-Percent Change From the Year-Ago Evening (Thursday, October 11, 2007):

Note: The fast affiliate results for Thursday will be posted at PIFeedback by 12 p.m. ET. Go to the website, click on Ratings Box (the first category), then Last Night’s Results, and Thursday, October 9, 2008.   

CSI (CBS), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), SNL Weekend Update (NBC), Life on Mars (ABC)

CBS led this third Thursday of the new season, with a 14 percent advantage in the metered markets over second-place ABC. But the ongoing strength of Grey’s Anatomy and a strong start for Life on Mars should be more than enough for ABC to dominate among adults 18-49. Third in the overnights was NBC, followed by baseball-ignited Fox and the CW. Last night featured three series premieres – NBC’s Kath & Kim, CBS’ Eleventh Hour and ABC’s aforementioned Life on Mars.

CBS’ Survivor: Gabon was down, but far from out with a still dominant 7.4 rating/12 share from 8-9 p.m. Comparably, that was off by 12 percent from the year-ago edition in China (8.4/13 on Oct. 11, 2007). Second was ABC’s Ugly Betty at an improved 6.9/11, followed by the Major League Baseball Playoff Pre-Game on Fox at a 4.7/ 8 in the 8 p.m. half hour (leading into an estimated – and lackluster -- 6.2/ 10 for the prime-time portion of game one of Los Angeles at Philadelphia). As a reminder, results for any live sporting event are always approximate. 

In series-premiere news, NBC sitcom Kath & Kim kicked-off fourth in the overnights at 8:30 p.m., with a 4.9/ 7. Although I will reserve judgment until the fast affiliate results come in, the good news from the get-go was growth out of lead-in My Name is Earl (#4: 4.6/ 7 at 8 p.m.) of seven percent and year-ago occupant 30 Rock (4.3/ 7 on Oct. 11, 2007) of 14 percent. The CW’s Smallville capped off the 8 p.m. hour with a last-place 2.9/ 5 -- 14 percent below its year-ago overnight performance (3.4/ 5 on Oct. 11, 2007).

The ninth season-premiere of CBS’ CSI took center stage at 9 p.m., with a hefty 14.1/22 in the overnights. Comparably, that was up from the year-ago telecast (12.5/18 on Oct. 11, 2007) by 13 percent. Second was Grey’s Anatomy on ABC, with a 10.1/15, but that should be more than enough to still warrant a victory among adults 18-49. One year earlier, Grey’s Anatomy averaged an 11.9/18 in the overnights. 

NBC had positive results care of the first of three live half-hour politically themed editions of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update, with a 7.1/11 at 9:30 p.m. -- 37 percent above lead-in The Office (#4: 5.2/ 8 at 9 p.m.). Since The Office always manages to flex plenty of muscle among adults 18-49, expect the same for SNL in prime-time. The CW’s Supernatural capped off the hour with a typical 2.2/ 3 at 9 p.m.

In the battle of the two 10 p.m. series premieres, ABC’s Life On Mars won the hour with an 8.2/14 in the overnights. Retention out of the second half of lead-in Grey’s Anatomy (10.1/15 at 9:30 p.m.) was a very respectable 81 percent. And growth for Life on Mars versus year-ago occupant Big Shots (5.8/10 on Oct. 11, 2007) was 41 percent. CBS’ Eleventh Hour was a disappointment, meanwhile, at a second-place 7.4/12 -- 49 percent below the second-half of lead-in CSI (14.4/22 at 9:30 p.m.). One year earlier, Without a Trace averaged a 9.6/16 in the time period. 

Despite the stronger lead-in support, NBC’s ER finished third at 10 p.m. with a 6.7/11.

CBS led this third Wednesday of the 2008-09 season, with a hefty advantage over second-place Fox. Although the strength of Eye net crime solvers Criminal Minds and CSI: NY continues to carry the night, also worth noting on Wednesday is the growing presence of sitcoms The New Adventures of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried. Old Christine finished second at 8 p.m. in households (5.0/ 8), total viewers (7.53 million), adults 18-49 (2.2/ 7) and adults 25-54 (2.8/ 8), building by 730,000 viewers and as much as 10 percent among adults 18-49 from one week earlier. Lead-out Gary Unmarried also came in second in households (4.9/ 8), total viewers (7.36 million), adults 18-49 (2.4/ 6 – tied with NBC’s Knight Rider) and adults 25-54 (3.0/ 7) at 8:30 p.m., growing by 440,000 viewers and a much as nine percent in adults 18-49 from one week earlier.

As for ABC’s sophomore Pushing Daisies, Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money, all three dramas remain down from one year earlier. Take a look:

Here are the final national results for Wednesday, Oct. 8:

CBS: 8.4 rating/14 share, Fox: 4.6/ 7, ABC: 4.2/ 7, NBC: 3.9/ 6, CW: 2.1/ 3

CBS: 13.17 million, Fox: 7.43, ABC: 6.27, NBC: 6.06, CW: 2.86

CBS: 3.6 rating/10 share, Fox: 2.5/ 7, NBC: 2.3/ 6, ABC: 2.2/ 6, CW: 1.3/ 4

-Record High Results for Ghost Hunters and Destination Truth:

The Wednesday, Oct. 8 telecasts of Sci Fi Channel’s Ghost Hunters and Destination Truth each reached a new zenith. Ghost Hunters at 9 p.m. scored a 2.0 household rating, with 2.7 million viewers and 1.8 million adults 25-54. Lead-out Destination Truth at 10 p.m. delivered a 1.4 household rating, with its best performance to-date in total viewers (1.7 million), adults 18-49 (1.1 million) and adults 25-54 (1.2 million).

-Final National Ratings for the Second Presidential Debate:

A grand total of a whopping 63.23 million viewers watched the second Presidential debate on Tuesday, Oct. 7 on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Telemundo, Univision, BBC-America, CNBC, CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC. Here is the breakdown:

Comparably, the Presidential debate on Oct. 8, 2004 totaled 46.7 million viewers.

What follows is the top tier in syndication nationally for the week of Sept. 22 based on households (AA – average audience):

Wheel of Fortune (CBS Television Distribution): 6.6 rating

Dr. Phil (CBS), Seinfeld (Sony Pictures Television) and CSI: NY (CBS): 3.4 each

-Oprah increased by six percent in households from one week earlier, beating the nearest competitor in talk, spin-off Dr. Phil, by 47 percent.

-Two and a Half Men topped the off-network sitcom genre for the 49th consecutive week in households (without the benefit of a cable run). And it also dominated among adults 25-54 (2.9), women 18-49 (2.6), women 25-54 (3.0) and men 25-54 (2.8).

-Entertainment Tonight rose to its best performance in 18 weeks, growing by 14 percent in households from one week earlier.

-Warner Bros.’ TMZ (2.0) increased by 18 percent in households from the comparable year-ago week (1.7). 

-Freshman Series Results in Syndication – Week of Sept. 122:

Here are the household (AA – average audience) results for the new first-run strips in syndication. At the top of the list remains NBC’s Deal or No Deal, which increased by 13 percent from the previous week in both households and women 25-54 (0.9), and 14 percent among adults 25-54 (0.8).

Here is an early season to-date glimpse of syndicated talk in (AA) households (with change versus the comparable year-ago period in parentheses). Through the week of Sept. 22, CBS’ still healthy Dr. Phil and NBC Universal’s fading Martha have lost the most steam. Only one established talker, Warner Bros.’ Ellen, is on the plus side.

Oprah (CBS Television Distribution): 4.7 rating (-15), Dr. Phil (CBS): 3.3 (-27), Live With Regis & Kelly (Disney-ABC): 2.6 (-16), Ellen (Warner Bros.): 2.0 (+ 5). Rachael Ray (CBS): 1.7 (- 6), Maury (NBCU): 1.7 (- 6), The Doctors (CBS): 1.3, Tyra Banks (Warner Bros.): 1.1 (no change), Steve Wilkos (NBCU): 0.9 (no change), Bonnie Hunt (Warner Bros.): 0.8, Martha (NBC Universal): 0.7 (-22)

 8:00 p.m. Wife Swap

 9:00 p.m. Supernanny

 8:00 p.m. Ghost Whisperer

 9:00 p.m. The Ex List

 8:00 p.m. America’s Toughest Jobs

 9:00 p.m. Deal or No Deal

 8:00 p.m. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

 9:00 p.m. Don’t Forget the Lyrics

 8:00 p.m. Everybody Hates Chris

 8:30 p.m. The Game

 9:00 p.m. America’s Next Top Model (R) 

 8:00 p.m. Friday Night Smackdown!

 8:00 p.m. Movie: Acts of Contrition (R)

 8:00 p.m. College Football: LSU at Florida

 8:00 p.m. Macy’s Passport Celebrity Catwalk Challenge

 9:00 p.m. Knight Rider (R)

 8:00 p.m. Cops 

 9:00 p.m. America’s Most Wanted 

 8:00 p.m. Movie: Walking Tall (R)

 8:00 p.m. Movie: Tidal Wave: No Escape (R)

 7:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos

 8:00 p.m. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

 9:00 p.m. Desperate Housewives

 7:00 p.m. 60 Minutes

 8:00 p.m. The Amazing Race

 9:00 p.m. Cold Case

 7:00 p.m. Football Night in America

 8:15 p.m. Sunday Night Football: New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers

 7:00 p.m. NFL Football Overrun

 8:20 p.m. National League Baseball Championship, Game 3 (Philadelphia at Los Angeles)

 7:00 p.m. In Harm’s Way

 8:00 p.m. Valentine, Inc.

 9:00 p.m. Easy Money

USA has renewed dramas Burn Notice and Psych for the 2008-09 season, with Burn Notice heading into season three and Psych season four. Both hours will be returning in January with the second half of their current seasons. The episodes from the renewals will begin airing next summer.

MTV will introduce a new half-hour revolving around Whitney Port from The Hills next season called The City. The City will follow Whitney as she heads to New York City for a job with a fashion house.

Current Dancing With the Stars contestant Lance Bass has joined Disney Channel’s Handy Manny today on a recurring basis as a klutzy, happy go lucky “surfer dude.” Handy Manny, which features former That ‘70s Show star Wilmer Valderrama, airs Fridays at 9 a.m. ET.

Don Abel, Larry Collins, Bob Eisenstaedt, Sherrie Hentschel, Brad Hight, Bob Ingersoll, Greg Janover, Kelly Lindley, Beverly Morris, Jim O’Heir, Jodi Perris, Gordon Purcell, Bob Rall, Liza Reich, Colleen Roth, Maureen Ruane, David Ruckman, Anthony Salerno, Lonnie Staley, Michelle Stanton, Ivan Tafur, Ronnie Tallant, Elizabeth Warner, Dave Weekley, Jeanne Yonkers, Ted Zavales