Thursday Ratings: CBS Dramas Eye Highs, All 8 O'Clock Comedies Look Low

Matt Webb Mitovich

Though the final numbers are subject to tick downward (due to CBS’ Pittsburgh affiliate carrying an NFL game), both of the Eye’s Thursday dramas look to be on the high side this week.

Following some holiday preemptions, Person of Interest returned to what could end up as a series high in total viewers (13.4 million), and is poised to post its best 18-49 rating (3.0) since its premiere.

Similarly, The Mentalist is eying season highs in both total viewers (13.75 mil) and the 18-49 demo (3.0). (Once football is factored out, I’ll come back to post an update. Probably.)

But with those seeming gifts came some coal for CBS, as both Big Bang Theory (14.42 mil/4.7) and Rules of Engagement (11 mil/3.2) dipped 11 percent in the demo versus their last fresh episodes.

Similarly during the 8 o’clock hour, Community‘s fall/winter/??? finale (3.62 mil/1.5) was down 12 percent in the demo (though just 3 percent in total audience), while lead-out Parks and Recreation (3.66 mil/1.7) dipped 6 percent. (FYI: Leslie’s “word cloud” can be seen here.)

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Elsewhere on the night….

* Opposite the CBS and NBC comedy blocks and X Factor, ABC’s Wipeout drew 6.6 million viewers and a 1.9 rating.

* Both the X Factor results show (9.94 mil/3.0) and Bones (9 mil/2.7) were on par with a week ago — though, like CBS, Fox’s Cleveland affiliate’s carriage of an NFL game promises to affect the final tallies.

* Unlike their 8 o’clock hour counterparts, NBC’s The Office (5.8 mil/2.9) and Whitney (4.14 mil/1.9) held steady in the demo while adding a few extra eyeballs.

* Grimm‘s Thursday foray drew 4.1 million total viewers and a 1.6 rating — improving 23 percent on Prime Suspect‘s most recent demo rating and marking an 11-week high for NBC in the time period, and on par with the freshman drama’s latest Friday outing.

What were you watching this Thursday? Which of the NBC comedies’ Christmas episodes brought you the most Yuletide joy?

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