Ratings down during first Thursday back

ABC wins the night, but 'Grey's' down 18% from last year

By James Hibberd

Sept 26, 2008, 11:58 AM ET

Every season premiere drew a lower rating than last fall Thursday night, as returning favorites such as ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," CBS' "Survivor" and NBC's "The Office" tripped across the board.

ABC won the night as expected. Its two-hour "Grey's Anatomy" (18.3 million viewers, 7.3/18) premiere was the night's highest-rated and most watched show. Yet "Grey's" was down 18% from last fall's one-hour opener. Lead-in "Ugly Betty" (9.8 million, 3.3/9) slipped 15%.

Despite being the only network to air a repeat in its Thursday lineup, CBS managed to place second for the night. The network ran the first-ever HD edition of "Survivor" in a first-ever two-hour debut (13 million, 4.4/11), dropping 12%, but winning 8 p.m. By pushing "Survivor" into 9 p.m., the most intensely competitive hour of the week, CBS created a different DVR-busting dilemma for viewers this week, forcing some to make a tough call and vote one of their returning favorites off their duel-tuner TiVos.

What's impressive about "Survivor" here is the reality series held its entire demo rating through its second hour as it went from the 8 p.m. frying pan into the 9 p.m. fire. At 10 p.m., CBS aired a "CSI" encore.

NBC was third, airing one-hour editions of "My Name Is Earl" (6.4 million, 2.7/8, down 29%) and "The Office" (9.2 million, 4.8/11, down 6%). Note "The Office" dropped less than any other returning show last night and marked NBC's best rating for the time period since last September. At 10 p.m., NBC aired the final season premiere of "ER" (7.9 million, 3.3/8, down 20%), which dropped the most of any returning show.

Ratings down during first Thursday back

ABC wins the night, but 'Grey's' down 18% from last year

By James Hibberd

Sept 26, 2008, 11:58 AM ET