Ratings: Rob Has Grande Premiere, Finder Gets Lost in Shuffle as Person of Interest Hits Highs

Deuce Bigelow was looking big and high as CBS’ Rob this Thursday night premiered to 13.48 million total viewers and a 4.1 demo rating, representing CBS’ best numbers in the 8:30 slot since May 2010.

The news was less good for Thursday’s other series launch: Fox’s The Finder opened to 5.9 million total viewers and a 1.7 rating, down some 30 percent from what Bones most recently pulled in the 9 o’clock slot (albeit with an X Factor lead-in), and placing fourth in the demo (behind NBC comedies). The Finder found itself up against CBS’ most-watched and highest-rated Person of Interest episode to date.

Next week, the Bones offshoot will benefit from an American Idol lead-in.

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Going hour-by-hour:

8 pm | The Big Bang Theory dominated as the night’s most-watched and highest-rated program, surging double digits to 16 million total viewers and a 5.2 rating. In a special time slot, the Bones winter finale drew 8.63 mil and a 2.4, up a few eyeballs from its previous outing. ABC’s Wipeout (7.1 mil/2.2) dropped 15 and 20 percent.

The 30 Rock season premiere (4.57 million/1.8 rating) was up 27 and 20 percent from Community‘s most recent performance, yet marked the show’s series low for an opener; Parks and Rec led out of that with 4.1 mil/1.9, up a few percentage points. The Vampire Diaries (2.8 mil/1.2) was down 15 and 20 percent from last week’s winter premiere.

9 pm | Person of Interest (14.7 mil/3.2) led the hour in total audience and rose 14 percent to hit series highs on both counts, while Grey’s Anatomy (10.6 mil/3.8, down 16 percent) had the better demo rating. On NBC, The Office (5.87 mil/2.9) was flat, and Up All Night (4.3 mil/2.0) saw a 5-percent bump in the demo versus its last Wednesday airing. The Secret Circle held steady with 2.1 mil/0.8.

10 pm | The Mentalist dominated with 13.4 million total viewers and a 2.7 demo rating, flat versus its previous outing. Private Practice (6.7 mil/2.4) dropped 11 percent, while NBC’s The Firm (4.24 mil/1.0) plunged nearly 30 percent from its Sunday sneak preview.

What were you watching on this busy, busy Thursday?