TV ratings: ‘Millers’ and ‘Crazy Ones’ rise as CBS wins Thursday

With gains from its new comedies, Will Arnett’s “The Millers” and Robin Williams’ “Crazy Ones,” CBS was the top-rated network for the third Thursday in a row.

According to early numbers from Nielsen, CBS averaged more than 11 million viewers in prime time and scored a rating of 2.6 in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 age demographic. With a 5.2 rating (flat with last week) and nearly 18.6 million viewers, “Big Bang Theory” was the top show of the night.

“Millers” increased 8% to a 2.8 rating and drew 12 million viewers, making it the show’s best night since Oct. 17, while “Crazy Ones” rose a tick to a 2.2. “Two and a Half Men” was flat with last week’s 2.1, though the Sherlock Holmes series “Elementary” jumped 13% to a 1.8.

ABC came in second place for the night, with Thursday’s No. 2 show among young adults, the Beltway drama “Scandal,” holding steady week-to-week with a 2.9 rating and viewership averaging at 8.8 million. “Grey’s Anatomy” was down a bit at 2.5 to its lowest rating ever, while the struggling “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland,” a spinoff of the fairy tale series “Once Upon a Time,” remained at its series low of 0.9.

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Fox was preempted by NFL coverage in New Orleans and Sioux City, Iowa, but “The X Factor” should still be up week-to-week after after a double-elimination and a performance by the show-created boy band One Direction. According to the preliminary numbers, which are likely inflated, “X Factor” rose 23% to 1.6, while “Glee” rose 14% to a 1.6.

NBC continued to have trouble on Thursday as “Parks & Recreation” hit its low of 1.0 in 18-49 and drew 2.8 million viewers. “Sean Saves the World” and “The Michael J. Fox Show,” both freshman comedies, remained at 0.9, tied for their lowest so far. “Parenthood” held its 1.2 rating.

CW’s “Vampire Diaries” again beat its time-slot competition on ABC and NBC in 18-49, with a rating of 1.3, which is even with last week. “Reign” rose to a 0.9.

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