TV ratings: 'Big Bang Theory,' 'Mentalist' lead a quiet Thursday

Fast National ratings for Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010

The last Thursday of 2010 played out the way a lot of other Thursdays did in the Nielsen ratings, with "The Mentalist" and "The Big Bang Theory" leading CBS to an easy victory.

CBS averaged 9.1 million viewers and a 5.6 rating/10 share in households for the night, finishing way ahead of second-place FOX (4.9 million, 3.2/6). ABC (3.6 million, 2.2/4) came in third, a little in front of NBC (3.1 million, 1.9/3). The CW trailed with 1.3 million viewers and a 0.8/1.

No network managed to break the 2.0 mark in the adults 18-49 demographic. CBS led the way with a 1.8 rating in the demo, followed by NBC at 1.2 and FOX at 1.1. ABC (0.9) and The CW (0.4) brought up the rear.

Thursday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

CBS: "The Big Bang Theory" rerun (9.1 million viewers, 5.5/10 households)/"$#*! My Dad Says" rerun (7.3 million, 4.5/8)
FOX: "Bones" rerun (5.2 million, 3.4/6)
ABC: Special - "Happy New Year, Charlie Brown" (4.9 million, 2.7/5)
NBC: "Community" rerun (2.8 million, 1.8/3)/"30 Rock" rerun (3 million, 1.9/3)
The CW: "The Vampire Diaries" rerun (1.2 million, 0.8/1)

18-49 leader: "The Big Bang Theory" (2.3)

9 p.m.

CBS: "CSI" rerun (9.2 million, 5.7/10)
FOX: "Bones" rerun (4.5 million, 3.0/5)
NBC: "The Office" rerun (3.9 million, 2.3/4)/"Outsourced" rerun (3.2 million, 1.9/3)
ABC: "Grey's Anatomy" rerun (3 million, 2.0/3)
The CW: "Nikita" rerun (1.3 million, 0.8/1)

18-49 leader: "The Office" (1.7)

10 p.m.

CBS: "The Mentalist" rerun (9.9 million, 6.1/11)
NBC: "Outsourced" rerun (3.2 million, 1.9/3)/"The Office" rerun (2.8 million, 1.8/3)
ABC: "Private Practice" rerun (2.7 million, 1.8/3)

18-49 leader: "The Mentalist" (1.6)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.

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