A musical episode helped "Grey's Anatomy" gain 30 percent in the 18-48 demo and stand up to "American Idol"'s continued dominance, while the Howie Mandel special "Mobbed" earned impressive numbers on the back of "Idol" Thursday night, according to preliminary numbers.
FOX's "Idol" once again took the night at 8 with a 6.7 rating/20 share in the adults 18-49 and 22 million total viewers. That was a five percent gain in the demo over last week's episode. "Mobbed," following "Idol" at 9, grabbed a 3.8/10 in the demo and 10.8 million total viewers.
ABC's "Winter Wipeout" at 8 earned a 1.9/8 and 6.3 million total viewers, slipping 17 percent in the demo. But the musical edition of "Grey's" at 9 scored a 4.8/12 in the demo — up 30 percent — and 12.7 million total viewers. "Private Practice" at 10, remained flat with a 2.7/7 and 7.8 million total viewers.
"The Big Bang Theory" launched the night for CBS at 8, garnering a 3.6/12 in the demo, a five percent drop from its last original episode on March 10, and 11.6 million total viewers. "Rules of Engagement" at 8:30 grabbed a 2.3/7 in the demo, down 18 percent from its last original airing on March 10, and 8.1 million total viewers. "CSI" at 9 grabbed a 2.8/7 in the demo and 12.4 million total viewers, a 10 percent ratings dip from its last original episode on March 10. "The Mentalist" wrapped the evening at 10, with a 2.8/7 in the demo — down 7 percent — and 13.8 million total viewers.
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NBC's primetime roster consisted primarily of comedy reruns, with "Community" at 8 drawing a 0.9/3 in the demo and 2.2 million viewers. Amid the repeats, a new episode of "Perfect Couples" — one of the six Shows We Think Are Doomed — at 8:30 had a 38 percent downturn in the demo with a 1.0/3 and 2.1 million total viewers. A previously aired episode of "The Office" at 9 garnered a 1.5/4 in the demo and 3.1 million viewers, while a "Parks and Recreation" repeat at 9:30 grabbed a 1.1/3 in the demo and 3.1 million total viewers. At 10, a "30 Rock" rerun garnered a 1.0/3 in the demo and 2.1 million total viewers, while a repeat of "The Office" at 10:30 drew identical numbers.