Nellie Andreeva

Things seem to be settling down on Tuesdays, with most series reaching their ratings comfort zones. After across-the-board declines last Tuesday, last night all but 2 shows stayed very close to their last week’s averages and, in some cases, bounced back. That includes the entire CBS lineup as all of the network’s dramas went up a notch. CBS tied Fox for the the top spot on Tuesday for first time this season, expanding the network’s nightly winning streak this fall from Wednesday-Friday to Tuesday-Friday. (CBS is also breathing down ABC’s neck on Monday, finishing .1 behind this week.) NCIS(3.9/11, 19 million viewers), NCIS:LA (3.5/9, 16.1 million) and The Good Wife (2.6/7, 11.8 million) all went up .1 rating point from last week, with NCIS:LA and The Good Wife winning their hours in 18-49 and NCIS once again drawing the largest audience for the night (and probably for the week, football excluded.) CBS averaged a 3.3/9 in 18-49 and 15.6 million viewers, tying Fox in 18-49 for No.1 and winning outright in total viewers.

The two series, both freshman, that posted double-digit drops last night were ABC drama No Ordinary Family and Fox comedy Running Wilde. In its third week on the air, No Ordinary Family (2.3/6) was down 15%. Vs. last week’s fast nationals, it was down 12%, which is a more accurate comparison since the superhero family drama added .1 in the finals in each of its first 2 airings. The Dancing with the Stars result show (3.4/9) featuring the dismissal of Jersey Shore star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, was up .1. New drama Detroit 1-8-7 (1.8/5) was virtually flat. Last week, it posted a 1.8 in the fast nationals, before dropping to 1.7 in the finals, something it may do again over a possible Dancing overrun.

Fox’s Glee (4.6/13) was even with last week and will probably pull ahead by .1 in the finals judging by the pattern from the past few weeks. It was once again the top-rated program on Tuesday among adults 18-49. Raising Hope (2.6/7) was also virtually even with last week when the recently renewed new comedy posted a 2.6/7 in the fast nationals before adjusting down to a 2.5. Fellow freshman Running Wilde (1.5/4) was down 17% from its fast national result last week, which also went down .1 in the finals.

After a declining streak since its season premiere, NBC’s The Biggest Loser (2.6/7) seems to have found the bottom, bouncing back with .1 uptick in 18-49 from last week. Parenthood (2.0/5) slipped .1 from last week, finishing second at 10 PM. The show is a big DVR gainer, recently adding 37% to its premiere week tally. NBC finished fourth on the night in both viewers and 18-49.

Endangered CW sophomore drama Life Unexpected showed spunk for a second consecutive week. Its One Tree Hill crossover episode last night drew the show’s biggest audience this season (1.7 million) and matched its 18-34 high (1.0/3).

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.