Primetime Ratings: Old-School Battle Between Grey's Anatomy,CSI

It seemed like old, pre-strike times Thursday night, with not a single repeat on the five-network schedules and Grey's Anatomy and CSI going head-to-head.

ABC and Grey's followed form and came out on top, with the network averaging a 4.4 rating/12 share and Grey's claiming bragging rights as the night's top show with a 6/15 from 9 p.m.-10 p.m. versus CSI's 5/13, according to Nielsen Media Research overnight numbers.

ABC also got help from Lost in its new 10 p.m.-11 p.m. time period. The show averaged a 4.6/13 -- good enough to win the time period easily but a far cry from its heyday. ABC's Ugly Betty did not fare as well, averaging a 2.4/7 for third place from 8 p.m.-9 p.m.

CBS was second on the night with a 4.1/11 in the demo thanks to CSI and a solid 4/12 from Survivor from 8 p.m.-9 p.m.

NBC was third with a 3/8, topped by The Office from 9 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (3.9/10).

Fox was fourth at a 2.3/6 for its game-show night of Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader (2.2/7) and Don't Forget the Lyrics (2.5/6).

The CW had another strong netlet night with a 1.3/3 for Smallville and Supernatural.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.