Primetime Ratings: CBS Powers to Top Thursday Night

Network delivers decisive victory thanks to ‘Survivor,’ ‘CSI,’ and ‘Mentalist’

By David Tanklefsky -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/11/2009 1:48:43 PM

CBS easily won every hour time slot in primetime Thursday night with new episodes of Survivor, CSI, and The Mentalist. The network averaged 15.9 million viewers, nearly double what second-place Fox tallied.

Survivor opened the night in first with a 4.3/12 and 13.8 million viewers. Fox was next at 3.1/9 for Bones. NBC drew a 2.3/7 with Community (2.3/7) and Parks and Recreation (2.3/6). ABC’s rerun of FlashForward came in at 0.9/3. The CW’s Vampire Diaries was fifth with a 0.8/2.

At 9, CSI was on top at 4.1/11 with 17.1 million viewers.  NBC’s comedy block of The Office (4.4/12) and 30 Rock (3.5/9) trailed at 3.9/10.  Fox’s Fringe was third with a 2.3/6.  A rerun of Grey’s Anatomy came in at 1.4/4 for ABC.  A Supernatural rerun on the CW pulled a 0.7/2.

The Mentalist delivered a 3.8/11 and 16.9 million viewers for CBS in the 10 p.m. time slot.  NBC’s The Jay Leno Show was next at 1.9/5.  A rerun of Private Practice on ABC was third with a 1.2/3.

For the night, CBS dominated the competition with a 4.1/11 and 15.9 million viewers. NBC and Fox tied for second at 2.7/7.  ABC was fourth with a 1.2/3.  The CW turned in a 0.7/2.