RATINGS RECAP: 3/8/12

ABC
8:00 Wipeout (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Grey's Anatomy (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
10:00 GCB (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 15.0 million, 18-49 demo: 5.1
8:30 The Big Bang Theory (Repeat)
Viewers: 12.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9
9:00 Person of Interest
Viewers: 15.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4
10:00 The Mentalist
Viewers: 13.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8

NBC
8:00 30 Rock
Viewers: 3.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
8:30 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 3.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 4.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6
9:30 Up All Night
Viewers: 3.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
10:00 Awake
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 17.3 million, 18-49 demo: 4.9
9:00 The Finder
Viewers: 7.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3 

On Thursday night, CBS saw some stellar numbers from its hits. At 8pm, The Big Bang Theory was down 1.2 million viewers and two tenths in the demo from its last new episode but still was at an extremely strong 5.1 demo. An 8:30pm repeat did a 3.9 demo, which is amazing for a repeat these days. At 9pm, Person of Interest was up 1.1 million viewers and three tenths in the demo for another series high. This is becoming one of CBS's top dramas and they would be foolish to move it to any other slot next season even if two hours of comedies is tempting. At 10pm, The Mentalist was up four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. It will be interesting to see how it does with a new episode on Friday night because this show could be on the move whether or not CBS does two hours of comedy on Thursdays.

Over on FOX, the first results show from the Top 13 of American Idol was down a million viewers and half a demo point from last week's Thursday edition, which revealed the Top 13. It once again lost to The Big Bang Theory and was strong but not incredible. At 9pm, The Finder was up nine tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo. It is slowly growing again but it's probably too little, too late for this show, which is benefiting from a big lead-in.

Finally on low NBC, 30 Rock was down four tenths in viewers but even in the demo. It will move to 8:30pm next week but NBC should really consider ending this show. It's time. Parks and Recreation followed and was down a tenth in viewers but up a tenth in the demo. It will take a few weeks off before getting its old 9:30pm slot back. Its numbers aren't all that impressive but all things considered, it may be the strongest and most consistent member of this sitcom block. At 9pm, The Office was also down a tenth in viewers and up a tenth in the demo. At 9:30pm, Up All Night followed suit, down a tenth in viewers and up a tenth in the demo. What will NBC do with this show, which has disappointed since its Thursday move? At 10pm, week two of Awake was down a rough 1.9 million viewers and four tenths in the demo from a modest debut last week. NBC's expectations are lower but this was a very bad week two showing and that doesn't bode well for the show.