CBS wins weeklong ratings with "Mentalist"
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - CBS was the most-watched network in the latest weeklong primetime ratings, and three of its dramas took the top spots.
Leading the way for CBS during the week ended December 7 was "The Mentalist" (18.7 million viewers), the first freshman series to rank No. 1 in viewers since ABC's "Desperate Housewives" in 2005. It also marked the first time that the Simon Baker series drew a larger audience than its lead-in "NCIS" (18.5 million, No. 2). "CSI" was third with 17.5 million viewers.
The network was also well served by its annual "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" (8.7 million), which gained 1.2 million viewers from last year.
For the week, CBS averaged 10.9 million viewers, followed by ABC (8.6 million), Fox (7.7 million) and NBC (7.5 million).
ABC benefited from "Barbara Walters Presents the Ten Most Fascinating People" (13.2 million, No. 10), up 1.9 million from last year. ABC also boasted "Desperate Housewives" (16.1 million, No. 5) and "Grey's Anatomy" (15.3 million, No. 6).
Fox led among adults 18-49, with CBS and ABC tied for second place in the coveted demo. An NFL overrun on Sunday and the BCS "Selection Show" (10.5 million) spiked Fox's weekly average, though the network also had help from original programing such as "House" (12.5 million) and the two-episode premiere of "Secret Millionaire" (8 million).
NBC was led by "Sunday Night Football," which pitted the Washington Redskins against the Baltimore Ravens (13.3 million, No. 9).
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
