NBC's "Smash" dropped to a series low following its season premiere two weeks ago, while the season premiere of ABC's "Body of Proof" dropped dramatically from last season's premiere and CBS won the night with the top-rated "NCIS," according to preliminary numbers.
CBS took first place in the key 18-49 demographic with a 2.5 rating/7 share and in total viewers with 15.6 million. "NCIS" at 8 drew the night's best performance in the demo with a 3.5/10 and was also the night's most-watched program with 20.9 million total viewers. "NCIS: LA" the following hour dipped 13 percent from its last original two weeks ago for a 2.7/7 and had 16.3 million total viewers, while "Vegas" had a 1.5/4 and 9.7 million total viewers.
ABC grabbed second place in ratings and total viewers with a 1.8/5 and 6.6 million. "The Taste" at 8 inched up to a 1.6/5 and had 4.9 million total viewers. "The Bachelor: Sean Tells All" posted a 2.6/7 with 8.1 million total viewers. "Body of Proof" returned with its season premiere at 10, posting a 1.2/3 — down 45 percent from its last season premiere in September 2011, and tied as a series low. "Body of Proof" drew 6.7 million total viewers.
Univision shared third place with Fox in ratings with a 1.7/5 and took third place in total viewers with 4 million.
Fox, which posted a 1.7/4, came in fifth in total viewers with 3.5 million. "Raising Hope" at 8 inched down to a 1.5/5 and took 3.7 million total viewers. Following a "New Girl" repeat at 8:30, a new episode of the show at 9 drew a 2.2/6, down 15 percent from its last original two weeks ago, and drew 4.4 million total viewers. "The Mindy Project" at 9:30 fell 16 percent from its last original two weeks ago for a 1.6/4, and drew 3 million total viewers.
NBC came in fifth in ratings and fourth in total viewers with a 1.1/3 and 3.7 million. Two consecutive episodes of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" at 8 and 8:30 posted a 1.3/4 and 1.4/4, respectively, with 4.7 million total viewers each. "Go On" at 9 slid 15 percent from its last original three weeks ago, hitting a series low of 1.1/3 and taking 3.3 million total viewers. "The New Normal" inched down to its own series low with a 1.0/2 and had 2.8 million total viewers, while "Smash" dropped off 25 percent from its season premiere two weeks ago (State of the Union coverage preempted the show last week) to hit a series low of 0.9/2. It had 3.3 million total viewers.
At the CW, the new drama "Cult" got off to a dismal start with its 9 p/m. series premiere, posting a 0.3/1 in the demo and drawing 941,000 total viewers. Combined with "Hart of Dixie" at 8, the network averaged a 0.4/1 and 1.2 million total viewers.
