NBC's comedies "Go On" and "The New Normal" slid to series lows without the benefit of a lead-in from "The Voice" on Tuesday, while CBS took the night — thanks largely to the top-rated "NCIS," according to preliminary numbers.
CBS grabbed first place in the advertiser-preferred 18-49 demographic with a 2.7 rating/7 share and in total viewers with 16.5 million. "NCIS" at 8 p.m. had the night's best performance in both the demo and total viewers with a 3.5/10 and 20.9 million — a season high in total viewership for the show.
"NCIS: LA" the following hour posted a 3.0/8 and also enjoyed a season high in total viewership with 17.8 million. "Vegas" at 10 drew a 1.6/4 and had 10.8 million total viewers.
NBC, which came in a distant second in ratings and total viewers with a 1.7/5 and 5 million, took substantial hits for most of the night. The season premiere of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" at 8 drew a 1.5/4 — a 42 percent drop from its debut special last year — and had 5.7 million total viewers, while a second episode at 8:30 fared slightly better, drawing a 1.8/5 with 6.1 million total viewers. (The good news for the show? Tuesday was its best performance in the 8 p.m. timeslot since April 2012 — the 8:30 telecast hit series highs in the demo and total viewers for that timeslot.).
"Go On" at 9 slid 38 percent from its last original five weeks ago, hitting a series low of 1.5/4 with 4.3 million total viewers, while "The New Normal" at 9:30 also hit a ratings nadir, dropping 24 percent from its last original five weeks ago for a 1.3/3 and taking 3.3 million total viewers.
"Parenthood" at 10 did better by comparison, dropping off modestly to a 1.9/5 and drawing 5.2 million total viewers.
Fox tied Univision for third place with a 1.6/4 and came in fifth in total viewers with 3.2 million, compared to Univision's 3.9 million. "Raising Hope" returned from a month off, performing steadily with its last original airing for a 1.7/5 and taking 3.8 million total viewers.
"Ben and Kate" at 8:30 improved slightly from its last original five weeks ago for a 1.2/3 and had 2.5 million total viewers, while "New Girl" at 9 performed steadily with its last original a month ago with a 2.0/5 and 3.8 million total viewers. "The Mindy Project" at 9:30 also returned steadily after a month off with a 1.5/4 and 2.8 million.
ABC drew fifth place in ratings and third in total viewers with a 1.3/4 and 4.2 million. Following repeats of "Modern Family" and "The Middle," "Happy Endings" at 9 grew slightly from its last Tuesday night original three weeks ago for a 1.4/4 and took 3.8 million total viewers.
"Don't Trust the B—- in Apt. 23" at 9:30 drew even with its last Tuesday night original three weeks ago for a 1.1/3 and had 3.2 million total viewers. "Private Practice" returned at 10 after three weeks off, dipping slightly to a 1.1/3 and drawing 3.9 million total viewers.
