nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, october 28, 2010)

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

CBS (13.51 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T1) and FOX (11.71 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T1) split the adults 18-49 crown on Thursday as the latter offered up its coverage of the "World Series, Game 2" (11.71 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.4, #4).

The Eye then offered up fresh installments of "The Big Bang Theory" (12.80 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.1, #1), "Bleep My Dad Says" (10.82 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.1, #7), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (14.12 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #5) and "The Mentalist" (14.61 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #6).

Next up was ABC (8.47 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) with a rebroadcast of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (6.98 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #12) followed by new episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" (10.67 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.8, #3) and "Private Practice" (7.77 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T8).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.91 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) offered up the new special "Scared Shrekless" (8.19 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #10) followed by new episodes of "Community" (5.69 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.4, #11), "The Office" (8.05 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.9, #2), "Outsourced" (5.92 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T8) and "The Apprentice" (3.81 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #14).

And finally on The CW (3.04 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5), new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (3.49 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.7, #13) and "Nikita" (2.59 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.0, #15) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Community (26.30%), Outsourced (17.40%), The Office (14.70%), The Mentalist (10.30%), The Apprentice (7.70%), The Vampire Diaries (6.30%), The Big Bang Theory (2.50%), Nikita (0.00%), Bleep My Dad Says (0.00%), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (0.00%), Grey's Anatomy (-2.60%), Private Practice (-3.60%).

In late-night metered market ratings, ABC's "Nightline" (3.1/7) and CBS's "Letterman" (3.1/8) took top honors over NBC's "Leno" (2.9/7). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.4/4) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.5/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.4/5) and "Daly" (0.8/4) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/29/09):

FOX (17.12 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.3, #1) snagged the top spot on Thursday thanks to its coverage of the "World Series, Game 2" (17.12 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.3, #1).

ABC (10.54 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2) then had to settle for second place with its mix of "FlashForward" (8.98 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.7, #9), "Grey's Anatomy" (13.42 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.1, #2) and "Private Practice" (9.23 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.6, #5).

Next up was CBS (14.12 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) with fresh installments of "Survivor: Samoa" (12.49 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.7, #4), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (14.94 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #7) and "The Mentalist" (14.92 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.5, #6).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.56 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) offered up new episodes of "Community" (5.48 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T10), "Parks & Recreation" (4.96 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T10), "The Office" (8.14 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 4.2, #3), "30 Rock" (6.01 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.0, #8) and "The Jay Leno Show" (4.38 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #13).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (4.19 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.0, #12) and "Supernatural" (2.88 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #14) on The CW (3.53 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research