"CSI" ballistic on Thursday

[BravoFan]

From the AP

"CSI" ballistic on Thursday

By Rick Kissell

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" surged to a record audience last week, helping CBS outdraw an all-original NBC lineup on a Thursday for the first time in nearly 18 months.

And more importantly, CBS continues to close the gap in key demographics. On Thursday, according to Nielsen, NBC's advantage over CBS was a season-low 28% in adults 18-49 (10.9 rating/27 share to 8.5/21) and 12% in adults 25-54 (11.1/25 to 9.9/22).

For the night, CBS' average audience of 22.7 million topped NBC's 22 million. CBS last won the night over NBC regulars a few times in the spring of 2001, when "Survivor" was the night's standout performer.

This time around, it was "CSI."

The crime drama dominated the 9 p.m. hour in adults 18-49 (11.4/27) and adults 25-54 (13.4/29) and won with even more ease in total viewers, with its 30.72 million topping its season premiere (30.47 million) to make it the largest turnout ever for the third-year series.

"CSI" was also the night's -- and likely week's -- most-watched program, surpassing NBC's "Friends" (26.62 million), which was still Thursday's top-rated program in adults 18-49 (12.7/33).

"Survivor: Thailand" continues to perform well for CBS at 8, placing a strong second to NBC in adults 18-49 (8.6/22) and total viewers (21.16m).

NBC also received strong performances at 9 from "Will & Grace" (20.19 million, 10.6/25 in adults 18-49), which topped "CSI" in adults 18-34 and women 18-49, and new 9:30 comedy "Good Morning Miami" (16.30 million, 8.5/20), which retained a pretty good 80% of the "Will" 18-49 audience.

At 10, "ER" (24.74 million, 12.3/31 in adults 18-49) again more than doubled CBS' "Without a Trace" (15.94 million, 5.3/14) in key demos and remained TV's No. 1 drama in the 18-49 demo. "Trace," despite retaining a lowest-yet 46% of its "CSI" 18-49 lead-in, continues to perform much better in the hour than last season's CIA drama "The Agency."

Fox's coverage of baseball's National League Championship Series (Giants-Cardinals) averaged 8.95 million viewers, down 19% from last year's comparable game. In 18-49, game's 2.9/8 left Fox third on the night and down 24% year-to-year.

Reuters/Variety

[fluff]

This show goes from strength to strength yet I still can't get into it.

[BravoFan]

Oh I wish you could Fluff!

It would be great to have another person to rehash this each week!

I just love it. It's the one non reality show I could not give up.

[Wolf]

I think it's a great show. I didn't see last week's episode cuz the tape where I recorded it on was in my VCR that was stolen.
It's a good thing they didn't take my CM tape because I would've hunted them down. J/K

I'll definitely watch this weeks episode.