ABC's "Happy Endings" and "Don't Trust the B—- in Apt. 23" returned for their season premieres to lower numbers, while CBS's new drama "Vegas" also slipped. NBC was the top-rated network thanks largely to "The Voice," according to preliminary numbers.
NBC grabbed first place in the advertiser-cherished 18-49 demographic with a 2.7 rating/7 share and third place in total viewers with 7 million. Though off 11 percent from last Tuesday, "The Voice" was the night's top-rated show with a 4.1/12, and drew 10.9 million total viewers. "Go On" the following hour posted a 2.5/7 and had 6.4 million total viewers, while "The New Normal" at 9:30 had a 1.8/4 and took 4.4 million total viewers. "Parenthood" at 10 took a 1.9/5 and 4.8 million total viewers.
CBS took a close second place in ratings and first place in total viewers with a 2.5/7 and 14.8 million. The network's primetime slate was marked by a trio of season lows, starting with "NCIS," which posted a 3.2/9 but drew the night's highest total viewership with 17.3 million. "NCIS: LA" the following hour drew a 2.7/7 and had 16.3 million total viewers. "Vegas" at 10, which was just given a full-season order, dropped off 25 percent from two weeks ago for a 1.5/4 and attracted 10.7 million total viewers.
Fox grabbed third place in ratings and fourth in total viewers with a 2.1/6 and 4.7 million. "Raising Hope" at 8 drew even with last week for a 1.7/5 and took 4.1 million total viewers, while the new comedy "Ben and Kate" at 8:30 jumped 17 percent to a 1.4/4 and grabbed 3 million total viewers. "New Girl" at 9 took a 2.7/7 and 5.2 million total viewers. Fox aired a special episode of "The X Factor" at 9:30 to make up for last week, when baseball rain delays botched the show's airing. The episode posted a 2.4/6 and attracted 5.6 million total viewers.
ABC drew fourth place in ratings and second in total viewers with a 1.8/5 and 7.5 million. "Dancing With the Stars" at 8 climbed 10 percent from last week to a 2.2/7 and grabbed 12.7 million total viewers. The season premiere of "Happy Endings" the following hour posted a 1.9/5 — down 39 percent from last season's premiere — and drew 5.9 million total viewers. The season premiere of "Don't Trust the B—- in Apt. 23" at 9:30 also took its lumps, falling off 41 percent from its series premiere in the spring to a series low of 1.7/4. It pulled 4.3 million total viewers. "Private Practice" at 10 dropped off 13 percent from its last airing on Oct. 9, tying a series low of 1.4/4, and took 4.6 million total viewers.