TV Ratings: 'Scandal' hits series high while 'The X Factor' dips

Fast National ratings for Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012

With an assassination attempt against the president on "Scandal", fans are clamoring for more -- and once again, the show hit series highs in viewers and adults 18-49 Thursday. Elsewhere, "The X Factor" continues its downward trend, while The CW's "The Vampire Diaries" and "Beauty and the Beast" got a boost after lower ratings last week.

As usual, CBS dominated the total-viewer race with 13.3 million, along with an 8.3 rating/13 share in households in primetime. ABC (7.3 million, 4.8/8) followed, with FOX's 6.4 million viewers and 3.9/6 behind. NBC came in fourth with 3.3 million viewers and a 2.2/4, and The CW had 2.1 million, 1.1/2.

The adults 18-49 title also went to CBS, which earned a 3.4 rating in the demo. FOX's 2.3 edged ABC's 2.2 for second. NBC averaged 1.3 and The CW 0.8.

Thursday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

CBS: "The Big Bang Theory" (16.7 million viewers, 10.2/17 households)/"Two and a Half Men" (13.5 million, 8.3/13)
FOX: "The X Factor" results (7.6 million, 4.6/7)
ABC: "Last Resort" (5.5 million, 3.5/6)
NBC: "Up All Night" (2.8 million, 2.0/3)/"Up All Night" (2.6 million, 1.8/3)
The CW: "The Vampire Diaries" (2.7 million, 1.8/2)

18-49 leader: "The Big Bang Theory" (5.4)

9 p.m.

CBS: "Person of Interest" (14.2 million, 8.8/14)
ABC: "Grey's Anatomy" (8.7 million, 5.7/9)
FOX: "Glee" (5.2 million, 3.3/5)
NBC: "Take It All" (3.8 million, 2.4/4)
The CW: "Beauty and the Beast" (1.6 million, 1.2/2)

18-49 leader: "Grey's Anatomy" (3.1)

10 p.m.

CBS: "Elementary" (10.6 million, 6.9/11)
ABC: "Scandal" (7.8 million, 5.1/8)
NBC: "Rock Center with Brian Williams" (3.4 million, 2.4/4)

18-49 leader: "Scandal" (2.7)

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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