Nellie Andreeva

If it was up to TV executives, the Yankees would sail through to the World Series every year, with the rest of the teams squabbling for the other spot. This year’s World Series between the Giants and the Rangers on Fox continues to pace well behind last year’s, which featured the storied New York baseball franchise, but in line with the one in 2008 that didn’t feature them. Last night’s Game 2 (4.0 in adults 18-49, 14.1 million) was down 31% from last year’s Game 2 between the Yankees and the Phillies but matched the demo rating of the 2008 Game 2 between the Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays and was up 10% in total viewers. Fox won the night in 18-49 and total viewers, ending CBS’ five-week streak.

With a Halloween theme and stronger lead-in, NBC’s Thursday comedies rebounded from last week’s drops with double-digit rating increases. Starting things off was the Scared Shrekless half-hour special (2.5/8, 8.2 million), which improved significantly (by 32%) on Community‘s performance in the 8 PM time slot last week. It also did better than the other kids-friendly Halloween special in the time slot, ABC’s It’s a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (2.1/6, 6.6 million in its first half-hour). At 8:30 PM, Community (2.4/7) was up 26% from its 8 PM telecast last week for a season high. The Office (3.9/10) was up 15%, and Outsourced (2.7/7) was up 17% from its all-time low last week. Even The Apprentice at 10 PM joined in on the festivities this time. After being stuck at a 1.3/4 for the past 4 weeks, the reality competition went up a tenth to a 1.4/4.

CBS’ ratings stayed close to last week’s. After ranking as the No.1 program on Thursday night among 18-49 for the first time last week, The Big Bang Theory (4.1/12) solidified its position as the top dog on the night by widening its lead vs. No.2 Grey’s Anatomy (3.8/10). Big Bang was up a tenth from its fast national result last week (flat with the final), while Grey’s was down a tenth to hit a season low despite a stronger lead-in, an hourlong It’s a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown special (2.2/6) vs. a Grey’s repeat (1.4/4) last week. The Charlie Brown special was down 21% from its airing last October. Also significantly widening its margin of victory vs. its ABC competition was CBS’ 10 PM drama The Mentalist (3.2/9, 14.6 million), which bounced back with a 10% ratings bump after posting its lowest ever Thursday number last week. Meanwhile, ABC’s Private Practice (2.7/8) slipped a tenth from its fast national (even with the final), widening the gap between the two shows from .1 last week to .5. At 8:30 PM, CBS’ $#*! My Dad Says (3.1/9) was flat with last week, same as CSI (3.3/9, 14.1 million) which was even with its fast national demo number, down a tenth from the final.

CW’s dramas Vampire Diaries (1.9/6 in 18-34, 3.5 million) and Nikita (1.0/3 in 18-34, 2.6 million) both held steady in the demo from last week.

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.