"NCIS:" LARGEST AUDIENCE EVER!!!

In its Sixth Season, "NCIS" Soars to Series Best 18.8 Million Viewers

"NCIS" Also Delivers its Highest Adult 18-49 Rating In Over a Year

"The Mentalist" Posts Series High in Viewers For Second Consecutive Broadcast and Matches its Highest Adult 18-49 Rating

CBS Wins the Night in Viewers with its Largest Tuesday Audience Since 2005

In its sixth season, NCIS delivered its largest audience EVER last night, soaring to 18.8 million viewers and posting its best adult 18-49 rating in over a year, according to preliminary Nielsen live plus same day ratings for Tuesday, Nov. 11.

NCIS won its time slot in households (11.3/17), viewers (18.79m), was second in adults 25-54 (5.6/13) and adults 18-49 (4.0/10). Compared to the last episode (October 28, 2008), NCIS was up +5% in households (from 10.8/16), +12% in adults 25-54 (from 5.0/12), +18% in adults 18-49 (from 3.4/09) and added +1.53m viewers (from 17.26m, +9%).

This is the best viewer delivery ever for NCIS, best adults 25-54 performance since Oct. 16, 2007 and best adults 18-49 delivery since Nov. 16, 2007.

Freshman hit THE MENTALIST won its time slot in viewers (16.46m), adults 25-54 (5.5/12), tied for first in adults 18-49 (3.9/09, with FOX) and second in households (10.1/15). Compared to the last episode (October 28, 2008), THE MENTALIST was up +2% in adults 25-54 (from 5.4/12), even in adults 18-49 and added +390,000 viewers (from 16.07m, +2%).

THE MENTALIST has finished first in its time slot in adults 25-54 for the fifth consecutive broadcast. THE MENTALIST posted series highs for the second consecutive broadcast in both viewers and adults 25-54, matched series highs (with the last episode) in both households and adults 18-49.

WITHOUT A TRACE won its time slot in households (8.0/13), viewers (12.21m), was second in adults 25-54 (3.8/09) and adults 18-49 (2.7/07).

For the night, CBS was first in households (9.8/15), viewers (15.82m), second in adults 25-54 (5.0/11, -0.1 behind FOX) and tied for second in adults 18-49 (3.5/09, with NBC). This is CBS's viewer performance since Nov. 15, 2005, best adults 25-54 since May 16, 2006 and best adults 18-49 performance since Dec. 4, 2007.

Updated Tuesday ratings will be available this afternoon.