RATINGS RECAP: 11/4/10

ABC
8:00 Grey's Anatomy (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 11.9 million, 18-49 demo: 4.3
10:00 Private Practice
Viewers: 10.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 14.0 million, 18-49 demo: 4.7
8:30 $#*! My Dad Says
Viewers: 11.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4
9:00 CSI
Viewers: 14.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.3
10:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 14.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0

NBC
8:00 Community 
Viewers: 4.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
8:30 30 Rock
Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 7.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.8
9:30 Outsourced
Viewers: 5.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7
10:00 The Apprentice
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4

FOX
8:00 Bones
Viewers: 9.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 Fringe
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

ABC had a good night, particularly in the last hour. A repeat of Grey's Anatomy was low as usual and even with the repeat that aired in this slot two weeks ago. Starting next week, this slot will be filled by specials. Following that was a new Grey's which was up from last week's lows - half a million viewers and four tenths in the demo. Finally, a special episode of Private Practice dealing with rape was up sharply giving it its best numbers since last January when a Grey's crossover occurred. It was up over two million viewers and 1.2 in the demo. This is fantastic news for ABC but it's not likely to stay up in this range.

Over on CBS, Kaley Cuoco returned to The Big Bang Theory after missing a couple episodes to recover from a broken leg and the result was impressive. It was up a full million viewers and half a point in the demo and delivered its best numbers since the season premiere. These are great numbers for an 8pm comedy. New sitcom $#*! My Dad Says followed and was up two tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo, posting its best numbers since the series premiere. The show has reportedly improved in quality and viewers are responding. It seems like a keeper for CBS. CSI was down slightly in viewers but even in the demo from last week while The Mentalist was down in both categories, but just a bit. It's surprising that CSI is outperforming The Mentalist in the demo, but there was the tougher Private Practice competition this week

NBC came back to earth after last week's inflated Shrek special and Halloween episodes. Without the Shrek lead-in, Community tumbled back at 8pm as it was down a million viewers and half a demo point. 30 Rock returned at 8:30 after a week off and was up slightly from the last new episode. Although it's not doing amazing, it has improved NBC in this timeslot from last year's Parks and Recreation. The Office remained the standout of the night. It was down just a bit in viewers and the demo. Finally Outsourced was down just two tenths in viewers and even in the demo from last week but it was still down more than a full demo point from its lead-in. At 10pm, the low-rated The Apprentice performed poorly as usual but did post its best numbers since the season premiere.

Finally on FOX, Bones and Fringe returned for the first time since mid-October. Bones was down half a million viewers and a tenth in the demo from last week. The total viewership was a season low but remained a solid performer in a crowded timeslot. Fringe followed and hit a season low in viewers and the demo. It was down four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. FOX has a lot of problems and this show is one of them though it has a loyal audience.