TV Ratings: CBS' 'Survivor' is Thursday's best, 'FlashForward' drops

Two-hour 'Private Practice' event helped ABC tie for first in the demo

By Daniel Fienberg Friday, Dec 4, 2009 11:45 AM

Jeff Probst of 'Survivor'

Credit: CBS

Fast National ratings for Thursday, December 3, 2009.

Even though CBS was the only one of the four major networks airing mostly repeats on Thursday night, The Eye's one new show, "Survivor: Samoa," ranked as the evening's most-watched.

In other ratings generalities, "The Office" stood out as Thursday's top show in the 18-49 demo, while ABC's "FlashForward" went off into a prolonged hiatus with a series-low audience.

Among adults 18-49, CBS and ABC split the night with a 2.9 rating, while FOX's 2.7 rating and the 2.4 rating for NBC were close behind in the key demo. The CW's 0.8 rating trailed.

Overall, though, CBS had first place all to itself, averaging an estimated 11.12 million viewers and a 7.0 rating/11 share. ABC's 5.9/9 was second, with FOX's 5.2/8 not far off. NBC's 3.5/6 was fourth, leaving The CW in fifth again with a 1.3/2.

CBS started the night in first with a 7.5/12 for "Survivor: Samoa," which also won its hour in the key demo with a 3.9 rating. FOX's "Bones" was second with a 6.2/10, also taking second in the demo. ABC's "FlashForward" was down to a 4.6/7 in its fall finale, averaging under 7.3 million viewers and a 2.2 demo rating. NBC was third with a 3.2/5 for "Community" and "Parks and Recreation," which finished just behind ABC in the demo. The CW's "Vampire Diaries" repeat trailed.

A repeat of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" had a 6.4/10 in the 9 p.m. hour, barely beating the 6.3/10 for the first hour of ABC's "Private Practice" event. NBC's "The Office" and "30 Rock" were third with a 4.2/7 and won the hour in the 18-49 demo thanks to the 4.1 rating for "The Office." FOX's "Fringe" was a close fourth with a 4.2/7, doing a 2.5 rating in the demo, beating CBS' repeat. The CW's "Supernatural" equalled the performance of its lead-in.

CBS stayed in first overall at 10 p.m. with a 7.1/12 for a repeat of "The Mentalist." ABC's "Private Practice" had a 6.7/11 for second overall and won the hour with a 3.4 demo rating. NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" was last.

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.

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.