Nellie Andreeva

UPDATE 2PM: As expected, NBC’s series were adjusted down in the finals which the NFL game in Baltimore was taken out. Community, The Office and Outsourced slipped a tenth each to 2.0, 3.6 and 2.6, respectively; 30 Rock and The Apprentice dropped two tenths each to 2.4 and 1.4, respectively. Adjusting up was $#*! (2.9/8), up a tenth from its series-low fast national number. Private Practice and The Mentalist were unchanged, keeping Private Practice as the winner in the 10 PM hour among 18-49.  

PREVIOUS 9 AM: What goes up must come down. After posting double-digit gains last Thursday, ABC’s dramas and CBS’ comedies slipped last night. With its lead-in, a Grey’s Anatomy rerun (1.0/3), down 17%, the Grey’s Anatomy (4.0/10) original at 9 PM was down 7%. And after surging by 44% last week with the heavily promoted episode dealing with the sexual assault of Charlotte King (KaDee Strickland), Private Practice (2.9/8) was down 26% but still edged CBS’ The Mentalist (2.8/8), at least in the fast nationals, for the top spot at 10 PM among adults 18-49.

CBS’ Big Bang Theory (4.2/12, 13.1 million) was down 9% from its fast national demo result last week when it featured the return of star Kaley Cuoco and a guest appearance by Eliza Dushku. (The hit comedy always adjusts up by a tenth in the finals). Big Bang still ranked as the highest-rated series on Thursday among 18-49. After posting its best delivery since the premiere last week, freshman $#*! My Dad Says (2.8/8, 9.7 million) was down 18% for a season/series low in 18-49. CSI (2.8/7, 12.9 million) was down 15%, while The Mentalist (2.8/8, 13.8 million) at 10 PM was down 7% to its lowest 18-49 rating this season. The crime drama still ranked as the most watched program of the night, and CBS once again won Thursday in total viewers (12.7 million) and adults 18-49 (3.0/8).

NBC was preempted in Baltimore for an NFL game, so the fast national numbers for the network’s series are probably inflated by a tenth or two. Community (2.1/6) was up 11%. 30 Rock (2.6/7) was up 8%, The Office was up a tenth from its fast national last week (Like Big Bang, the flagship NBC comedy always adds a tenth in the finals). Freshman Outsourced (2.8/7) was also up a tenth, while The Apprentice rose two tenths or 14%.

Fox’s dramas Bones (2.5/7) and Fringe (1.8/5) were both flat with their performances last week, as were the two CW Thursday dramas, The Vampire Diaries and Nikita.

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.