Nellie Andreeva

The Daytime Emmy Awards rebounded in their return to the Big 4 networks. Last night’s telecast on CBS (1.1 rating/3 share among adults 18-49 and 5.6 million viewers overall), which was done as a time buy, was up 83% from last year’s broadcast on the CW. It was down 8% from the 2008 edition, which aired on ABC. That was in line with the performance of the Tony Awards on CBS a couple of weeks ago. It averaged 1.2/3 in 18-49, also down 8% year-to-year.

It was a rough second week for ABC’s summer scripted series Scoundrels (1.0/3) and The Gates (1.0/3), down 23% and 33%, respectively, from their low premiere numbers last week. They also dropped from their lead-in, an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition repeat (1.3/4) at 8PM.

Fox’s animation domination block, all in repeats, did that, dominating the night and logging the four highest 18-49 ratings, led by Family Guy (2.2/6). The network also earned the lowest 18-49 rating of the night with an original Sons of Tucson at 7PM. It still won the night in the demo (1.4/5), while CBS was tops in total viewers (5.8 million).

Additionally, Comedy Central today released official numbers for the Thursday premiere of Futurama. The first original episode of the animated sci-fi comedy in almost 7 years drew 2.9 million total viewers and a 1.9 adults 18-49 rating to rank as the highest-rated and most-watched season premiere for an animated series on cable with the exception of South Park.

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.