CBS's BIG BANG THEORY Tops Charts, NBC Leads Debate Coverage

CBS (9.35 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) snagged top honors on Thursday with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (13.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1), "Two and a Half Men" (11.17 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2), "CBS News Special" (8.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #5) and "Debate Analysis" (6.08 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T9).

Here are the other highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (6.17 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #2) then took home the silver with a new "The X Factor" (8.25 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) followed by its "FOX News Special" (5.52 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #6) and "Debate Analysis" (3.95 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T12).

Next up was NBC (5.73 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3) with originals from "30 Rock" (3.82 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T12) and "Up All Night" (3.46 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.2, #16) plus "NBC News Special" (7.09 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4) and "Debate Analysis" (5.83 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8).

Meanwhile, ABC (6.91 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up week three of "Last Resort" (6.93 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T9) alongside its "ABC News Special" (7.39 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7) and "Debate Analysis" (5.44 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T12).

And finally, the return of "The Vampire Diaries" (3.48 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T9) and the premiere of "Beauty and the Beast" (3.16 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.3, #15) on The CW (3.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 2.5 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Beast" a 1.6 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+7.69% - 30 Rock
-6.45% - The X Factor
-8.11% - Two and a Half Men
-11.11% - Last Resort
-14.29% - Up All Night
-14.29% - The Big Bang Theory
Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+62.50% - Beauty and the Beast (vs. The Secret Circle)
+23.08% - Last Resort (vs. Charlie's Angels)
+14.29% - The Vampire Diaries
-4.55% - The Big Bang Theory
-8.11% - Two and a Half Men (vs. The Big Bang Theory (Repeat))
-14.71% - The X Factor
-17.65% - 30 Rock (vs. Community)
-42.86% - Up All Night (vs. Parks & Recreation)
In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):
* In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.5/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.6/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 0.5/2; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

* At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/13/11):

FOX (10.15 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1) was the network to beat on Tuesday thanks to special editions of "The X Factor" (9.94 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) and a second "The X Factor" (10.35 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1).

CBS (15.41 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then claimed the silver with its lineup of "NCIS" (19.01 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.33 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4) and "Unforgettable" (11.87 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7).

Next up was ABC (10.68 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with week two of "Last Man Standing" (10.20 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5) followed by the premiere of "Man Up!" (7.80 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.4, #8) and fresh installments of "Dancing With the Stars" (13.55 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6) and "Body of Proof" (9.50 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.09 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) offered up new episodes of "The Biggest Loser 12" (5.15 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T10) and "Parenthood" (4.97 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (1.44 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) and "Ringer" (1.79 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #12) on The CW (1.62 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 1.2 rating while "Ringer" posted a 1.1 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+16.67% - 90210
+8.70% - Unforgettable
0.00% - NCIS: Los Angeles
0.00% - Ringer
0.00% - Body of Proof
-2.56% - NCIS
-4.76% - Parenthood
-5.00% - The Biggest Loser 12
-9.09% - Last Man Standing
-18.75% - Dancing With the Stars
Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+36.36% - Last Man Standing (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+14.29% - Ringer (vs. Life Unexpected)
+9.09% - Man Up! (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+5.26% - Parenthood
0.00% - Body of Proof (vs. Detroit 187)
-3.85% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
-9.52% - NCIS
-15.38% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-16.13% - Dancing With the Stars
-24.00% - The Biggest Loser 12
-30.00% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill)
In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):
In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.8/7 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households with an encore) tied CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49 with an encore) tied "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research

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