CBS wards off World Series to top Thursday

Despite World Series competition, CBS won Thursday night thanks to "Survivor" and "CSI."

Both "Survivor" (13.4 million viewers, 4.4 preliminary adults 18-49 rating) and "CSI" (19.2 million, 5.4) gained a couple notches to win their respective hours despite increased pressure from Fox, though new 10 p.m. show "Eleventh Hour" (12.2 million, 3.1) dipped a tenth.   

Fox placed second with its World Series coverage. Game 2 of Philadelphia at Tampa Bay (12.8 million, 4.0) gave the network its best Thursday since April, but was down 17% from Wednesday's Game 1.

Last week, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" won 9 p.m., but this time (14.2 million, 5.3) the medical drama fell 10% to a series low as "CSI" climbed, causing a shake-up in who gets the blue ribbon in primetime's most competitive hour. ABC countered that "Grey's" tends to benefit more from DVR use and could overthrow "CSI" once seven days of viewing are added in.

ABC's dramedy "Ugly Betty" (8.7 million, 2.8) gained a rung to mark its best rating since its premiere. New show "Life on Mars" (8.1 million, 2.5) came in last place at 10 p.m., yet was the only title that managed to not decline at that hour. ABC placed third overall.

Fourth-place NBC started with “My Name Is Earl” down 11% (6.3 million, 2.4), which in turn did no favors for "Kath & Kim," down 12% (5 million, 2.2). "The Office" (7.7 million, 4.0) and "SNL Weekend Update" (8.5 million, 3.9 -- videos from last night here) were down about 7%. At 10 p.m., "ER" (8.7 million, 3.2) managed to win the hour yet again, but this time was a squeaker -- the veteran drama was down 11% and edged out "Hour" by a tenth.

The CW's "Smallville" (4.2 million, 1.7) and "Supernatural" (3.3 million, 1.3) were both up slightly in their target adults 18-34 demo, with "Smallville" having its best airing in its demo since February.

THURSDAY, Oct. 24, 2008 Rate/share 8-8:30 8:30-9 9-9:30 9:30-10 10-10:30 10:30-11 3.5/9 Ugly Betty 8.7 mil,  2.8/8 Grey's Anatomy 14.2 mil, 5.3/13 Life on Mars 8.1 mil, 2.5/7 4.3/11 Survivor: Gabon 13.4 mil, 4.4/12 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 19.2 mil, 5.4/13 Eleventh Hour 12.2 mil, 3.1/8 3.2/8 My Name is Earl 6.3  mil, 2.4/7 Kath & Kim 5.0 mil, 2.2/6 The Office 7.7 mil, 4.0/10 Saturday Night Life: Weekend Update 8.5 mil, 3.9/9 ER 8.7 mil, 3.2/8 3.7 World Series Game 2 12.8 mil, 3.7 1.5/4 Smallville 4.2 mil, 1.7/5 Supernatural 3.3 mil, 1.3/3 No programming