"The Big Bang Theory" was the top-rated show Thursday night as Fox won overall on the strength of "X Factor," according to preliminary numbers. CBS's new "How to Be a Gentleman" lost much of its "Big Bang" lead-in but held on to a decent rating.
"The Big Bang Theory," airing on CBS at 8 p.m., took a 4.8 rating/15 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, snaring 14.5 million total viewers (which made it the most-watched program of the evening). The series premiere of "How to Be a Gentleman" at 8:30, took a 2.7/8 in the demo and 8.9 million total viewers. It was down 33 percent from the premiere last season of the now canceled "$#*! My Dad Says." "Person of Interest" was next at 9, slipping 13 percent from its series premiere last week with a 2.7/7 in the demo and 12.4 million total viewers. The network closed the evening at 10 with "The Mentalist," which slipped 11 percent with a 2.5/7 in the demo and 12.7 million total viewers.
Fox's "The X Factor" from 8-10 drew the night's second-highest numbers with a 3.8/10 in the demo and 11.9 million total viewers, which gave the network the highest overall average of the night.
ABC experienced a night of downturns, starting with "Charlie's Angels" at 8, which dropped 29 percent to a 1.5/4 in the demo and 7.1 million total viewers. "Grey's Anatomy" the following hour dipped 15 percent for a 3.5/9 in the demo and 10 million total viewers. The night ended for the network with the "Private Practice" season premiere at 10, which slipped 15 percent versus last fall's premiere to give the show its lowest premiere ever with a 2.8/8 in the demo and 7.8 million total viewers.
At NBC, "Community" at 8 received a 1.8/5 in the demo and 4 million total viewers, while "Parks & Recreation" at 8:30 took a 2.1/6 in the demo and 4.3 million total viewers. "The Office" at 9 was down 13 percent from its season premiere last week with a 3.4/9 in the demo and 6.6 million total viewers. The new comedy "Whitney," meanwhile, fell 24 percent from last week's premiere, taking a 2.5/6 in the demo and 5.3 million total viewers. "Prime Suspect" at 10 was down 17 percent, getting a 1.5/4 and 5.5 million total viewers.
On the CW, "Vampire Diaries" at 8 posted a 1.3/4 in the demo and 2.7 million total viewers, while "The Secret Circle" the following hour received a 0.9/2 in the demo and 2 million total viewers.
