THE SEASON PREMIERE OF "THE MENTALIST" ON ITS NEW NIGHT IMPROVES LAST YEAR'S TIME PERIOD

"Survivor: Samoa" Posts Week-to-Week Increases in Viewers and Key Demographics Against Tougher Competition

The Premiere of "CSI" Improves on Last Season's Finale

CBS a Solid Second on Thursday in Viewers and Key Demographics

The second season premiere of THE MENTALIST on its new night improved the 10:00-11:00 PM year ago time period premiere of "Eleventh Hour" and the second episode of SURVIVOR: SAMOA increased last week's deliveries in viewers and demos, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Thursday, Sept. 24.

SURVIVOR: SAMOA (P) was second in households (6.9/11), viewers (11.87m), adults 25-54 (4.6/12) and adults 18-49 (3.7/11). Compared to last week's broadcast, SURVIVOR: SAMOA was up +1% in households (from 6.8/11), +3% in adults 18-49 (from 3.6/11), even in adults 25-54 and added +210,000 viewers (from 11.66m, +2%).

At 9:00 PM, CSI: (P) was second in households (9.5/15), viewers (15.72m), adults 25-54 (5.3/12) and adults 18-49 (4.0/10). Compared to last year's finale (on May 14, 2009), CSI: was up +2% in households (from 9.3/15), +13% in adults 25-54 (from 4.7/11), +14% in adults 18-49 (from 3.5/09) and added +880,000 viewers (from 14.84m, +6%).

Editors: CSI premiered three weeks into the season last year with a major cliffhanger (Warrick's death) on a less competitive night.

At 10:00 PM, THE MENTALIST (P) was second in households (9.1/15), viewers (14.33m), adults 25-54 (4.6/11) and adults 18-49 (3.4/09). Compared to the time period premiere last year ("Eleventh Hour" on October 9, 2008), THE MENTALIST was up +26% in households (from 7.2/12), +12% in adults 25-54 (from 4.1/10), +6% in adults 18-49 (from 3.2/09) and added +2.93m viewers (from 11.40m, +26%).

For the night, CBS was second in households (8.5/14), viewers (13.97m), adults 25-54 (4.8/12) and adults 18-49 (3.7/10).

Updated Thursday ratings available this afternoon.