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CBS takes its first
Thursday, a slow one


Averages a 3.7 in 18-49s, 0.2 ahead of ABC

Nov 20, 2009

For the first time this season, CBS finished first among adults 18-49, holding a slight advantage over usual leader ABC.

CBS averaged a 3.7 adults 18-49 rating and a 10 share, according to Nielsen overnights, with ABC second at 3.5/10.

CBS's victory is more attributable to ABC's decline than anything else. All three of the latter's shows were off from last week, though 9 p.m.'s "Grey's Anatomy" was still the night's top program with a 5.0.

In fact, only one show on the Big Four networks, CBS's "The Mentalist," was up from last week. NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" was even, and the rest were down.

"Mentalist" increased 3 percent to a 3.7 rating, outdrawing lead-in "CSI" and scoring a rare victory over timeslot competitor "Private Practice" on ABC, which slipped 21 percent.

"Mentalist" was also the night's top show in total viewers, averaging 15.8 million, a rare feat for a 10 p.m. program.

***

Meanwhile, for the night, NBC and Fox tied for third among 18-49s at 2.3/6, the CW was fifth at 1.5/4 and Univision sixth at 1.4/4.

As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Thirty-three percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.

Also, the CW’s “Vampire Diaries” and “Supernatural” were preempted last night in Miami for an NFL game, meaning the network’s fast affiliate ratings will likely change when final nationals are released.

At 8 p.m. CBS was first with a 3.8 for “Survivor,” followed by Fox with a 2.7 for “Bones.” ABC was third with a series-low 2.4 for “FlashForward,” NBC fourth with a 2.0 for “Community” (2.0) and “Parks and Recreation” (2.0), CW fifth with a 1.7 for “Diaries” and Univision sixth with a 1.4 for “El Nombre del Amor.”

ABC took the lead at 9 p.m. with a 5.0 for “Grey’s,” while CBS slid to second with a 3.5 for “CSI.” NBC was third with a 3.3 for “The Office” (3.7) and “30 Rock” (2.9), Fox fourth with a 2.0 for “Fringe,” Univision fifth with a 1.9 for “Sortilegio” and CW sixth with a 1.3 for “Supernatural.”

CBS regained the lead at 10 p.m. with a 3.7 for “Mentalist,” with ABC second with a 3.1 for “Practice.” NBC was third with a 1.6 for “Leno” and Univision fourth with a 1.0 for “Rosa de Guadalupe.”

Among households, CBS led the night with an 8.8 average overnight rating and a 14 share. ABC was second at 6.8/11, Fox third at 5.0/8, NBC fourth at 3.5/6, CW fifth at 2.1/3 and Univision sixth at 1.8/3.



Toni Fitzgerald is a staff writer for Media Life.




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