TV Ratings: 'NCIS,' 'NCIS: Los Angeles' dominate Tuesday

Mark Harmon of 'NCIS'

Credit: Cliff Lipson/CBS

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009.

Fresh off of taking its place as TV's most watched show, "NCIS" gave no indication that it's ready to relinquish its throne, while CBS' "NCIS: Los Angeles" and "The Good Wife" also controlled their hours on Tuesday night.

Among adults 18-49, CBS won the night with a 4.0 rating rating, just ahead of the 3.6 rating rating for NBC. FOX's 2.7 rating and the 2.0 rating for ABC followed in the key demographic. The CW trailed with a 1.1 rating.

Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 17.15 million viewers to go with a 10.7 rating/17 share. Nobody else was really close. ABC took second with a 5.6/9, followed by NBC's 5.2/8. FOX's 3.4/5 and the 1.4/2 for The CW followed.

[Note: The CW has already let us know that due to sports preemptions in some markets, the netlet's numbers are especially preliminary and subject to change.]

"NCIS" had a 12.5/20 in the 8 p.m. hour to go with 20.65 million viewers and a 4.6 rating. Folks love them some "NCIS." NBC's "The Biggest Loser" was second with a 5.3/9, with FOX's "Hell's Kitchen" taking third with a 3.8/6. ABC's decision to air "Shark Tank" a few times in the summer and return it to the fall didn't exactly pay off, as the reality show had a 3.5/6 and, to make matters far worse, a 1.5 rating in the key demo. The CW's "90210" was in line with its season average.

CBS stayed in first at 9 p.m. with a 10.7/17 for "NCIS: Los Angeles," which also won the hour in the key demo with a 4.1 rating. ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" was second with a 8.3/13. NBC's "The Biggest Loser" improved in its second hour and came close to catching CBS in the 18-49 demo. FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance" was down to a 3.1/5 in its Wednesday premiere. The CW's "Melrose Place" had a 1.2/2, though those numbers will change.

"The Good Wife" had an 8.9/15 for CBS, winning its hour overall and in the 18-49 demo in its second week. ABC's "The Forgotten" was down to a 5.1/9 in its second week and lost the 18-49 demo to NBC's "The Jay Leno Show," which was second overall.

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

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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.