaton returned to 'The Big Bang Theory' to taunt Sheldon (Jim Parsons)

Credit: CBS
Fast National ratings for Thursday, November 11, 2010.
 
Even with "CSI" and "The Mentalist" having down weeks, CBS was still able to win Thursday night in the key measures, thanks in part to "The Big Bang Theory" and thanks in part to ABC's dead 8 p.m. hour.
 
Really, the only network to get good ratings news on Thursday was NBC, which was up from last week, though "up" for NBC always comes with an asterisk. [In this case, as a reader notes, that asterisk is likely to involve preemption for NFL coverage in Baltimore.]
 
For the night, CBS averaged a 3.0 rating among adults 18-49, just ahead of ABC's 2.7 rating in the key demographic. NBC was a close third with a 2.4 rating, while FOX's 2.1 rating and the 1.2 rating for The CW followed.
 
CBS was a bit more comfortable overall, averaging an estimated 12.697 million viewers and a 7.8 rating/13 share. ABC was a distant second with a 5.2/9 and an estimated 7.79 million viewers. FOX claimed third with 6.99 million viewers and a 4.2/7, beating the 5.58 million viewers and a 3.4/6 for NBC. The CW's 1.8/3 and 2.92 million viewers were good for fifth.
 
[Potential distractions for primetime viewers, and justifications for low ratings, included an NFL game and multiple compelling NBA games.]
 
8 p.m. -- CBS started the night in first with episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" (13.06 million viewers and a 4.2 demo rating) and "$#*! My Dad Says" (9.71 million viewers and a 2.8 demo), both way down from last week, though "BBT" reigned as Thursday's top show in the coveted demographic. FOX's "Bones" was second with 9.15 million viewers and a 2.5 demo. NBC's "Community" (4.89 million and a 2.1 demo) and "30 Rock" (5.66 million and a 2.6 demo) were both up from last week. ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" repeat was fourth overall with 4.04 million viewers and fifth in the demo. The CW's "The Vampire Diaries" was fifth overall with 3.51 million viewers and fourth in the demo with a 1.6 rating.
 
9 p.m. -- "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" averaged 12.92 million viewers for first overall in the 9 p.m. hour, though the procedural was down across the board and finished third in the demo. ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" was also down from last week with 11.07 million viewers and a 4.0 demo rating. NBC's "The Office" (7.7 million viewers and a 3.8 demo) and "Outsourced" (6.05 million viewers and a 2.8 demo) were up from last week. FOX's "Fringe" averaged 4.835 million viewers and a 1.8 demo for fourth. The CW's "Nikita" averaged 2.33 million viewers and a 0.9 demo rating for fifth.
 
10 p.m. -- "The Mentalist" dominated the 10 p.m. hour overall for CBS with 13.79 million viewers. ABC's "Private Practice" averaged 8.26 million, down by nearly 2 million from last week's Very Special Episode, though ABC barely won the hour in the key demo with a 2.9 rating. NBC's "The Apprentice" was up from last week with 4.58 million viewers and a 1.6 demo rating.
 
All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.

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Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor
A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.
Related Searches: Nielsen ratings, TV Ratings, ratings, Thursday, CSI, Grey's Anatomy, The Big Bang Theory, The Mentalist, Community, The Office, Outsourced, Shit My Dad Says, The Vampire Diaries, Nikita, Bones. Fringe
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  • Default-avatar

    Marc

    NBC was preempted in Baltimore for the NFL so those numbers will likely change in finals

    November 12, 2010 at 12:55PM EST Reply to Comment
    • Gizmo_bigger_talkback_profile

      dan Marc - I'm sure the absence of Baltimore will lead to a massive upheaval... But yes. The numbers are always subject to all manner of change.

      -Daniel

      November 12, 2010 at 1:14PM EST
    • Default-avatar

      Marc I wasn't at all insinuating a "massive upheaval". I was just doing what everyone does with regards to ABC on Monday and qualifying that the upticks for NBC that you noted, are likely to come down .2 or .1 in the finals.

      November 12, 2010 at 1:38PM EST
    • Gizmo_bigger_talkback_profile

      dan Marc - You're probably right, since the upticks are basically within the range of a statistical aberration and an inevitably high-rated football game in one mid-range market would definitely lead to that blip...

      -Daniel

      November 12, 2010 at 1:41PM EST
    • Gizmo_bigger_talkback_profile

      dan I added the additional caveat to the story, just in case "Community" fans get too excited about the bump!

      November 12, 2010 at 1:43PM EST
    • Default-avatar

      Marc That was the intent of my initial comment. Thanks for acknowledging it

      November 12, 2010 at 2:13PM EST

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