There's no stopping The Big Bang Theory.
Thick in season six, the CBS comedy drove up to a series high 17.4 million total viewers on Thursday evening and a season-best 5.5 rating among advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demo. It's an impressive showing for a veteran series and while several other broadcast fare are seeing a downturn as of late.
Big Bang Theory's record performance drove up lead-out Two and a Half Men (13.9 million, 4.1) and Person of Interest (14.5 million, 3.1), both reaching season highs in the demo -- the latter tying time slot competitor Grey's Anatomy. Though not a high of any significance, Elementary (10.7 million, 2.3) also improved. On the evening, CBS -- which drew its best adult rating since Thursday of premiere week -- either tied or won its hours in the demo.
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ABC was likely hoping for an uptick for rookie submarine drama Last Resort (5.8 million, 1.3) and didn't quite get the boost it was looking for, down to its lowest-rated episode thus far. Grey's Anatomy (8.7 million, 3.1) dropped 6 percent, while Scandal (6.1 million, 2.1) righted the ship with an 11 percent improvement.
NBC's 30 Rock (3.4 million, 1.2), up 9 percent, and Up All Night (3.1 million, 1.3), down 7 percent, returned after a few weeks away. Thick in the middle of its final season, The Office (4.1 million, 2.0) dropped 17 percent to a series low without a boost from The Voice it received last week, while Parks and Recreation (3.6 million, 1.7) remained steady. Rock Center With Brian Williams (4 million, 1.1) jumped 10 percent.
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Fox's The X Factor (7.3 million, 2.4) rose slightly in the demo, but saw a bigger jump in viewership from last week's comparable telecast (7.3 million vs. 6.3 million). Glee (5.3 million, 2.1) continued its downturn in the ratings, sliding 13 percent.
The CW's The Vampire Diaries (2.8 million, 1.2) and Beauty and the Beast (1.6 million, 0.6) aired.
CBS topped both viewership (13.6 million) and the demo (3.4) on the evening.
E-mail: Philiana.Ng@thr.com
Twitter: @insidethetube
