TV Ratings: 'Person of Interest' gives CBS a boost, 'Community' numbers down

Fast national ratings for Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011

With CBS shows back after a couple weeks of reruns, FOX's "The X Factor" didn't get America's vote. Though "The Big Bang Theory" was the most-watched show of the night, it was down significantly from its last new episode - though "Person of Interest" scored a possibly series high.

Meanwhile, NBC's "Community" fall finale wasn't helped by a surge of social media support -- despite lots of trending topic love, it slipped slightly in the ratings.


CBS hooked 13.2 million viewers and a 8.3 rating/13 share in households. It was followed by FOX (9.4 million, 5.7/9) with ABC struggling to keep up with 5.9 million viewers (3.5/6). NBC slipped slightly (4.2 million viewers, 2.6/4) with The CW in last place (1.0 million, 0.7/1).

The adults 18-49 title also went to CBS, which scored a 3.3 rating in the demographic. FOX finished second with a 2.8, followed by NBC, 1.9, and ABC, 1.7. The CW came in at 0.4.

Thursday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

CBS: "The Big Bang Theory" (14.4 million, 8.8/14)/"Rules of Engagement" (10.9 million, 6.7/11)
FOX: "The X Factor" (9.9 million viewers, 5.9/9 households)
ABC: "Wipeout" (6.6 million, 3.7/6)
NBC: "Community" (3.6 million, 2.4/4)/"Parks and Recreation" (3.7 million, 2.2/3)
The CW: "The Vampire Diaries" rerun (1.2 million, 0.8/1)

18-49 leader: "The Big Bang Theory" (4.7)

9 p.m.

CBS: "Person of Interest" (13.4 million, 8.4/13)
FOX: "Bones" (9.0 million, 8.4/13)
ABC: "America's Funniest Home Videos" (6.4 million, 3.7/6)
NBC: "The Office" (5.7 million, 3.5/5)/"Whitney" (4.1 million, 2.6/4)
The CW: "The Secret Circle" rerun (873,000, 0.6/1)

18-49 leader: "Person of Interest" (3.0)

10 p.m.

CBS: "The Mentalist" (13.7 million, 8.7/14)
ABC: "The Great Big American Auction" (4.7 million, 3.1/5)
NBC: "Grimm" (4.0 million, 2.6/4)

18-49 leader: "The Mentalist" (3.0)

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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