nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, september 30, 2010)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (13.19 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) remained in front on Thursday thanks to week two of new episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" (12.97 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2), "Bleep My Dad Says" (10.44 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #4), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (13.32 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T5) and "The Mentalist" (14.55 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T5).

Second place once again went to ABC (8.07 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) with fresh installments of "My Generation" (3.94 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #15), "Grey's Anatomy" (12.23 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1) and "Private Practice" (8.03 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.9, #7).

Next up was NBC (5.11 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with new episodes of "Community" (4.51 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T11), "30 Rock" (5.69 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.6, #9), "The Office" (7.30 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.7, #3), "Outsourced" (5.80 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.8, #8) and "The Apprentice" (3.69 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.4, #14).

Meanwhile, FOX (7.50 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4) offered up its combination of "Bones" (9.56 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #10) and "Fringe" (5.44 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T11).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (3.19 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.5, #13) and "Nikita" (2.74 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.0, #16) on The CW (2.96 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): 30 Rock (0.00%), The Apprentice (0.00%), The Vampire Diaries (-6.30%), Bones (-7.40%), The Mentalist (-9.10%), Nikita (-9.10%), Fringe (-9.50%), The Big Bang Theory (-10.40%), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (-11.80%), Private Practice (-12.10%), Community (-13.60%), The Office (-14.00%), Grey's Anatomy (-17.00%), Bleep My Dad Says (-17.90%), Outsourced (-20.00%), My Generation (-31.30%).

In late-night metered market ratings, ABC's "Nightline" (3.2/8) took top honors over NBC's "Leno" (2.6/7) and CBS's "Letterman" (3.1/8). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.5/5) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.6/6) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.3/4) and "Daly" (0.7/3) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/1/09):

ABC (12.55 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.7, #1) took home the adults 18-49 crown on Thursday thanks to new episodes of "FlashForward" (10.78 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T4), "Grey's Anatomy" (15.36 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1) and the return of "Private Practice" (11.50 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.5, #2).

Second place then fell to CBS (14.17 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2) with its mix of "Survivor: Samoa" (11.73 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T4), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (15.60 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #3) and "The Mentalist" (15.18 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T4).

Next up was FOX (7.60 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) with week three of "Bones" (9.00 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.6, #9) and "Fringe" (6.21 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.3, #10).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.46 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4) offered up its soon-to-shuffle lineup of "SNL Weekend Update Thursday" (5.08 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #12), "Parks & Recreation" (4.63 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.9, #11), "The Office" (7.28 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T4), "Community" (5.84 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.9, #8) and "The Jay Leno Show" (4.96 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #14).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (3.52 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.7, #13) and "Supernatural" (2.57 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.2, #15) on The CW (3.04 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #5) rounded out the night.

Source: Nielsen Media Research