Ratings: 'Big Bang Theory' Tops, But Fox Wins Night With Expanded 'Idol'
CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" remained steady on Thursday night to draw the night's best numbers, but Fox walked away with a ratings win for the night with a special two-hour "American Idol."
Meanwhile, NBC's Thursday night comedy slate wasn't helped by the Leslie/Ben wedding episode of "Parks and Recreation." The sitcoms hit a number of series lows, according to preliminary numbers.
"Idol," which filled Fox's primetime slate from 8 to 10 p.m., drew a 3.9 rating/10 share in the key 18-49 demographic, up 8 percent from last week's one-hour edition, and had 13.5 million total viewers, a 10 percent climb from last week. That put the network in first place in ratings and a narrow second place in total viewers.
CBS grabbed second in ratings and first in total viewers with a 3.3/9 and just over 13.5 million. "The Big Bang Theory" at 8 posted a 5.4/16 and had 17.3 million total viewers, putting the show at the top of the heap in both categories.
"Two and a Half Men" at 8:30 drew a 3.9/11, tying "Idol" for second place, and took 13.4 million total viewers, while "Person of Interest" at 9 had a 2.9/8 with 14.1 million total viewers. "Elementary" the following hour had a 2.3/6 and took 11 million total viewers.
Univision grabbed third place in ratings and fourth in total viewers with a 2.5/7 and 5.8 million.
ABC came in fourth in ratings and third in total viewers with a 2.2/6 and 7.2 million. The new drama "Zero Hour" at 8, which got off to a disappointing start with its premiere last week, fell another 21 percent for a 1.1/3 and took 5.3 million total viewers, while "Grey's Anatomy" the following hour inched up 7 percent for a 3.0/8 with 8.5 million total viewers. "Scandal" at 10 pulled even with last week for a 2.7/7 and took 7.6 million total viewers.
NBC took fifth place in ratings and total viewers with a 1.2/3 and 3.2 million, hitting a series of lows with its comedy roster. "Community" at 8 inched down 8 percent to a series low of 1.1/3 and had 3 million total viewers, while "Parks and Recreation" at 8:30 hit a series low, sliding 13 percent to a 1.3/4 with 3 million total viewers. A second "Parks" episode at 9 pulled a 1.4/4 with 2.9 million total viewers.
The freshman comedy "1600 Penn" dipped 9 percent from its last original airing two weeks ago, posting its lowest ratings so far with a 1.0/3 and taking 2.3 million total viewers. A "Law & Order: SVU" repeat followed.
At the CW, "The Vampire Diaries" at 8 saw big gains, jumping 30 percent to a 1.3/4 -- besting NBC's comedies and "Zero Hour" -- and 25 percent in total viewers with 2.9 million. With "Beauty and the Beast" the following hour -- which had a 0.6/1 and took 1.6 million total viewers -- the network averaged a 0.9/2 and 2.2 million total viewers.
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