TV Ratings: 'Survivor,' 'Mentalist' lead CBS Thursday win

'Bones,' 'Fringe,' 'Vampire Diaries' and 'FlashForward' are all up week-to-week

By Daniel Fienberg Friday, Apr 9, 2010 10:44 AM

Simon Baker of 'The Mentalist'

Credit: CBS

Fast National ratings for Thursday, April 8, 2010.

With ABC's stronger dramas in repeats and NBC's comedies also shelved, CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "The Mentalist" both got big bumps and led the network to a Thursday win.

Meanwhile, a lot of the competition was also up after last Thursday's slowness, including "Bones," "Fringe," "The Vampire Diaries" and even "FlashForward."

Among adults 18-49, CBS averaged a 3.6 rating, topping the 2.5 rating for FOX in the key demographic. NBC finished third with a 1.7 rating, with The CW and ABC both posting 1.4 ratings for fourth.

Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 14.43 million viewers in primetime to go with an 8.8 rating/15 share. FOX was second with a 5.0/8. ABC moved up to third overall with a 3.2/5, beating the 2.6/4 for NBC. The CW's 1.9/3 trailed.

"Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" won the 8 p.m. hour for CBS, doing a 7.3/12 and a 3.7 demo rating, the night's highest. FOX's 100th episode of "Bones" had a solid 6.1/10 for second, also finishing second in the key demo with a 2.7 rating. ABC's "FlashForward" was third with a 3.5/6. NBC's repeats of "Community" and "Parks and Recreation" narrowly beat the 2.0/3 for "The Vampire Diaries," but The CW's drama averaged more viewers, up by 700,000 from last week, a 25 percent increase "The Vampire Diaries" also did a 1.6 demo rating, tied with "FlashForward" for third.

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" had a 9.3/15 and a 3.5 demo rating, both tops for the 9 p.m. hour. FOX was a distant second with a 4.0/6 and a 2.3 demo for "Fringe." ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" repeat was third, topping the 2.5/4 for NBC's repeats of "The Office" and "30 Rock." The CW's "Supernatural" was fifth, doing its reliable 1.7/3.

CBS stayed in first in the 10 p.m. hour with a 10.0/17 for "The Mentalist," which was Thursday's most watched show and also won its hour with a 3.5 demo rating. NBC's "The Marriage Ref" had a 3.1/5, still enough for second, beating ABC's repeat of "Private Practice."

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.