All the major TV networks returned to original programming Thursday night to kick off May sweeps, but CBS was more than up to the challenge, with its “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” the night’s top show among adults 18-49 with a 4.0/13.
CBS, which won the night in viewers (13.6 million) and households (8.4/14) as well as the key 18-49 demographic (3.4/10) – its seventh straight Thursday win by those measures – also had the top program in total viewers with 10 p.m. drama “The Mentalist” (3.2/9, 14.69m).
In preliminary 18-49 averages for the night, CBS was followed by ABC (2.8/8), NBC (2.4/7), Fox (2.3/7) and The CW (1.3/4).
In total viewers, CBS was followed by ABC (7.7m), Fox (7.3m), NBC (5.0m) and The CW (2.8m).
HEALTHY RETURNS: Airing its first original episode since early April, ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” jumped 153 percent from its lead-in at 8, a “Grey’s” repeat. With a 3.8/11 in the 18-49 demo – its highest in nearly two months – the drama was Thursday’s top scripted series in the demo for the 18th time in 19th original broadcasts.
BUILDING A ‘COMMUNITY’: NBC’s comedy lineup had a good night. “Community” (2.0/7, 4.6m) kicked things off at 8, up 25 percent week-to-week in both 18-49 and total viewers. It’s winning the slot among men 18-34. At 8:30, “Parks and Recreation” (2.0/6, 4.3m) retained 100 percent of its lead-in in the demo. At 9, “The Office” (3.6/11, 7.1m) saw week-to-week gains of 13 percent in 18-49 and 12 percent in total viewers. At 9:30, “30 Rock” (2.9/8, 5.7m) was up 16 percent in the demo. At 10 p.m., “The Marriage Ref” (2.0/6, 4.4 m) gained 5 percent in the demo from the previous week.
FEELING FLAT: On Fox, “Bones” (2.5/8, 9.1 million) was flat, while “Fringe” (2.0/6, 5.5 million) slid 5% with a musical episode. The CW’s “Vampire Diaries” (1.6/5, 3.3 million) held steady, beating ABC and NBC in its target demo of women 18-34 at 8 p.m. “Supernatural” slid 21% to a 1.1/3 with 2.3 million viewers.
