RATINGS RECAP: 12/6/12

ABC
8:00 Last Resort
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 Grey's Anatomy
Viewers: 9.1 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
10:00 Scandal
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5

CBS
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 16.9 million, 18-49 demo: 5.2
8:30 Two and a Half Men
Viewers: 13.5 million, 18-49 demo: 4.0
9:00 Person of Interest
Viewers: 14.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9
10:00 Elementary
Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1 

NBC
8:00 30 Rock
Viewers: 3.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
8:30 Up All Night
Viewers: 2.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 The Office
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:30 Parks and Recreation
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
10:00 Rock Center with Brian Williams
Viewers: 3.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0

FOX 
8:00 The X Factor
Viewers: 7.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 Glee
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2

Despite being the first week of December, every network was all new with their regular lineup on Thursday night. First on ABC, Last Resort was up two tenths in viewers and the demo from last week's series low. Zero Hour will take the place of this cancelled show in February but I'm skeptical that it will be a better ratings option. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy was up a tenth in viewers but down a tenth in the demo as it narrowly beat Person of Interest in the demo. The great news for ABC came at 10pm though where Scandal was up eight tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo for a series high. It also had the best retention out of Grey's ever as this show seems to be catching fire as it rose for the third straight episode. 

On CBS, The Big Bang Theory was down four tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo. Maybe that 5.7 demo it hit a couple weeks ago was its peak for the season but it's still far and away the top scripted demo on TV. At 8:30pm, Two and a Half Men was down two tenths in viewers but even in the demo, showing better retention. At 9pm, Person of Interest was down two tenths in viewers and even in the demo as well. At 10pm, Elementary was down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo for a series low. This came as Scandal started soaring and there was a big four tenths in the demo separating the two shows after Elementary started the season with a wide lead over the competing ABC drama. 

Over on NBC, 30 Rock started down four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for a series low. How low can this show go before its series finale at the end of January? At 8:30pm, Up All Night was down a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. At 9pm, The Office recovered some from last week's series low as it was up three tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of the series lows for this show though. At 9:30pm, Parks and Recreation was up three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. I'm still surprised this loses so much of The Office's audience. Finally at 10pm, Rock Center was up a tenth in viewers and the demo.

Finally on FOX, The X Factor was down half a million viewers and two tenths in the demo. What disappointing numbers this show is getting. Yes, it's against The Big Bang Theory but there is almost NO competition from ABC and NBC in the hour and yet it can't break out. At 9pm, Glee was even in viewers and the demo from last week. This show has of course faded but it's the least of FOX's concerns right now with how many holes and underperformers they have in the schedule.