Scripted programs pay off

CBS is crowing loud about its best Thursday showing since December and a win with all-new programming, mostly scripted shows. Of course, there was no “American Idol” on Thursday last week.

CBS swept all three hours of primetime on Thursday as it programmed brand new episodes of two of its top dramas following a kick-off by its “Survivor” reality franchise. “CSI” returned with 97% of its pre-strike HH ratings and 94% of 18-49 according to calculations from the network’s number crunchers. That made it easily the most-watched program of the night with 20.4 million viewers, handily beating Fox’s “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader” in the 9-10 pm ET-PT time period.

“Without a Trace,” also a new episode, followed to win the 10-11 time period with 15.4 million viewers. “Survivor: Micronesia” won the 8-9 hour for CBS with 12.8 million viewers. Paris Hilton’s guest appearance on NBC’s “My Name is Earl” produced only a 3rd place showing in the 8-9 hour for HH and total viewers, although it pushed ahead of another hour of Fox’s “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader” in 18-49 ratings.

For the night, CBS was first in households (9.9/16), viewers (16.22 million), adults 25-54 (6.0/15) and adults 18-49 (4.6/13). Fox was 2nd, followed by NBC and ABC.

RBR/TVBR observation: The CSI franchise still has power. The Eye network has to be pleased that it managed to sign William Petersen to return for a 9th season on the original CSI, although committed for fewer episodes so he can do other things. If you’re keeping track, “CSI: Miami” will be going into its 7th season and “CSI: NY” its 5th. It is possible to have too much of a good thing and wear out a franchise, so Les Moonves nixed our suggestion of “CSI: Boise.” 

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