TV Ratings: 'So You Think You Can Dance' finale gives FOX a Thursday split

'Big Brother' continues to rise and gives CBS the night overall

By Daniel Fienberg Friday, Aug 13, 2010 11:39 AM

'So You Think You Can Dance' finalists Robert, Lauren and Kent

Credit: FOX

Fast National ratings for Thursday, August 12. 2010.

The two-hour finale of "So You Think You Can Dance" helped FOX win Thursday night in the young adult demo, but procedural repeats and the late-summer rise of "Big Brother" kept CBS on top overall.

Among adults 18-49, FOX averaged a 2.4 rating, holding off the 2.0 rating for CBS in the key demo. ABC was third with a 1.5 rating, with NBC's 1.2 rating and the 0.6 rating for The CW following.

Overall, though, CBS averaged an estimated 7.878 million viewers to go with a 5.0 rating/9 share. FOX was a solid second with a 4.3/8, with ABC's 3.5/6 in third. NBC's 2.2/4 was fourth, while The CW trailed with a 0.9/2.

CBS started the night in first with a 4.8/9 for "Big Brother," which also won the hour in the key demographic with a 2.6 rating, both up over last week. FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance" finale had a 4.0/7 in its first hour for second. ABC's repeat of "Wipeout" was third, topping the 2.1/4 for NBC's repeats of "Community" and "30 Rock." On The CW, a "Vampire Diaries" repeat had a 1.0/2 for fifth.

A "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" repeat had a 4.8/8 for CBS in the 9 p.m. hour. FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance" had a 4.7/8, but beat CBS in total viewers and also won the hour in the key demo with a 2.7 rating. ABC's new "Rookie Blue" was third with a 3.8/6. NBC's "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation" repeats did a 2.0/3 for fourth. The CW's "Moonlight" encore was fifth.

CBS won the 10 p.m. hour with a "Mentalist" repeat, which did a 5.3/9 and a 1.7 demo rating. ABC's "Boston Med" was second with a 3.2/6, leaving NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" repeat in third.

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.