The season finale of "Big Bang Theory" took a ratings hit but still drew the night's most viewers in the key demographic, while Fox won the night overall with "American Idol," according to preliminary numbers.
Fox took first place in the advertiser-friendly 18-to-49 demographic with an average 2.9 rating/9 share and was second in total viewers with an average 11 million. "American Idol" at 8 p.m. was steady since last week with a 3.9/13, and was the evening's most-watched show with 15 million total viewers. "Touch" the following hour also ran even since last week for a 2.0/6. It inched up in total viewers to 7 million.
CBS ran a close second to Fox in the demo ratings and took first in total viewers with an average 2.8/8 and 12 million. The season finale of "The Big Bang Theory" at 8 was down 11 percent in the demo from last week but still had an impressive 4.2/15. (Thursday's finale was also up 17 percent in the demo from last year's finale.) It earned 13.3 million total viewers. "Rules of Engagement" at 8:30 ran even in the demo with last week for a 2.7/9 and 8.9 million total viewers. "Person of Interest" at 9 grew in the demo to a 2.6/7 and had 12.7 million total viewers. "The Mentalist" the following hour was down slightly in the demo for a 2.4/7 and had 12.4 million total viewers.
ABC took third place in the demo and total viewers with an average 2.2/6 and 7.5 million. "Missing" at 8 slipped to a series low of 1.1/4 with 6.4 million total viewers, while "Grey's Anatomy" the following hour climbed slightly in the demo for a 3.4/9 and 9.6 million total viewers. The freshman drama "Scandal" at 10 continued its pattern of modest growth, inching up to a 2.0/6, and had 6.5 million total viewers.
Univision tied for fourth place in the ratings and took fourth in total viewers with an average 1.4/4 and 3.6 million. "Una Familia Con Suerte" at 8 posted a 1.2/4 and 3 million total viewers, while "Abismo de Pasion" the following hour drew a 1.5/4 and had 3.8 million total viewers. "La Que Podia No Amar" at 10 drew a 1.6/4 and 3.9 million total viewers.
NBC tied for fourth place in the ratings and took fifth in total viewers with an average 1.4/4 and 3.2 million. "Community," which was renewed Thursday, ran even with last week with a 1.4/5 and had 3.1 million total viewers. "30 Rock" at 8:30 saw a slight increase in the demo to a 1.5/5, and had 2.9 million total viewers. The season finale of "The Office" at 9 was down slightly in the demo from last week, receiving a 2.2/6, and had 4.4 million total viewers. The season finale of "Parks & Recreation" at 9:30 was even in the demo with last week, posting a 1.7/5, and had 3.5 million total viewers. "Awake" at 10 grew 29 percent in the demo from last week's series low, jumping to a still-low 0.9/2. It had 2.5 million total viewers.
