CBS's "The Big Bang Theory" and Fox's "Touch" rebounded from last week's series lows Thursday night, while NBC's "Awake" and ABC's "Missing" hit lows and Fox took an overall ratings win on the strength of "American Idol," according to preliminary numbers.
Fox took first place in ratings with an average 3.0 rating/9 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second place in total viewers with 10.9 million. "American Idol" at 8 p.m. held steady with last week, posting a 3.9/12 in the demo and 15 million total viewers — the highest total viewership of the night. "Touch" the following hour, which last week experienced a ratings low, climbed 11 percent in the demo for a 2.1/6. It had 6.8 million total viewers.
CBS came in second in ratings and first in total viewers with an average 2.8/8 in the demo and 12.3 million. The network saw increases in the key demo across the board. "The Big Bang Theory" at 8, which last week posted a series low, grew 12 percent for a 4.6/15 — making it the night's highest-rated show in the demo — and had 13.6 million total viewers. "Rules of Engagement" at 8:30 was also up from last week, receiving a 2.7/8 and 9 million total viewers. "Person of Interest" at 9 ticked up to a 2.5/7 in the demo and 13 million total viewers, while "The Mentalist" the following hour grew in the demo to a 2.4/7 and 12.7 million total viewers.
ABC was third in ratings and total viewers with an average 2.1/6 in the demo and 7.4 million total viewers. "Missing" at 8 took a 21 percent tumble in the demo from last week to hit a series low of 1.1/4, with 6.3 million total viewers. "Grey's Anatomy" the following hour was down slightly in the demo for a 3.2/9 and 9 million total viewers. The new series "Scandal" at 10 grew modestly in the demo, taking a 2.1/8 with 6.8 million total viewers.
NBC took a fourth-place tie in ratings and came in fifth in total viewers with an average 1.4/4 in the demo and 3 million total viewers. "Community" at 8 was even in the demo with last week, taking a 1.4/5 and 3.3 million total viewers. "30 Rock" at 8:30 dropped 13 percent in the demo for a 1.4/4 and 3 million total viewers. "The Office" at 9 grew 10 percent in the demo to a 2.3/7 and 4.4 million total viewers, while "Parks and Recreation" at 9:30 was up slightly with a 1.7/5 in the demo and 3.3 million total viewers. "Awake" at 10 dropped 13 percent in the demo to hit a series low of 0.7/2, with 2.1 million total viewers.
Univision shared fourth place in ratings with NBC and took fourth in total viewers with an average 1.4/4 and 3.6 million. "Una Familia Con Suerte" at 8 drew a 1.3/4 in the demo and 3.2 million total viewers, while "Abismo de Pasion" the following hour drew a 1.4/4 and 3.7 million total viewers. "La Que No Podia Amar" at 10 received a 1.6/4 in the demo and 3.8 million total viewers.
