"THE BIG BANG THEORY" TOPS THURSDAY IN VIEWERS AND KEY DEMOS

"Person of Interest" Wins Time Period in Viewers, Topping "American Idol"

"Elementary" Places First at 10:00 PM in Viewers and Adults 25-54

"Two and a Half Men" Up in Adults from Last Week

CBS Wins Thursday in Viewers

THE BIG BANG THEORY was Thursday's #1 program in viewers, adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and adults 25-54, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Feb. 21.

THE BIG BANG THEORY swept its time period, finishing first in households (10.5/17), viewers (17.34m), adults 25-54 (7.0/18), adults 18-49 (5.4/16) and adults 18-34 (3.9/13). THE BIG BANG THEORY beat its closest competitor in adults 25-54 (vs. 4.6/12 for FOX) by +52%; in adults 18-49 (vs. 3.6/11 for FOX) and adults 18-34 (vs. 2.6/09 from FOX) by +50% and by +4.59m viewers (vs. 12.75m, +36% over FOX). THE BIG BANG THEORY was the night's #1 program in households, viewers, adults 25-54, adults 18-49 and adults 18-34.

TWO AND A HALF MEN was first in adults 25-54 (5.3/12) and second in households (8.1/12), viewers (13.44m) and adults 18-49 (3.9/11, -0.1 behind FOX). Compared to last week, TWO AND A HALF MEN was up +2% in adults 25-54 (from 5.2/13) and +3% in adults 18-49 (from 3.8/11).

PERSON OF INTEREST was first in households (8.7/13), viewers (14.13m) - outpacing the second hour of "American Idol" - was second in adults 25-54 (4.2/09), and averaged 2.9/08 in adults 18-49.

ELEMENTARY was first in households (6.9/11), viewers (11.05m) and adults 25-54 (3.3/08), and was second in adults 18-49 (2.3/06). Compared to last week, ELEMENTARY was even in adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 and added +70,000 viewers (from 10.98m, +1%).

For the night, CBS was first in households (8.3/13) and viewers (13.52m), and was second in adults 25-54 (4.5/11) and adults 18-49 (3.3/09).

Updated Thursday ratings will be available later today.