CBS's "NCIS" inched up in the ratings Tuesday night, delivering the evening's best performance and guiding the network to an overall win, according to preliminary numbers.

CBS won the night in the advertiser-cherished 18-49 demographic with a 2.7 rating/7 share and in total viewers with 17 million. "NCIS" at 8 p.m. climbed 9 percent for a 3.8/11 and drew 22.3 million total viewers -- a season high in total viewership and its second-largest viewership in the series' history.

"NCIS: LA" the following hour slipped 10 percent from last week for a 2.7/7 but also hit a season high in total viewership with 17.5 million. "Vegas" the following hour ran even with last week, drawing a 1.6/4 and receiving 11 million total viewers.

NBC took a distant second in ratings and total viewers with a 1.7/5 and 4.8 million. Starting at 8, two consecutive episodes of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" took minor hits versus last week, with the first episode drawing a 1.4/4 with 5.4 million total viewers and the second receiving a 1.8/5 and 5.9 million total viewers.

"Go On" at 9 fared better, jumping 13 percent from last week for a 1.7/4 and 4.4 million total viewers. "The New Normal" at 9:30 drew even with last week for a 1.3/3 and took 3.2 million total viewers, while "Parenthood" at 10 also ran even with last week, taking a 1.9/5 with 5 million total viewers.

ABC took third in ratings and total viewers with a 1.2/3 and 3.7 million. Following repeats of "Modern Family" and "Suburgatory," "Happy Endings" at 9 slid 7 percent to a 1.3/3 with 3 million total viewers, while "Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23" ran even with last week for a 1.1/3 and took 2.7 million total viewers. "Private Practice" at 10 climbed 9 percent for a 1.2/3 and drew 3.9 million total viewers.

Fox came in fourth in ratings and total viewers with a 1.5/4 and 3.1 million. Most of its Tuesday night comedies felt minor hits compared to last week. "Raising Hope" at 8 drew a 1.6/5 and had 3.7 million total viewers. "Ben and Kate" at 8:30 took a 1.1/3 and 2.3 million total viewers, while "New Girl" at 9 received a 1.9/5 and 3.6 million total viewers. "The Mindy Project" at 9:30 was the exception for the network last night, holding steady with last week for a 1.5/4 and climbing 7 percent in total viewers with 2.8 million.

At the CW, the "Hart of Dixie" returned with its first new episode in more than a month at 8, holding steady with the Dec. 11 episode for a 0.6/2 and 1.4 million total viewers. "Emily Owens M.D." the following hour drew a 0.3/1 with 1 million total viewers.