Despite tying a season low Thursday night, CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" drew the night's top ratings, while Fox took an overall ratings win for the night on the strength of "American Idol," according to preliminary numbers.
Fox came in first in ratings and second in total viewership with an average 3.5 rating/10 share in the advertiser-cherished 18-49 demographic and 12.2 million total viewers. "American Idol" at 8 inched up from last Thursday's airing with a 4.2/13 in the demo and 15.3 million total viewers. "Touch" at 9 was down 15 percent from last week's premiere, posting a 2.8/7 in the demo and 9.1 million total viewers.
CBS came in second in the demo and first in total viewers with an average 3.2/9 and 13 million. "The Big Bang Theory" at 8 dropped 13 percent in the demo to tie a season low of 4.5/15 with 13.6 million total viewers. "Rules of Engagement" at 8:30 posted a 2.8/8 in the demo and 8.8 million total viewers. "Person of Interest" at 9 drew a 3.3/9 in the demo and 14.4 million total viewers, while "The Mentalist" the following hour received a 2.7/8 in the demo and 13.5 million total viewers.
NBC took third place in the demo and fourth in total viewership with an average 1.3/4 and 3.1 million. "Community" at 8 was flat with last week for a 1.7/6 in the demo and 3.6 million total viewers. "30 Rock" at 8:30 also drew even with last week with a 1.5/4 in the demo and 3.2 million total viewers. Following a repeat of "The Office" at 9, "Up All Night" at 9:30 took a 13 percent hit for a series low in the demo for a 1.3/4, with 2.9 million total viewers. "Awake" also hit a low in the demo, dropping 17 percent to a 1.0/3 with 3.1 million total viewers.
ABC was fourth in the demo and third in total viewers with an average 1.2/3 and 4.9 million. With the exception of "Missing" at 8 — which was down 13 percent in the demo for a 1.4/4, with 7.7 million total viewers — the network aired repeats.
