TV ratings: 'Big Brother' and 'Big Bang Theory' score for CBS Thursday

Fast National ratings for Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012

CBS' "Big" duo -- "The Big Bang Theory" and "Big Brother" -- carried the network to a ratings win Thursday. NFL preseason games in local markets affected the numbers for several networks, but the order of things is likely to stay pretty much the same.

CBS brought in 6.2 million viewers and a 4.0 rating/7 share in households for the night, pending updates. ABC (5.2 million, 3.1/5) came in second. NBC took third with 4.1 million viewers and a 2.7/5, beating FOX's 2.1 million and 1.4/2. The CW drew 874,000 people and a 0.6/1.

Even with NFL games, none of the networks managed to break the 2.0 barrier among adults 18-49. CBS led the demographic with a 1.8, followed by ABC at 1.5. NBC averaged 1.0, FOX 0.7 and The CW 0.3.

Thursday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

CBS: "The Big Bang Theory" rerun (7.55 million viewers, 4.9/9 households)/"Two and a Half Men" rerun (6.2 million, 4.1/7)
ABC: "Wipeout" (5.4 million, 3.2/6)
NBC: "The Office" rerun (3.3 million, 2.2/4)/"Parks and Recreation" rerun (2.8 million, 1.8/3)
FOX: "Raising Hope" rerun (2.2 million, 1.5/3)/"New Girl" rerun (2 million, 1.4/2)
The CW: "Oh Sit" (914,000, 0.6/1)

18-49 leader: "The Big Bang Theory" (2.1)

9 p.m.

CBS: "Big Brother" (6.4 million, 4.0/7)
ABC: "Wipeout" (5.4 million, 3.1/5)
NBC: "Saving Hope" (3.7 million, 2.5/4)
FOX: "Glee" rerun (2.1 million, 1.5/2)
The CW: "The Next" (835,000, 0.5/1)

18-49 leader: "Big Brother" (2.2)

10 p.m.

NBC: "Rock Center with Brian Williams" (5.42 million, 3.7/6)
CBS: "Person of Interest" rerun (5.36 million, 3.5/6)
ABC: "Rookie Blue" (4.7 million, 3.1/5)

18-49 leader: "Rookie Blue" and "Rock Center" tied at 1.2

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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